Josh Sharp pitched a sterling four innings in relief for Community, giving up just two hits and striking out six. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
UNIONVILLE — The Community Vikings built an early lead, then came up with a response to Cornersville’s rally and held on for the 6-2 non-district win on Thursday night.
Josh Powers doubled to lead off the Viking first inning and later scored on a sac fly by Kaileb Maillet.
Starting Community pitcher Maddux Thompson worked around trouble in the second inning after putting tow on via error and walk, and rebounded to strike out the final two batters and end the Bulldog threat.
Community then played add on in the second frame and got a pair of RBI singles from Thompson and Wes Haley to put the Purple and Gold up 3-0.
Cornersville got a pair of runs back in the third, taking advantage of an error, a hit batter and a walk, while connecting on a RBI single to cut the lead to one run.
But even with the surge by the Bulldogs, Community showed plate discipline in the bottom of the fourth and with one out, got back-to-back walks from Isiah Beech and Josh Sharp.
Powers lifted a fly ball to center field, allowing Beech to scamper home for the fourth Community run of the night.
Two batters later, Haley came through again when he mashed a laser of a double to center field to knock home a fifth Viking run.
Working in relief, Sharp delivered for the Vikings and kept the basepaths clear, allowing just two hits in his four innings of work.
With Sharp dealing, Community tacked on one extra insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Elijah Westbrooks ground into a fielder’s choice, scoring Powers for the sixth run of the night.
Maddux Thompson pitched three strong innings, giving up two unearned runs on one hit, while striking out four.
Sharp tossed a scoreless final four innings and gave up just a pair of hits and struck out six.
Three Vikings had two-hit nights, with Powers going 2-for-3 with a double, Haley going 2-for-4 with a double and Markum connecting on a pair of base hits.
Cornersville 002 000 0 — 2 3 3
Community 120 201 x — 6 8 2
Community: Josh Powers 2-for-3, Wes Haley 2-for-4, Dylan Markum 2-for-3, Isaiah Beech 1-for-2, Maddux Thompson 1-for-1.
WP: Thompson
