By By Jeff Byrd/staff writer
August 4, 2002
A seventh inning melt down by Lumberton paved the way for North Randall County, Texas to stay alive in the Babe Ruth 14-year-old Southwest Regional here Saturday afternoon at MCC's Scaggs Field.
Lumberton took a 7-6 lead into the top of the seventh but watched North Randall County rally for eight runs off three hits. Most of the damage came by three walks, four Lumberton errors and a hit batsman.
The late outburst saved NRC from a long trip home to Amarillo bemoaning the damage of eight errors that lead Lumberton to score seven of its eight runs.
Marcus Bellar's bunt hit got him aboard and within three more pitches, he was at third following a wild pitch and a steal. Tomas Cruz was hit by a pitch putting the go-ahead run on.
Bellar then tied the game on a wild pitch from Lumberton reliever Kody Lancaster. Cole Stephens singled in Cruz for a 9-8 lead. The dam broke for Lumberton after that.
A hit by Will Gowdy brought Stephens in for a 10-8 lead. Lumberton then made three more errors, had a couple of passed balls and three more walks to chase home five more runs. NRC held a commanding 14-7 lead when the at-bat finally ended.
Blaine Wieck who was working in relief, allowed a run off two walks but got the win by retiring three straight batters to end the game.
The loss ended the season after just two games for Lumberton who had won the Mississippi Babe Ruth 14-year-old title. NRC went on to face Southeast Oklahoma in Saturday's late game.
Bellar was not happy with his team's defense. They made eight errors. In all, the two teams combined for 14 errors.
Four NRC errors help Lumberton grab a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Quinn Buckner, Anthony Harry, Lancaster and Zach Cobb all drove in runs. Lancaster had a pair off his two-out single.
NRC scored a single run in the third and two in the fourth to make it 6-3. Lumberton got a run back when Rashard Henry scored off NRC's seventh and eighth errors of the game.
But NRC came back with two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to close to within 7-6 following six complete.
Marcus Bellar led NRC reaching base four times and scoring three runs. Stephens, Will Gowdy, Josh Lunsford and Matt Davenport each scored twice.
Henry and Jamiah Holder each scored two runs to lead Lumberton.
Wieck got the win in relief of Stephens. Lancaster took the loss for Lumberton.