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  • Hornet second baseman Oscar Valdez (2) tags out Eustace’s Chris Compton as he tries to steal second base during Saturday’s championship game at the 2010 Hornet Varsity Baseball Tournament at Hornet Field. Athens catcher Matt Jordan made the throw that nailed Compton. Jayson Larson/Athens Review

    Valdez tags out Compton

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March 14, 2010

2010 HORNET VARSITY BASEBALL TOURNAMENT: Our field, our title

Athens wins championship with 11-3 win over Eustace Bulldogs

Jayson Larson The Athens Review

ATHENS — The Athens Hornets got their fourth consecutive win Saturday and a little hardware, too.

For the second time in as many days, the Hornets handed a lopsided defeat to a tough Eustace Bulldogs club, 11-3, to win their own championship trophy at the 2010 Hornet Varsity Baseball Tournament.

Athens advanced to the title game with a 14-4 win over the Bulldogs (7-5-1) on Friday.

Saturday’s tense and tight 4-3 game heading into the sixth inning soon became a blowout. The Hornets (7-3) scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth, including two on catcher Matt Jordan’s two-run blast to the opposite field. It was his team-leading fifth homer of the season.

Luke Solomon also had a big home run, sending a delivery from Eustace pitcher Chris Compton over the centerfield wall in the bottom of the first. The blast was not only impressive, but timely — it gave the Hornets a 3-2 lead after they fell behind 2-0 early.

“We talked about it before the game — this is going to be a seven-inning game,” Athens Head Coach Tony Sikes said. “Regardless of what happens, we told the kids to keep their heads in it and don’t dwell on mistakes because they’re going to come back around at the plate and going to get another shot in the field. I think we did a good job with that.”

The Bulldogs got to Athens starter Coty Willett for two runs in the top of the first. Braden Strickland reached on a one-out error and Compton followed with a single. Both scored on Raymond Shutak’s RBI single to right.

The Hornets took the lead in the bottom of the first when Jordan’s fly to center was dropped, allowing Hunter Choate to score after reaching on a single. Jordan scored on Solomon’s homer that gave the Hornets a 3-2 lead.

Strickland tied the game with a monster home run over the scoreboard in left in the top of the third. It was his sixth homer of the season.

Shaky defense again stung the ’Dogs in the fourth, when they gave up the lead on an error off the bat of Willett that brought home Morgan Sellers, who got aboard on a single.

The 4-3 lead held up until the seven-run sixth by the Hornets.

“We just didn’t make plays when we needed to,” Eustace Head Coach Chris Compton said. “We just couldn’t get it done defensively, and we couldn’t get it done when we had runners in scoring position. The kids tried, but we just couldn’t get it done today.”

Before Athens’ big inning, the Bulldogs missed a chance to mount an offensive of their own. Brad Sawicki, who singled in the second, started off the fifth with a walk. Strickland singled two batters later, and Compton reached on an error to load the bases with one out.

Willett worked his way out of trouble by getting Jacob Petillo out on an infield fly, and Shutak’s pop out to a tumbling Oscar Valdez at second ended the inning.

“Coty did a great job,” Sikes said. “He’s one of those guys who, once he gets started and gets into a groove, he can throw the whole game and go eight or nine innings. ... He doesn’t get overemotional about anything good or bad happening.”

Willett got the win, throwing a complete-game five hitter. He struck out two and allowed just one earned run.

Compton was hit with the loss. Shutak and Petillo also saw time on the mound.

Choate, Solomon and Sellers had two hits each. Carson Hutson walked twice and Cody Carson was hit by pitches twice.

The Hornets return to action Tuesday at home against Canton. First pitch for the varsity is set for 6 p.m.

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