Cougars overcome errors defeat Grangers

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

NEWNAN 7 LaGRANGE 5

The Newnan Cougars scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and overcame six errors Tuesday night to defeat the LaGrange Grangers 7-5 in a non-region baseball game played at Joe Pope Field.
With the game tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Devin Henry ledoff reaching first base after being hit by a pitch from losing pitcher Tristain Daugherty and moved to second on a groundout by Derrick Nelson.
Rodney Tennie followed with a single to center field that scored Henry and the former was able to race into second on a throw to the plate.
Tennie scored the final run of the evening when he went to third on a flyball to right field by Jonathan Swenson and was eventually awarded home after a balk was called against Daugherty.
After a solid outing that saw him allow six hits and record three strikeouts in six innings, Sumner was replaced by Will Greggors who pitched an effective top of the seventh inning for the save allowing one baserunner on an error but a double play erased the runner and ended the game.
The Grangers took the lead in the top of the first inning as Bryce Todd reached first on an infield error and advanced on a single by Jack Bradford before an errant throw from the outfield allowed home to be awarded home.
After hitting Granger catcher Price Peters with a pitch, Cougars starter Thomas Sumner recovered to record a forceplay, a line drive to shortstop and a groundout to minimize the damage.
Sumner's teammates helped him out in the bottom of the first inning as Nelson and Tennie reached on back-to-back errors by the Grangers and both came home on a one-out double down the third base line by Brandon Dawson.
After Sam Buchanan and Connor Dunn were hit by pitches, Dawson was able to give the Cougars a 3-1 when he came home on a wild pitch surrendered by LaGrange starter Mitchell Donahue.
In the bottom ofthe second inning, Newnan added to the lead as Henry led off the frame with a single and stole second and after Jonathan Swenson reached with two-outs after being hit by a pitch, Henry was able to score on Dawson's second conseciutive run producing double of the night.
Swenson, who advanced to third on Dawson's double came home to give the Cougars a 5-1 lead as Buchanan singled but the inning ended as Dawson tried to score on the hit.
Dawson and Buchanan had two hits each as well as Henry in the game for the Cougars.
After two innings, Donahue was replaced on the mound by Cord Carson who gave LaGrange hope as he was able to keep Newnan off the scoreboard for three innings and allow his team to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning.
Caleb Buchanan reached on a leadoff single and advanced to second as a double play attempt went awry on an infield error.
After Sumner retired Chas Pardue on a strikeout, Todd singled to left allowing Buchanan to come home and cut the margin to 5-2 and Zach Giddens to reach second.
Bradford reached on a forceplay and Peters followed with a single that scored Todd and cut the margin to 5-3 and both moved up a base after the ball was misplayed in left field.
A controversial balk was called on Sumner and Bradford came home to cut the lead to 5-4 and cause Newnan head coach Kenny Morris to come out of the dugout and plead his case to no avail.
After Morris returned to the dugout, Sumner surrendered a single to Jake Norton that scored courtesy runner Wynton Heard from and tie the game at 5-5.
The Cougars will be on the road Thursday afternoon when they travel to Carroll County to face the Carrollton Trojans.
In other Coweta baseball, the East Coweta game at Luella and the Heritage-Arlington matchup were rained out. The Indians-Lions game and will be played Wednesday while Northgate will play a regularly scheduled game at home against Ola.