Indians Baseball Picks Up Two Wins

The Vidalia High School Indians baseball team took on the Raiders of West Laurens, the Tigers of Swainsboro, and the Royals of Bleckley County last week. The Indiana picked up two wins to move to 3-1 early in this new season. vs. W. Laurens

The Raiders of West Laurens beat the Vidalia Indians baseball team in Dublin Tuesday night by a score of 10-6. The Indian bats were cold getting only two hits on the night. The Indians picked up 12 walks and one hit batter but could not pick up the key hits as they left runners on base in all seven innings. Tucker McDonald started on the mound but the Indians wound up using five pitchers on the night with Conner Whited taking the loss in relief. The Raiders pounded out nine hits including four doubles and a home run to go with 10 walks and a hit batter. Kaleb Bennett and Carson Ricks got the only hits for the Indians. Ricks got a double and had three RBI's on the night.

In the first inning neither team was able to get anything going. In the top of the 2nd inning the Indians got a couple of walks and a double by Ricks down the left field line plated both runners putting the Indians on top 2-0. In the bottom half the Raiders got a two out infield single. The runner moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a double leaving the Indians up 2-1 after two innings.

In the 3rd inning the Indians picked up another run as Bennett reached on a two base error by the left fielder, stole third and scored on a Sac Fly by Dawson Lowe. However, in the bottom half the Raiders capitalized on four walks, a hit batter and a single to score three more runs giving them a 4-3 lead after three complete.

The Indians couldn't capitalize on two walks in the top of the 4th inning but the Raiders came up with three more runs in the bottom half on a walk, single and two doubles to push their lead to 8-3 after four complete.

In the top of the 5th inning Bennett led off with a single which was followed by three straight walks plating one run and leaving the bases loaded with no outs. After a strikeout and infield pop out the Indians plated two more on a hit batter and another walk closing the gap to 8-6 but a strike out with the bases loaded ended the inning. The Raiders got one back in the bottom half making the score 9-6 after five complete innings.

The Indians couldn't score in the 6th or 7th innings but the Raiders got a long home run in the bottom of the 6th inning to make the final score 10-6. The loss puts the Indians at 1-1 on the young season. vs. Swainsboro

The Vidalia Indians shut out the Swainsboro Tigers by a score of 7-0 at Greg James Field on Thursday night February 16 for their second win of the season. Walker Moncus pitched the complete game victory striking out 12 Tigers while allowing only two hits. Moncus dominated the the Tigers getting two strike outs in each of the first five innings and one each in the 6th and 7th. The Indian batters picked up seven hits with Andrew Norfleet and Conner Whited each going 2 for 2 and Carson Ricks going 2 for 3. Banks, Ricks, Patel and Whited picked up one RBI each, while Moncus got two.

Neither team scored in the first inning. In the bottom of the 2nd inning Norfleet knocked a one out single to right but was forced at second on a ground ball fielders choice by Stewart. Bennett came in as a courtesy runner and moved to second on an errant pick off attempt. Whited followed with an RBI single to plate Bennett with the first run.

Both teams again failed to score in the 3rd inning. However, in the bottom of the 4th inning Norfleet again picked up a one out single followed by Stewart reaching base on an error. Whited followed with an infield single to load the bases with one out. Banks picked up an RBI walk, followed by RBI ground balls from Ricks and Moncus. Banks scored the fourth run of the inning on a balk giving the Indians a 5-0 lead after four complete.

Again neither team scored in the 5th inning, but the Indians tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Whited led off with a walk, and Banks moved him to second base with a sacrifice bunt. Ricks followed with an infield single, putting runners on the corners with one out. Moncus drove in Whited with a ground out, and Ricks moved to second base. Patel followed with a double down the left field line, driving home Ricks to make the score 7-0. Moncus shut the Tigers down again in the top of the 7th to pick up the shut out win and go 2-0 on the season. vs. Bleckley

The Vidalia HS baseball team traveled to Cochran Friday, February 17 to complete a two-game home and home series with Bleckley County. Vidalia had won the first game at Greg James Field by a 3-1 score on February 9. It took extra innings but the Indians won game two by a 2-1 score in 9 innings. The bats for both teams were as cold as the night with both teams only getting 5 hits each. However, the pitching was strong for both teams as the Royals hurlers struck out 19 Indian batters, and the Indian hurlers got 14 strike outs of their own.

Carson Ricks started on the mound for the Indians going 3 and 2/3 innings while striking out six, walking three, giving up 3 hits and one run. Dawson Stewart came on in relief in the bottom of the 4th inning with two on, two outs and one run scored to get a strike out ending the threat. Stewart then proceeded to pitch five more scoreless innings and pick up the win. He struck out eight (including the final three in the bottom of the 9th), walked one, hit one and gave up two hits.

Although there were base runners for both teams in the first three innings, neither team could get the key hit to drive in any runs. However, in the bottom of the 4th inning the Royals got a lead off walk with that runner moving to second on a passed ball. Ricks struck out the next two batters but then yielded a two out RBI double putting the Royals on top 1-0. After the next batter drew a walk, Stewart came on in relief and promptly struck out the first batter he faced to end the inning.

In the top half of the 5th inning Conner Whited led off with a single to right field, then moving to second on a ground ball out. After the next batter grounded out, Moncus drove an 0-2 pitch over the left fielders head driving in Whited with the tying run. The Royals couldn't score in the bottom half, leaving the game tied at 1-1 after five complete innings.

Each team mounted threats over the next three innings with neither team able to score, sending the game into the 9th inning. In the top half Bennett reached on a one out single, moved to second on a balk and then scored the go ahead run on two consecutive wild pitches. That put the Indians up 2-1 going to the bottom half. Stewart made it look easy, striking out the side to secure the 2-1 win.

That runs the Indians' season record to 3-1 after two weeks of nonregion play. This week VHS was at Brunswick High on Monday after presstime to take on the Pirates. VHS will be back at home on Thursday to play the Rockmart Yellowjackets at 5:00 pm. They will be on the road again Friday as they travel to Kathleen, GA to play a doubleheader against the Veterans High Warhawks starting at 5:00 pm.

Walker Moncus was on the mound for VHS and gave up only two hits against the Tigers of Swainsboro while striking out 12.Photo by Mike Branch