Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
8:44 am Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Vina tops Phillips 7-5 for key area win

By Staff
Scot Beard
BEAR CREEK – The ninth-ranked Vina baseball team looked a little rusty Monday during the early innings of its game against Phillips.
The Red Devils had not played since the previous Tuesday and the lack of action showed, but by the third inning Vina found its rhythm and picked up a 7-5 victory.
"I think the layoff hurt us," said Vina coach Greg Hamilton. "We're ecstatic to win."
Phillips took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but Vina answered with a pair of runs in the third to take the lead.
Cody Renfroe led off the inning by drawing a walk and stealing second. Brent Townsend drove Renfroe home with a single to right field.
Townsend then stole second and the throw from the catcher to the second baseman went into the outfield, allowing Townsend to advance to third.
Nick Schmittou drove Townsend home with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Red Devils' lead did not last long as Phillips scored in the bottom of the third to tie the game 2-2.
That didn't last either.
Channing Haithcock singled to lead of the inning and moved to second on a steal. Two batters later Keith Hester drew a walk.
Both players stole a base to move to second and third and scored on a triple by Townsend, who later scored on a pass ball to give Vina 5-2 advantage.
Adam Pharr reached on an error by the shortstop in the fifth inning, stole second and moved to third on a pass ball. Clay Pierce drew a walk and stole second to give the Red Devils a pair of players in scoring position.
Hester capitalized on the situation by singling down the third baseline to drive home both runners and pushing Vina's lead to 7-2.
Phillips responded in the fifth with a solo homer to cut the deficit to four runs.
They added two runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull within tow, but Vina was able to end the threat before the Bears could tie the game.
Townsend pitched 6.2 innings, allowing five runs, seven hits and striking out three. He issued two walks.
He left with two outs in the seventh and a runner on second. Morgan McCarley struck out the only batter he faced to end the game.
The game was much closer than it could have been.
Vina stranded eight runners on base – four of those were on third while three more were on second.
Hamilton was not pleased with stranding so many runners in scoring position.
"That's what is killing us," Hamilton said. "They have to wake up to that."
Townsend had two singles, a triple and scored a pair of runs to lead the Red Devils while McCarley hit a pair of singles.
Pharr reached base twice, both times on errors and Pierce singled, doubled and drew a walk.
Haithcock and Patrick White had one single each while Hester singled and drew a walk.
Renfroe drew a walk.
With the win, Vina improves to 6-5 on the season and 1-0 in area play.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025