KFDM COOP Posted March 20, 2008 Report Posted March 20, 2008 Lee romps to first District 21-5A win By Michael Pineda Baytown Sun Published March 21, 2008 Lee and Port Arthur entered a Thursday matinee 0-3 in District 21-5A and that was the only thing they had in common. Everybody wearing a uniform saw action for the Ganders as they knocked off the Titans 20-2 to pick up their first district win. Cameron Powers worked four innings to pick up the win, giving up one unearned run on four hits while striking out one and walking two. Offensively, Lee scored its 20 runs on 11 hits against an error prone Port Arthur team. The blow out turned out to be just what Lee needed as it had to overcome a tough 1-0 loss to West Brook Wednesday night. The Bruins scored the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. “To get out to the ballpark and get a win after last night is obviously a good feeling for us,†Lee head coach James Hillin said. “We have played well in three of the first four district games, but we haven’t got hits when we need them and we haven’t had any good luck.†Luck was not in the equation for Lee Thursday as Memorial made it easy. The Ganders scored four runs on wild pitches and took advantage of four errors against a Titan team that struggled to make plays on routine fly balls. The first error was committed on a line drive to right field that was misplayed, scoring Jesse Luna as Michael Mahan advanced to third. Luna’s run would be the first of eight in the inning for Lee. Mahan added an RBI triple later in the inning. Powers wasn’t especially sharp on the mound, but was able to get the out when he needed it. The senior gave up two singles in the first but minimized the damage by picking of Paul Ray at second base. In the second inning he walked two batters but was helped out on a double play ball. Lee batted around in the second inning, adding four more runs. Reed Seeley had an RBI double and Luna had the privilege of watching two base runners cross the plate on an at-bat. Hillin started to empty the bench in the third inning but Memorial was unable to stop the bleeding as Lee added eight more runs. The first seven batters all reached safely with Collin Bieschke coming through with a big hit on a two-run double. Port Arthur broke up the shutout in the top of the fourth as Ronnie Sanchez reached on an error and scored. Corey Reel took over for Powers in the fourth and gave up a leadoff triple to Ray, who would score on a sacrifice. Reel retired his last three batters to end the game. Luna finished 2 for 3 at the plate with two runs. Seeley was 2 for 2 with two runs and two RBIs and Denzel Thomas was 2 for 2 with two runs. In Wednesday night’s game, Lee only managed four hits but received a strong effort on the mound by Seeley who went 7 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking none while giving up four hits, two in the eighth. “He’s fun to watch because he competes,†Hillin said. “He doesn’t get rattled and he goes after hitters. I knew he was going to be good but he has been a surprise.†West Brook scored the winning run with two outs in the eighth inning on a base hit that went down the line. Lee had runners on first and second in the sixth and seventh inning but could not get a run across. “They had a good pitcher,†Hillin said. “We just need someone to step up in those situations.†Lee is 5-12 overall and 1-3 in district. The Ganders will return to action on Tuesday when it travels to Humble.
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