By By Jamey Lanier / staff writer
April 19, 2002
If Union coach Joey Ward could use the rules of golf instead of baseball, he would probably take a mulligan for the opening game of the Division-5 Class 1-A playoffs.
Union committed four errors in the first three innings and Weir came up with some key hits, including a three-run blast by Eric Hoskins in the third inning that proved to be the winning margin.
The Yellowjackets seemed to come alive in the sixth inning, trailing 8-4 Union leftfielder Jordan Robinson stroked a single to left, followed by another single by Jody Blount that got the crowd going. After Wes Henry drew a walk, and with the fans supplying the Jacket-Racket, Zack Robinson hit a shot that was too hot for the Lions' third baseman to handle that plated Jordan Robinson. Blount came around on aa Eric Graham single followed by a Danny Cain sacrifice fly that brought in Henry to put Union within one with one inning to play.
Weir loaded the bases in the top of the seventh on a hit batsman, a walk and an infield single and scored twice on a two-run double by Lance Miller. Relief pitched Brooks Vance showed his grit after the big hit, striking out Hoskins and Bo Henderson and inducing a groundout to end the inning.
Union put up one final run in the bottom of the seventh when Jacob Casey reached on a single and later scored on a Zack Robinson single, but it was too little too late after Danny Cain flied out to the first baseman to end the game.
The Yellowjackets, who fall to 17-12 on the year, was led at the plate by Blount with a double, a single and two runs scored followed by Casey with a walk,single and two scores.
Union travels to Weir Friday for a 6:00 P.M. contest in the best-of-three series. The third game will be at Union at noon if necessary.