By Denver Brown, Managing Editor
May 9, 2007 — GRAYSON -- Maybe the East Carter baseball players are all math whiz-kids?!
The Raiders have certainly come up with the winning equation; strong pitching plus aggressive hitting added to solid defense equals victory. That formula has the locals on their season-best win streak. Beating Fleming County at home Monday night moves East Carter to 14-5 on the season and the consecutive victories are now at seven. And the guys from Grayson have won 10 of their last 11.
“We’re pitching pretty good, throwing strikes, and we’re hitting the ball,” senior infielder Ryan Knipp told The Journal-Times prior to the 14-4 skinning of the Panthers.
“And we’re playing pretty good defense, too. If we keep this up, doing these things well, we’ll be hard to beat in the postseason.”
After wrapping up the district tournament last year, the Raiders fell in a disappointing first-round effort in the 16th region tournament. If they want to better that mark, the players already know what they need to do.
“We can’t let up,” Evan Vincent said. “Some games, we’ll be playing well and then we’ll just seem to lay back – we can’t do that. We’ve got to stay focused and keep up the intensity each game, each inning.”
Jeremiah Shearer’s bunch got on the scoreboard quick against the visitors from Fleming County. Raider leadoff hitter Tyler Jackson smacked the 2-2 delivery past the Panther first-baseman to trigger the first-inning romp. Tommy Dearfield walked then stole second, moving Jackson to third. A wild pitch to Tyler Back brought Jackson to the plate then Back’s double to right center scored Dearfield. Nate Carroll and Christian Salyers swatted back-to-back singles for the four-run total.
The hits, and runs, continued in the second.
Raider starter Caleb Waugh got the win, throwing four innings and striking out six.
Carroll’s night included a 3-4 showing at the plate with a pair of doubles and 3RBI. Jackson had two hits and Eddie Seagraves had a two-run triple for the East offense.
“We’re really playing together as a team,” Waugh said of his team’s strength. “We don’t let each other get down. We’re all in it for the team – there are no individuals.”
The Raiders hosted region-leading Boyd County, last night (Tuesday).
