The Aces (21-7) came into the game ranked 14th in the state and they looked like world-beaters, though the Cougars (18-15) gave them plenty of help with some shoddy play in the field.
Catholic pitcher Neill Holland threw a no-hitter at the Cougars in his five innings of work. He walked two and struck out six. The Cougars could mount only one threat against Holland, but were unable to capitalize.
Meanwhile, the Aces took advantage of nearly every opportunity. They scored in every inning but the fourth, when they left the bases loaded. They had nine hits, including four doubles and a pair of home runs, the last one a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning.
For the Cougars on the mound, sophomore Kyle Lashley pitched pretty well, but was constantly hurt by Cougar miscues. Lashley hurt himself as well by hitting five batters, including Aces' catcher Ben Young three straight times.
Lashley was relieved with two outs in the fifth inning by Lincoln Skaggs, who promptly gave up the grand slam to Young before recording the final out of the inning.
An error, a base hit, a ground out and a sacrifice fly led to the Aces' only run in the first inning. Catholic scored six more runs in the second inning, taking advantage of two errors, a pair of hit batsmen, a two-run double by shortstop Jared Johnson and towering, two-run home run by designated hitter Stu Ijames.
A hit batsman and another Cougar error led to a single run in the third inning before the Aces exploded for six runs in the top of the fifth. Johnson drove in one with a single before Young hit a 2-2 pitch from Skaggs out of the park in center field to plate the final four runs of the game.
The Cougars only threat came in the third inning. Sean Embry walked leading off and with one out, was sacrificed to second by Chris Douthitt. Ian Renfrow then walked and Timmy Langley was plunked with a pitch to load the bases for Gavin Logsdon. The designated hitter in this game, Logsdon worked the count to 2-2 before hitting a soft liner that seemed ticketed for short left-center field. However, Johnson at shortstop was able to make a leaping grab to take the hit away and end the Cougar rally.
Grayson County will begin district play on Monday at home as they take on Hancock County at 6 p.m.
donbrown00@alltel.net
Staff writer
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