Warriors sweep series with Lions with shut out, come from behind wins

By Dan Ries

Sports Reporter

Carrollton senior Hayden Jenkins threw a five-inning no-hitter as the Warriors picked up a  10-0 victory over the Minerva Lions May 1 on Senior Night at Hensley Field. 

The college-commit walked two batters while striking out 11, including six of the first seven batters he faced. It was the third no-hitter of his career. 

The Warriors scored three runs in the bottom of the first. Garrett Broadwater led of with a single past first base and stole second a few pitches later. Hunter Allison connected on a triple to right, scoring Broadwater and coming home himself when the throw was misplayed by the Lions.  Landon James followed with an inside the park home run that sailed over the center fielder’s head, giving the Warriors a 3-0 lead.

Branden Marshall started the second inning with a single to right field. Jacob Whitmore followed with a single to left and both runners advanced a base on the throw.  Allison hit his second triple in as many innings, to center, scoring Marshall and Whitmore. A double by James would score Allison. After two innings, the Warriors led 6-0.

Whitmore doubled to lead off the fourth inning. Allison singled to left scoring Whitmore. James singled up the middle scoring Allison. Isiah McConnell hit the Warriors’ third triple of the game down the left field line scoring James. He scored two pitches later on a wild pitch, giving the Warriors a 10-0 victory.  

Jenkins was all smiles after the game. “It felt good to get the win. Glad to have all my buddies around me. I love the defense and they always play good around me. The sticks were hot tonight!” Jenkins said. 

Braydon Wood started for Minerva, throwing three innings. The sophomore gave up eight earned runs on nine hits, three walks and struck out six. Brennan Barnes pitched the final inning, giving up two earned runs on three hits, two walks and struck out two.

Allison was 3-3 with two triples, four RBIs and scored three runs. James also went 3-3, with a double and a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. McConnell was 1-2 with a triple, a run scored and an RBI. Whitmore was 2-3 with a double, scoring two runs.

Minerva April 30

Whitmore went 4-5 including two doubles in the Warriors’ 8-6 come-from-behind victory over Minerva on April 30 in Minerva.

Carrollton started the scoring when Broadwater reached first on an error by the Lions. Whitmore singled to center and both runners advanced a base on the throw. Allison then singled, driving in the first run for the Warriors. A single to left by Cooper Haun drove in two more runs and gave the Warriors a 3-0 lead.

The Lions struck back in their half of the first. Gaven Aquino singled to left. Julian Dunbar reached on an error and  Wood singled to left to load the bases. Logan Frigyes drew a walk to force in a run.  Ashtin McCrobie hit a sacrifice ground ball to score a second Minerva run. 

Minerva would take a 4-3 lead in the second.  Barnes reached first safely on an error. Dunbar would follow with a single to right. Wood then singled to left, driving in the tying run. A ground ball sacrifice by Frigyes would give the Lions a 4-3 advantage.

The Lions added another run in the bottom of the third. Luke Somers doubled to left-center. Jon Davis then smacked a single to left and Aiden Thomas drew a walk to load the bases. A sacrifice fly by Aquino would put the Lions up 5-3. 

The Warriors tied things up in the fifth. McConnell would manufacture the first run on his own. After singling to right, he stole second two pitches later. McConnell noticed the pitcher was ignoring him and took off for third, walking the last 15 feet as none of the Lions responded. Two pitches later, he scored on a passed ball.  Husted walked, stole second and scored on a single by Jenkins to tie things up at 5-5. 

Both teams added a run in the sixth to enter the seventh tied at 6-6.

Davis started the inning pitching for the Lions. His first pitch hit McCort. Husted then walked and both runners advanced a base on a passed ball. Broadwater hit a sacrifice fly to drive in McCort. Whitmore hit a double and was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple, but a second run crossed the plate, giving the Warriors an 8-6 lead.

Minerva loaded the bases with one out in their half of the seventh but did not score. 

Broadwater started the game for the Warriors and went two innings. He gave up five runs, three earned on six hits, two walks and had two strike outs. Allison pitched three shutout innings on two hits and four walks. McConnell threw the last two innings for the victory. He gave up an unearned run on one hit, one walk while and struck out four.

Frigyes pitched the first six innings for Minerva. He gave up six runs, four earned on 10 hits, three walks while striking out three. Davis pitched the final inning in relief, giving up two runs on one hit and a walk. 

Whitmore was 4-5 with two doubles an RBI and a run scored. Allison went 2-4 with an RBI, two runs and two stolen bases. Haun was 1-3, driving in three runs. McConnell was 2-3, scoring a run and two steals.

Dunbar was 2-4 and scored a run for the Lions. Wood went 3-4 with an RBI and run scored. Sommers went 1-3 with a double and run scored. Frigyes knocked in two runs, going 1-4.

Carrollton outhit the Lions 11-9. They also committed more errors 4-2. Minerva led in runners left on base 13-9. Both teams left the bases loaded in the first inning. Carrollton stranded five runners in the first two innings alone.