The Lake View Wild Gators edged the Flashes 10-9 on Monday, April 16, in baseball action in Johnsonville.
Both teams were scoreless in the first inning, but Lake View pulled ahead with two runs in the top of the second. Darius Leonard got to base on a single and was brought in by Steele Mendenhall, and Brody Smith got to base on an error, stole second, and was brought in by a fielder’s choice from Chris Ford. Johnsonville’s Gagliano got to base on a single in the bottom of the inning, then stole second and was brought in by a single from Powell.
In the third, Eric Munoz hit a double and was brought in by a single from Darius Leonard to put Lake View ahead 3-1. Johnsonville cut the lead to 3-2 with a run from Lee, who got to base on a walk and was brought in by Powell.
Both teams were again scoreless in the fourth, but Lake View took a commanding lead in the fifth with seven runs. Munoz got to base on a walk and was brought in by a home run from Hunter Walters, and Darius Leonard followed up with a solo home run. Brody Smith singled and came in on a single from Chris Ford, and Nate Lewis hit a double to bring in Ford and Roger Scott. Munoz then doubled to bring in Lewis, and made it to base on a single from John Michael Brown, but couldn’t make it home before the end of the inning.
The Flashes weren’t down yet, though, as they responded with six runs in the bottom of the inning. Powell hit a single and and was brought in by a double from Stone. Barnhill walked, and he and stone were brought in by a double from Prossel. Daniel singled to bring in Prossel, and Phillips walked, and an error on Lee’s at bat brought both of them in to end the scoring for the inning.
With the Gators ahead 10-8, neither team could cross the plate in the sixth. Brody Smith doubled but was thrown out on the way to third, and Steele Mendenhall walked and made it to second before the inning ended. Johnsonville’s Powell hit to left field and was tagged out, Barnhill hit a fly and was put out, and Williams struck out to end the inning for the Flashes.
In the top of the seventh, Lewis and Munoz both struck out swinging, and a fly from Walters was caught for the out. But Johnsonville’s Stone hit a single in the bottom of the inning, moved to second on an error, and third from a line hit to the pitcher by Daniel, and finally crossed home on another hit to the pitcher from Phillips. With Prossel at third, Lee hit to right field and was thrown out to end the game with Lake View on top at 10-9.
Lewis pitched three and one-third innings for Lake View, facing 19 batters for four hits, two runs, one earned run, two outs, and four walks. Leonard pitched one and a third innings, facing 11 batters for four hits, six runs, four earned runs, two walks, and two outs. Brown pitched two and one-thirds innings for Lake View, facing nine batters for one, hit, one run, and one out.
Stone pitched a complete game for Johnsonville, facing 40 batters for 13 hits, 10 runs, eight earned runs, five walks, and six outs.
Darius Leonard led Lake View at bat, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Brody Smith went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored; Hunter Walters went 1-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and one run scored; Eric Munoz went 2-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI, and two runs scored; Nate Lewis went 1-for-5 with a double, two RBIs, and one run scored; Chris Ford went 1-for-5 with two RBIs and one run scored; Roger Scott went 1-for-3 with one run scored; and Jon Michael Brown went 1-for-4.
At bat for Johnsonville, Powell went 2-for-4 with an RBI and one run; Stone went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored; Prossel went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and one run scored; Daniel went 1-for-4 with an RBI and one run; Gagliano went 1-for-4 with one run scored; Barnhill went 1-for-3 with one run scored; Williams went 1-for-4; Phillips picked up an RBI and scored one run; and Lee scored a run.
The Wild Gators faced Latta on Friday for a 7-0 loss, leaving Lake View with an 11-4 overall record and 9-3 in Region 8A to finish region play in third place.
Lake View was set to host Mullins on Monday night, with state playoffs scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 26. Check thedillonherald.com for the latest playoff updates!
