Baseball Lions to face No. 1 state-ranked team
April 6, 2010

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE -- Greenville’s Lions will face the state’s No. 1 ranked baseball team at home tonight while the Greenville Lady Lions try to complete a district softball sweep at Highland Park.

The 4-12 Lions, who are 1-6 in District 10-4A play, will entertain the 26-0 Rockwall-Heath Hawks at 7:30 at John Mason Field behind Greenville High School. Not only are the Hawks ranked No. 1 among Class 4A teams in the Metroplex but they also hold the top spot in the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association’s Class 4A state rankings.

The 10-8-1 Lady Lions, who are 2-6 in district play, will travel to University Park to take on the 5-18 Highland Park Scots at 4:30 p.m.

Rockwall-Heath is 7-0 in district play, including a 10-0 victory over the Lions on March 9 in Heath. John Branum homered to lead the Hawks at the plate, while teammate Trevor Holland ripped a triple and Drew Benefield slugged a double.

Chase Wofford led the Lions that night with a double.

Wofford started on the mound during the Lions’ 8-1 loss to Rockwall in Greenville’s home opener on Thursday. Wofford and Ethan Hackney have been handling most of the mound duties for the Lions after Greenville lost two of its top pitchers to injuries. Miguel Saavedra has missed the district schedule after breaking his left arm in a tournament and Thomas Trower has been out for several games after breaking his thumb. Greenville coach Cody Salyers said the Lions could get Saavedra back from the injured list in the next week but Trower is likely out for the remainder of the season.

Rockwall-Heath won its last district game by an 11-1 count over Highland Park. Nick Peterson, Jovan Hernandez and Jake Thompson all slugged homers for the Hawks and Peterson also ripped two doubles.

“I know they don’t have a loss,” said Salyers. “(Tonight’s) as good a time as any to give them a loss.”

Greenville’s Lady Lions will try to go 2-0 against Highland Park in district play this season. They blanked them 6-0 at Greenville on March 12 as the Lady Lions’ sophomore lefty Rachael Cook fired a one-hitter.

Cook, Katie Threndyle, Arian Alford, Sidney Tippit and Leanah Halverson all had hits for the Lady Lions in that game.

“We need to win three of the next four to be considered for the playoffs,” said Lady Lions coach Glenn Banker.

The Lady Lions lost their last district game 17-2 at home on Thursday night to Rockwall-Heath.

Tippit, Halverson, Threndyle and Alford all had hits for the Lady Lions, who struck out 11 times against Rockwall-Heath right-hander Victoria Combs.

Highland Park dropped its last game, 5-4 to Newman Smith on Thursday.