Published: March 24, 2009 12:25 pm      

Pirates hurry past Lexington

Byng softball team can't keep pace with hard-hitting Moss squad

By JEFF CALI

Sports Editor

BYNG — It took a while for the Byng baseball team to get its bats going against Lexington Tuesday evening at Stokes Field.

But the Pirate bats finally awakened as Byng pushed across seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to break open a tight game and run-rule the Bulldogs 10-2.

Just across the way at the softball field, the Byng Lady Pirates couldn’t match the offensive onslaught produced by Class A power Moss resulting in a pair of lopsided losses. Moss rallied for a 17-6 win in the opener before shutting out Byng 15-0 in Game 2.

“We’re really young. We’re having to learn as we go,” said Byng head coach Blake Crawford.

BASEBALL

Byng 10, Lexington 2

Byng led just 3-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth before breaking the game open.

Brandon Fortner got the BHS volley started with a two-RBI single and Jared Pace followed with a run-scoring hit to push the Pirate lead t 6-2.

Jake Wellington and Dylan Hendricks later hit back-to-back RBI doubles to make it 8-2.

Lexington then helped Byng with the final two runs. Hendricks would score on a wild pitch and Jake Scroggins — who walked four times in the game — raced home with the game-ending run on Lexington’s third error of the game.

Blake Wheat struck out six and allowed just one hit in a strong mound performance to improve to 2-1 on the spring.

Hendricks led the Pirates (2-6) at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored. Wellington finished with two doubles and scored twice for the hosts.

Byng travels to the McLoud Tournament beginning Wednesday with a pool play matchup with Harrah at 3 p.m. The Pirates face Edmond Santa Fe JV at 4:30 p.m. Thursday before taking on host McLoud Friday at 5:30 p.m.

SOFTBALL

Game 1

Moss 17, Byng 6

Byng pushed across four runs in the bottom of the first to take a short-lived 4-2 lead.

Stasha Chronister blasted a two-RBI double to highlight the Byng uprising while Brooke Pinson added an RBI hit and Paige Harjo drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

But the hits and runs kept coming for Moss (No. 2 in Class A). The visiting Lady Pirates scored eight runs in the top of the second to take control. Moss added six more runs in the third and saw its lead balloon to 16-4.

Moss exploded for 18 hits, led by super freshman Caitlyn Ramirez who finished 3-for-3 while blasting two home runs — both of which traveled well over the fence at Bobby Johns Field a good 250 feet away — and compiling seven RBIs. Kyra Underwood, Pam Brittain and Natasha Babb also had three hits apiece for the visitors.

Presli Manuel led Byng, going 2-for-2 while scoring twice while Cailee Canada ripped a double.

Game 2

Moss 15, Byng 0

This time it was all Moss as Byng (0-6) managed just four hits in three shutout innings.

Moss added 19 more hits, running its total for the day to 37 in just six innings.

Kayce Long led the barrage going 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Brittain went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and five RBIs while Ramirez added two singles and a walk to finish 5-for-5 in the twinbill. Underwood and Kelsey Bridger had two RBIs each for Moss.

Four different players had singles for Byng.

The Lady Pirates travel to the Bethel Festival today, taking on the host Lady Wildcats and Davenport beginning at 4:30 p.m.