By Denver Brown, Managing Editor
April 18, 2007 — A perfectly-executed squeeze play by East Carter’s Tyler Jackson helped ignite the Raider offense as head coach Jeremiah Shearer’s club went on to score an 11-7 revenge win over Morgan County, Monday night at Raider Field. The win evened the pair’s season series at 1-1; the Cougars won 7-5 in West Liberty two weeks ago.
Jackson’s effort was part of a six-run third inning that propelled the locals to the win. Falling behind 3-zip after the top-half of the first, the hosts had their work cut out for them. Two errors during the Cougars’ first at bat helped them get the lead and forced the Raiders to work from behind.
“I was definitely not happy about how we started that game,” Coach Shearer told The Journal-Times. “Our energy level was too low. And that’s something we talked about before the start of the third inning – I told them I needed their attitudes to be consistent. It is tough to play day in and day out, but that’s baseball, you pretty much play every day.”
Shearer gave a lot of credit to Morgan County first-year coach Brandon Evans and the inspired play of the team from West Liberty.
“You’ve got to give them a lot of credit,” the Raider baseball boss said. “They are a much better baseball team – and that will make for a better district and ultimately that will help us be a better baseball team, too.”
Patient pitch-watching by the Raiders helped them trigger the third-inning rally. Three walks and hits by Ryan Knipp (2-run double) and Caleb Waugh eased East in front during the side.
East ace Ryan Sagraves (2-1) scored the complete-game win from the mound, striking out nine and allowing seven hits.
The win over the Cougars, coupled with a victory against Garrard County at the Bell County Invitational Tournament, improves East Carter to 6-2 on the season. The Raiders were at Rowan County last night (Tuesday), travel to Elliott County on Thursday then take the field at Lewis County on Friday. Shearer & Co. return to Grayson for a homestanding doubleheader this Saturday, April 21, versus Allen Central and Fairview.
