CONYERS, Ga. — The Alcovy baseball team fell to region foe Heritage High School 3-1 Friday night in their first of a three game series that will conclude the Tigers’ regular season.
While the Tigers’ bats generated seven hits, they were only able to muster up one run in the game. However, stellar pitching and an overall good defensive effort gave the Tigers opportunities to keep the game within reach.
Second baseman Jacob Spivey ran in the first and only score for the Tigers at the top of the second inning off an error that answered the Patriots’ first score in the bottom of the first. The game would remain tied until the bottom of the third when Heritage would take the lead off an RBI single from Caleb Ramsey who brought in Ross Tucker who was in scoring position after a Tiger error.
The errors in the game were noted by Alcovy head coach, Ashley Senn, as a season long weakness for the team.
“It’s the same thing that has killed us all year. Errors with two outs,” Senn said. “Then, we give up runs with those two outs and it just comes back and bites us.”
The top of the fourth saw clutch hits with two outs from seniors Jake Beazley and Dalton Smith before a strikeout would keep the Tigers trailing 2-1.
Despite the errors, the Tigers would hold strong defensively led by a solid outing on the mound from junior Bailey Thompson. “He threw a great game,” Senn said. “That’s the best game he’s pitched all year.”
Thompson would continue to throw a great game despite Heritage adding another run to their tally in the bottom of the 6th off a sacrifice fly which prompted a tremendous diving effort from senior centerfielder Jake Beazley.
A three-up, three-down top of the seventh would end the game for the Tigers. Although they are eliminated from playoff contention, Senn is still looking to motivate the team into playing hard, hustling on every play and being competitive.
The Tigers will meet Heritage at home on Monday April 17th which is senior night.
“(Senior Night) will be a good night for them.” Senn said, “We’re looking to end on a positive note.”
