Harris hurls no-hitter; Bobcats sweep

By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
PHIL CAMPBELL - Phil Campbell coach Michael Beck's assessment of ace lefthander Griffin Harris following Wednesday's game against Colbert Heights was enough to strike fear in the hearts of all future Bobcat opponents.
Harris (1-0) ended up throwing 101 pitches in just his second start of the season. He struck out eight of the first 10 batters he faced and allowed only one ball out of the infield en route to tossing his fourth career no-hitter.
Imagine what he might do when he shakes off the &#8220rust.”
With Harris buzzing through the Colbert Heights lineup, Phil Campbell's one-run lead seemed remarkably secure throughout the afternoon.
The Wildcats mounted their biggest &#8220threat” in the top of the sixth. After leadoff man Patrick Cummings flied out to Korey Pounders in center field, Josh Harris drew a walk.
Griffin Harris then struck out Mitchell Dalrymple with a curveball, and catcher Randy Cochran nailed Harris trying to steal second to complete the inning-ending double play.
Offensively, the Bobcats (13-4, 4-0 Class 2A, Area 16) managed one hit in each of the six innings they batted against Troy Oliver, but they were unable to string any hits together and stranded eight runners.
Kevin Lacey's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning brought home the game's only run.
Beck was pleased that three of Phil Campbell's six hits came from the bottom third of the lineup, including a double by Tate Canida and a double and a single by Adam Mitchell.
Harris also had a double, and Cochran and Jonathan Dill each added singles.
The Bobcats finished off a sweep of the team they beat in last year's state semifinals, seizing control of the area race with a 4-0 record.
In previous action:
Phil Campbell 5 Colbert Heights 4
The Bobcats broke a 1-1 tie with four runs in the top of the sixth inning on Tuesday and then held off the Wildcats.
Jonathan Dill pitched 5 2/3 innings to earn the win, and Steven Lacey got the final four outs for the save.
Lacey finished with two hits and three RBIs, and Randy Cochran drove in two runs. Dill had a double and a single, and Kevin Lacey had a double.
Griffin Harris added one hit for Phil Campbell.