STUART — Patrick County scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to break a tie ballgame and the Cougars never looked back in a 6-3 win over the Comets in Piedmont District action Thursday night.Â
The two sides entered the bottom of the fourth locked into a 2-2 tie. A pair of errors on sophomore Gavin Fain and senior Jai Penn’s groundballs put the go-ahead and insurance runs on the base paths with two outs. Moments later, senior Martin Sawyers scored both runners with his single to left to give the Cougars a 4-2 lead.Â
Halifax (17-3, 10-3 Piedmont) struck back in the sixth with a run to close the gap to one. Freshman Garrison Colwell reached on a one-out error and junior Colin Mabe followed with a walk to put runners on first and second base. Senior Josh Gunn didn’t stand on ceremony, smacking a single to center that plated Cowell to make it a 4-3 contest.Â
Patrick County (18-3, 9-3) didn’t let the Comets hold the momentum long as Stuart Callahan hit a line drive to left that sailed over the fence for a two-run home run that pushed the Cougars’ lead to 6-3 heading into the final frame.Â
Halifax put together a bit of a rally in the seventh, putting runners on first and second on freshman Logan Clark’s single to right and senior Trey Comer’s base knock that split the left side of the infield. However, the rally wasn’t meant to be as Callahan induced a strikeout to close the win and pick up the win.Â
The Cougars got the scoring started in the first when Callahan and junior Tucker Swails came home on an error to make it 2-0. Halifax didn’t stay down long, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the third when senior Cameron Carson scored on an error and a miscue on senior Tyler Collins’ pop up to first plated Clark with the tying run.Â
Callahan got the win in relief, scattering three hits and a run while striking out three in 3.2 innings pitched. Penn got the start on the bump, giving up four hits and two runs while striking out four in 3.1 thrown.Â
Clark and Gunn led Halifax with a pair of hits apiece while Gunn recorded an RBI.Â
Junior Mason Hatcher turned in a solid start for the Comets, giving up five and four runs – none earned – and striking out six in five innings thrown.Â
Halifax resumes action Monday when it wraps up the regular season with a resumed game against Tunstall that was delayed by weather last Tuesday with the game locked into a scoreless tie in the top of the eighth inning.Â
The Comets will immediately follow with their first game of the Piedmont District Tournament. First pitch for the first game is scheduled for 5 p.m.Â
Davin Wilson is the sports editor for The Gazette-Virginian. Contact him at dwilson@gazettevirginian.com.
