By Staff
Kim West
PHIL CAMPBELL – Senior Stephen Lacey hit a two-run walk-off home run as Phil Campbell beat Mars Hill 13-3 Monday and seized control of the Class 2A, Area 16 race.
Jonathan Dill earned a five-inning win as he scattered seven hits, struck out three and didn't walk a batter, while Mars Hill ace Mark Vanhorn took the loss and was knocked out in the fourth inning after allowing a leadoff single to Adam Mitchell, who went 2-for-3, and back-to-back walks to Dillan Hamby and Jordan Benford.
"We started the season slow but now we've won 15 of our last 16 games," Dill said. "We're having fun and we've definitely come together as a team."
No. 8 Phil Campbell (17-6, 4-1) trailed sixth-ranked Mars Hill (18-8, 3-2) early but the Bobcats scored 13 unanswered runs, including eight runs in the fourth inning.
"I was really proud of the young guys in the bottom of our order because for us to be good, they've got to play well," said Phil Campbell coach Michael Beck, who honored seniors Jonathan Dill, Caleb Thompson, Tate Candida and Stephen Lacey in a pre-game ceremony. "These seniors have won over 100 games in the past four years and have been with me a long time, and they stepped up big today."