By Staff
FULL EXTENSION Newton County Academy's John Shellenback reaches for a pick-off move from the pitcher Tuesday in the Generals' 3-1 loss to Heidelberg Academy. The two teams meet again on Thursday.Photo by Robbie Robertson / The Newton Record
By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
April 28, 2004
DECATUR Heidelberg Academy hasn't lost a baseball game this spring, but the Newton County Academy Generals are giving the Rebels' unbeaten streak a pretty stiff challenge.
Heidelberg opened the MPSA Class A best-of-three second-round playoff series with a 3-1 victory over NCA Tuesday afternoon. The Rebels improved to
24-0, while the Generals dropped to 20-6, with three losses coming to Heidelberg.
The Central State championship series resumes Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Heidelberg with an if necessary' game to follow if the Generals win.
The Generals took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Lee Blackburn beat out an infield hit, took second on a wild pitch, and scored on a two-out single by Morgan Craven.
The Generals wouldn't cross the plate again as they stranded at least one baserunner in every inning and left nine on base for the game.
Heidelberg could sympathize with the Generals' frustrations as the Rebels stranded 13 runners in the game. The Rebels left the sacks full in both the fifth and seventh frames.
Brooks Lewis (7-0) got the win, allowing five hits and five walks, while striking out seven.
little bit better."
The Rebels took a 2-1 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. J.R. Stephenson got two bases when his towering fly ball fell in center field after NCA left fielder Jason Tune retired Ryan Aultman on a deep fly ball that the wind kept in the park in the previous at-bat.
Stephenson scored on a single by Derek Griffin to tie the game. Justin Gibbs followed with a single. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Griffin
came home on Ian Sharp's sacrifice fly.
The Generals left runners at second base in the bottom of the fourth, first and third in the fifth, and first and second in the sixth.
Heidelberg picked up an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Mason Key reached on an error to start the inning. Stephenson drew a one-out walk and Gibbs scalded a two-out double to the fence in left field to drive in Key for a 3-1 lead.
world. It takes them a little bit out of their bunting game.
He did a good job."
The Rebels had nine hits with Matthew Andrews going 2-for-3, Stephenson going 2-for-2, and Gibbs also going 2-for-3. Aultman, Stephenson, Griffin,
and Sharp each had one double.
The Generals had only five hits, all of which were singles. Blackburn, losing pitcher Blake Hedrick (4-2), Craven, Tune, and Ben Thames each had
one hit.
scared to throw a curve ball in some tight situations. He kept us off-balance all day. He did a nice job containing our big hit.