Greenup routs Rams in the rain

By AARON SNYDER - The Independent

LLOYD Fri, May 16 2008

— With the weather becoming increasingly wicked, it was important for Greenup County to get off to a hot start Monday night.
In a rain-shortened affair, the Musketeers defeated Raceland 12-5 at Greenup County High School in five innings.
The Musketeers (20-6), now winners of six straight games, brought out the bats and shot out to a 6-0 lead after one inning.
“Putting up six in the first was a great way to start the game,” said Greenup County coach Greg Logan. “You never know what’s going to happen, especially with the weather the way it was.”
Eric Craft and Zach Stringfellow led off the bottom of the first with singles and then Billy Logan stepped up and took the first pitch he saw from Rams starter Damon Thompson over the left field wall for his sixth home run of the season.
“Billy is hitting the ball really well,” Logan said. “We told him at the beginning of the season that we expected 10 home runs and 50 RBIs from him. He’s delivered so far.”
The rest of the lineup delivered as well. Tyler Hieneman, Juan Staten and Drew Scaggs each crossed the plate as Greenup County sent 10 hitters to the batters’ box in the first.
The Musketeers added five more runs throughout the next two innings, taking an 11-3 lead.
Craft scored twice in the three-inning span while Stringfellow singled three times and drove in two runs.
“We’re seeing the ball really well,” Logan said. “With Eric Craft and (Stringfellow) at the top of the lineup, our lineup stacks up with anybody’s in the region.”
Raceland (6-10) has a weapon at the top of its lineup also. Rams shortstop Peyton Martin reached base in each of his three plate appearances and scored twice. Josh Wilson doubled him in both times.
“Peyton is one of the best players in the region,” said Raceland coach Randy Vanderhoof. “He gives us a spark at the top of the lineup.
“Wilson has been hitting the ball well too. Hopefully a few others can step up and hit too.”
The other three Raceland runs were unearned. Musketeers sophomore pitchers Ethan Hardin and L.T. Rice combined to strike out seven Rams, while walking one and hitting a batter.
“This sophomore group has done a good job for us,” Logan said. “We’re losing (Musketeers ace) Tyler Hieneman after this year, and it will be nice if these guys can step up for us to fill that hole. Hardin still has some things to learn, but he’s got a great curve ball.”
With two runners on and only one out in the top of the first, Dillon Keeton and Daniel Jones each fell victim to Hardin’s curve ball on strikeouts.
Although Raceland took a seven-run loss, Vanderhoof remained optimistic, considering who his team was up against.
“We’ve been playing better the past three weeks,” Vanderhoof said. “Tonight we ran into a great team, but we stayed in the ball game. Hopefully we can continue to get better.”
Raceland goes up against Rose Hill tonight and Greenup County will visit Russell.

RACELAND 003 02 — 5 5 3
GREENUP COUNTY 614 10 — 12 13 4
Thompson, Nichols (3) and Jones; Hardin, Rice (4) and Logan. W—Hardin. L—Thompson. 2B—Raceland, Wilson 2, Greenup Co., Martin. HR—Logan.