May 12, 2008
Wiggins boosts Rams’ playoff push
John Harvey
JAMES CITY — The calendar may read April, but it feels more like mid-May for Lafayette’s and Jamestown’s baseball teams as they push for a postseason berth.
Tyler Cobb had two hits and Jeff Wiggins improve to 5-2 on the hill Thursday as Lafayette edged Jamestown 3-2 at Mid County Park.
The victory gave the Rams sole possession of sixth place in the Bay Rivers District standings as well as the inside track of a potential playoff berth.
Cobb’s fine work with the bat continued Thursday, collecting two hits with an RBI and a run scored against Jamestown’s Scott Burkett (1-2).
Ryan Capelli had a double and an RBI and Macon Heikes drove in the game-winning run in the sixth to lead the Rams offensive attack.
Lafayette (7-5) also received another strong outing on the hill from Wiggins. The senior southpaw scattered two earned runs on nine hits and struck out five en route to another complete-game victory.
Jamestown (6-6) looked sharp early on, taking an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Josh Hathaway led off with a single and scored two batters later on a bloop-single from Garrett Wilcocks.
The Rams answered in the bottom of the inning with some clutch two-out hitting. Ryan Fleischmann drew a one-out walk and scored two batters later on an RBI-double from Capelli to tie the game at 1-1.
Lafayette took the lead in the third, thanks to some timely hitting from the middle of the lineup. With runners on second and third, Cobb roped an run-scoring single to center to score Colin Morrison for a 2-1 lead. Things could’ve been worse for the Eagles, but Hathaway threw out the second runner at the plate to stop the rally.
Cobb struck again in the sixth, adding a much-needed insurance run. The senior catcher led off with a double and scored two batters later Macon Heikes’ RBI single.
Jamestown didn’t go away quietly, mounting a comeback in its final at bat. Jackson Shaver singled with one out and scored on an RBI single by Chris Keltner. Burkett singled with two outs to put the winning run on first base, but Wiggins struck out the next batter to end the game.
Hathaway and had two hits and scored a run to lead the Eagles. Chase Wilcocks also had two hits in the loss.
Burkett (1-2) gave up three earned runs on five hits and struck out one in the loss.
On Wednesday, Lafayette dropped a 9-8 extra-inning decision at New Kent.
Al Hammil’s two-out single in the bottom of the ninth drove in Jake Williams with the game-winning run for the Trojans.
Jake Jones went 2 for 5 with 2 RBI and two runs scored to lead New Kent (4-8). Joey Bell added two hits and scored two runs, while Steven Allen drove in four more for the Trojans.
Drew Grimes had two hits and drove in two to pace Lafayette. Fleischmann also had a hit and drove in a pair for Lafayette.
Warhill —Thomas Gill picked up his second win in as many games, scattering two hits in the Lions’ 6-0 win over Bruton on Thursday.
Michael Basilico and Gill collected two hits apiece to lead Warhill (2-9-1). Cameron Mettler had a hit to pace Bruton (2-10).
On Wednesday, the Lions held their own in a 9-7 loss to Poquoson. Kyle Lunge had two hits and scored two runs and Basilico added two hits and drove in a pair for Warhill.
Kevin Alvarez also belted a three-run homer in the seventh and Brandon Lyons contributed a triple and 2 RBI in the loss.
Copyright © 2008, The Virginia Gazette
