Richland Blues shut down Lebanon

By DAVE COX/Staff

Richlands capitalized on nine walks, three errors and just four hits to grab a 12-0 shutout victory over Lebanon last Saturday to stay alive in the District 11 Little League 10-11-year-olds All- Star baseball tournament at Flanary Field.

The loss pitted the Blues against Clinch River for a second time in the tournament on Sunday. Clinch River dropped to the loser’s bracket after suffering a loss to undefeated Honaker on Saturday. Lebanon exited the double elimination tournament after Saturday’s loss to Richlands.

The Blues got no-hit performances from three different pitchers Saturday as Andy Guerriero, Seth Keene and Jay Harrison all saw time on the mound for the Blues. Guerriero went just one inning. Keene pitched two frames and Harrison one in the four inning 10- run rule shortened contest. Guerriero struck out three batters and Keene and Harrison one each. Neither pitcher walked anyone.

Jacob Smith started on the hill for Lebanon and went 2 1/3 innings. He gave up just three hits, but had control problems. He walked seven batters and gave up nine runs. Smith did manage to strike out four batters. J. J. Owens relieved Smith and allowed three runs.

Jonathan “Shaggy” Cochran carried the big bat for the Blues. The feisty shortstop pounded out a triple and double and batted in two runs. He also scored twice. Wesley Mays tripled and knocked in a run while scoring three times for the Blues. Harrison had one hit and a RBI. Zack Johnson and Keene had one RBI apiece. Bradley Jordan, Zack Johnson, Allen Proffi tt and Josh Doud scored once each. Guerriero scored a pair of runs in the game.

The Blues plated a single run in the fi rst inning, added two more in the second and broke things wide open with nine tallies in the third chapter.