For the Daily Journal
MORRISTOWN
The season was on the line for the Greenwood Christian baseball team against Edinburgh on Wednesday night. The two county rivals traveled out to Morristown for their first-round sectional game with hopes of extending their season.
In a dominant performance, the Cougars were able to advance and end the Lancers’ season, 14-0, in six innings.
The Cougars got onto the board early thanks to a lead off triple from Charlie Overton (3-4, 3 RBIs). Jake Potter’s ability to put the ball in play brought Overton home for a quick 1-0 lead.
The Lancers threatened early as well in the bottom of the first with a lead off triple from Noah Detling, but he was left stranded on base.
In the top of the second, the Cougars began to put some distance between themselves and the Lancers with three runs scored by Micah Vessely, Matthew Heldman and Mason Wright. Heldman and Wright were driven in by Overton.
Down 4-0 in the bottom of the second, the Lancers went down in order on strikes.
The Cougars took a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the third inning after doubles from Potter, Trey Harney and Eli Ellis.
Despite sporadic hits, walks and errors that landed runners on base, neither team found their way across home plate in the fourth or fifth innings — but smelling a run-rule win in the air, the Cougar bats came back to life in the top of the sixth inning.
Led by a single and triple from Ellis and a two-run single from Overton, the Cougars put eight home to extend their lead to 14.
Facing the end of their season, the Lancers fought in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back singles from Detling and Chris Gravelin. That strong start was not enough to extend the game, though, as Edinburgh left the bases loaded.
GCA’s Isaac Vessely pitched a complete game, giving up four hits and two walks while striking out 12.
Edinburgh’s Gabe Bennett pitched five innings in defeat. He had seven strikeouts while waking two.
The Cougars will now meet No. 7 Southwestern on Saturday morning for a spot in the sectional championship game. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.
