Saints drop heart-breaking defeat to Corinth-Holders

By Cam Ellis
Published in Sports on April 7, 2015 1:48 PM

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cellis@newsargus.com

WILSON -- Spring break just hasn't been kind to Southern Wayne.

Two days after a 13-run loss, the Saints fell 4-3 against Corinth-Holders on Monday afternoon during day two of the second annual Golden Leaf Invitational at Ferrell Field.

Southern Wayne managed two hits the first inning, but didn't get another hit until the sixth.

"We came into the dugout, and I asked them 'when was the last time we hit a hard groundball,'" SW head coach Jackson Massey said. "And up until the fifth inning, we hadn't hit a hard groundball."

Corinth-Holders got on the board in the first inning when left fielder Jake Lewis drove in Grant Austin with an RBI single. The Pirates struck again in the fourth on an RBI single from first baseman Mason Cooper. A double-steal attempt in the fifth inning that plated another run.

The Saints answered in the sixth.

First baseman Cody Davis ripped an RBI single into left field. Matt Holland followed up with an RBI sacrifice fly to right field before Tyler Brock's pinch-hit single to center scored the tying run after an erratic throw from the center fielder.

The tie didn't last long, however.

After recording the first two outs in under 10 pitches, Pirates shortstop Tyler Barritt reached on single, stole second, and came around to score the winning run on Lewis' double down the left field line.

"We had our chance to win in the end," Massey said. "We didn't hang our heads like we had done in past games. They hit one down the line and it took a bad hop.

"That's just the way it goes sometimes. When you're in close games like that, it's almost like you're going to flip a coin."

Matt Holland started the game and earned a no-decision for the Saints. He allowed one run on four hits and retired two C-H batters on strikeouts in 32/3 innings. Jack Casbarro replaced Holland and was on the hook for the loss. It was the first time that Casbarro had ever pitched at the high school level.

"Matt's been one of those guys who's battled for us all year," Massey said. "He's been consistent for us. Any time you have a pitcher, if they give you a chance at the end of the game, that's all you can ask for.

What sticks out to me is the way our guys battled for seven innings. That's the first time we've really done that in a long time. That's all we preached today."