Published: May 13, 2009 07:04 am      

Greenup County saves best for last, tops Boyd

CANNONSBURG — Greenup County’s back was against the ropes, its 16-game win streak on the line. The Musketeers weren’t about to give in, though.

Down four runs going into the top of the seventh inning, Greenup County put together a feverish rally and scored seven runs before an out was ever made to blow past Boyd County 8-5 on Tuesday night.

In the inning, the Musketeers had six singles, which included a streak of five straight hits. It came unexpected since Greenup County managed just four hits total through the first six innings.

“It’s fun after it’s over, but not while it’s going on,” Greenup County coach Greg Logan said.

Logan and the rest of the Musketeers were stressed most of the night and looked to be dead in the water going into the final frame. Boyd County pitcher Tyler Arthur held them in check, scattering four hits while allowing just a lone run through six innings.

Arthur, too, went out on the mound in the seventh to try to finish off Greenup County, but was replaced by Kyle Pauley after walking a batter, letting another on by his own error and then allowing a single up the middle.

Pauley walked the first batter he faced, leadoff man Eric Craft, and the flood gates opened from there.

The Musketeers peeled off six straight singles — all on hard hits and three straight up the middle of the infield.

All of the sudden, the Musketeers had it lined up after a tough night at the plate. Seven runs were on the board before Pauley struck out Zac Smith for the first out of the inning. The damage was done.

Logan had a tough time explaining it.

“(Arthur) had our number; it was just another zero, another zero, another zero,” he said. “We just needed a little pep and somehow we came out with the win, even though I don’t understand it.”

Billy Logan had a RBI single in the seventh after going 0-for-3 to that point. The Greenup County catcher also came in to pitch the bottom half of the seventh.

Logan had pitched just 2 1/3 innings all season and had allowed four runs. He had a little extra juice, though, after the big top half of the inning.

“It got my adrenaline going,” he said. “I think that’s the hardest I’ve ever thrown.”

Logan got a ground out to third and struck out the final two batters to end the game and up the Musketeers’ win streak to 17.

Behind a strong pitching performance from Arthur, the Lions opened up a 4-0 lead. They scored one in the third on an RBI single by Cody Delaney and three more in the fourth when Brad Cornwell, Chase Pettit and Pauley all drove in runs. Pauley added another RBI on a double in the sixth. Junior outfielder Jared Spicer went 3-for-4 on the night.

Greenup County got on the board with an RBI double off the bat of L.T. Rice in the sixth. Rice, Dakota Greenslate and Tyler Peveto each had a pair of hits for the Musketeers.

Greenup County (25-7) will look to make it 18 straight in a home doubleheader against Wheelersburg and Fairview tonight.

Boyd County (14-17) is at Lawrence County on Thursday.

GREENUP COUNTY 000 001 7 — 8 10 2

BOYD COUNTY 001 301 0 — 5 12 1

James, Vanbibber (5), Logan (7) and Logan, Rice (7); Arthur, Pauley (7) and Cornwell. W-Vanbibber. L-Pauley. 2B-Rice (G), Pauley (B).