ALC Eagles Baseball honor seniors; take 3 of 4 against Toccoa Falls

Pippa Passes, KY: The Alice Lloyd College Eagles (20-12) baseball team returned to the diamond on March 20^th-21st as they returned home to face the Toccoa Falls Screaming Eagles (17-15-1) in a four-game series on senior weekend. The boys from the Bluegrass took the first three games to take the series. The squad recognized ten members of the squad, including:  Jacob Ayers, Cole Bishop, Tyler Brammer, Brian Defoe, Nathan Garcia, Wyatt Hobgood, Kyle Johnson, Isaiah Kelly, Challen Massengill, and Trenton Williams. 

March 27th

Game 1

Alice Lloyd-5: Toccoa Falls-4

The Pass scored in their final-at-bat to take the opener.

The hosts jumped out quickly with a trio of runs in the first. Bishop's (C) 2-run single, plus a bases loaded walk by the Georgia squad did the damage, 3-0.

TF made one of those back in the third with a sacrifice fly (3-1), but the Caney crew promptly returned the favor in the fourth with a ground ball sacrifice of their own (4-1).

In the top of the sixth, with a pair of runners on the basepaths, Toccoa would deliver a single to drive them both in and eat into the deficit, 4-3.

Then, in the seventh, the Georgia squad would combine a double and single to knot the contest up, 4-4.

However, in the bottom of that inning, ALC promptly loaded the bases, aided by a pair of walks and an error from Toccoa.  Then, with Kyle Compton (3B) at bat for the blue and white, the Screaming Eagles pitcher walked him to hand the win to the "Pass".

At the plate, Bishop was the big man of the hour as he went 3-3 and added 2 RBI's. Carson Tate (2B) went 2-4 while Compton added a pair of RBIs to the cause

Ryan Grubbs started on the mound. In 5.2 solid innings of work, he allowed 4 runs (2 earned runs) on just 4 hits.  He stuck out 2 and walked 2.

Matthew Hebar went 1.1 innings and was credited with the win. He gave up just 2 hits and 1 run while walking 0, and whiffing 2.

The Eagles took the hitting battle 8-6 and committed 0 errors.

Game 2

Alice Lloyd-6: Toccoa Falls-2

The hosts jumped ahead quickly and put the game away late.

The hometown boys jumped out 1-0 in the first on Bishop's (DH) long sacrifice fly (1-0). Then in the second after the leadoff batter walked, Hobgood (C) got all of a fast ball and powered it over the fence to make the score 3-0.

Things remained unchanged until the sixth when the Screaming Eagles used a double and single to eat into the deficit, 3-2.

However, in the same inning, the Caney Creekers combined a single from Hobgood, with a pair of doubles from Austin Byrd (CF) and Tate to gain separation once again (6-2).

In the final inning, the club from the Peach state went down in order to hand the "W' to the hosts.

 At the plate, Byrd and Hobgood both had 2 hits while Hobgood and Tate each drove in a pair of runs. Hobgood provided the 4-bagger.

Quentin Williams started on the mound and pitched an impressive game to pick up the win. In 5.2 innings, he allowed just 3 hits and 1 earned runs with 11 big whiffs and only 1 walk.

 Hebar went 0.1 innings, allowing 1 hit while Anakin Floyd retired all three men he faced, with 1 K.

The victors led in hits, 7-4, and committed the games lone error.

March 28th

Game 1

 Alice Lloyd-5: Toccoa Falls-2

 Saturday saw the pattern of the previous day hold true as the Kentucky kids took the opener.

The home team used a pair of long sacrifice flies to leap ahead 2-0 right off the bat. (2-0). Then in the second, an error from the Screaming Eagles gave the hosts a gift run, 3-0.

In the Toccoa fourth, a sacrifice fly put them on the scoreboard (3-1). Then in the next inning, Alice Lloyd made an error that shrank the deficit to one, 3-2.

Once again, ALC answered in the same inning. First, the Peach-state crew made an error to make the score 4-2. Then, Colton Lovelace (1B) laced a single for the "Pass" to change the score once again, 5-2.

In the seventh, the visitors produced some drama by putting a pair of runners on base. Fortunately, with the tying run at the plate, a long fly would be caught for the third out, making the Eagle fans happy once more.

 At the plate, Compton and Jayden Huff (LF) both provided 2 hits while five different men each drove in 1 run.

Gibbs Cochran started and went the distance to take the victory. In 7 innings, he allowed 6 hits, 2 runs with just 1 earned run, 3 K's and 1 walk.

The two foes tied in hits, 6-6, and errors, 3-3. 

Game 2

 Alice Lloyd-0: Toccoa Falls-5

The visitors tossed a shutout to capture the final game of the series.

The matchup remained scoreless until the fifth. In that inning, the Screaming Eagles uncorked a trio of doubles which led to their first lead of the series, 3-0.

The next scoring occurred in the seventh when TF added to their advantage by popping another double and a single to add a pair of insurance runs, 5-0.

Although, the hosts would place a pair of runners on base in their final opportunity, a strikeout handed the win to the guests

At the plate, Compton's pair of hits would be half of the Eagles total.

Trenton Williams started on the mound and took the loss, allowing 5 hits and 3 runs (3 earned) with 5 strikeouts in 4.1 innings.

Niklas Kidd, relieved for 1.2 innings and allowed just 1 hit, while Ayers closed by giving up 3 hits and 2 runs.

The Screaming Eagles rapped 9 hits to just 4 for the Eagles. The game was player error-free.