Mount Pleasant nips Lions in eighth
March 19, 2011

By Steve Shwarts
Herald-Banner Staff

The Greenville Lions lost a tough District 13-4A baseball opener 6-5 in extra innings to the Mount Pleasant Tigers on Friday at John Mason Field.

"It was a heartbreaking loss," said Greenville coach Cody Salyers, whose Lions battled back from a 4-2 deficit to tie the game and then lost it in the eighth inning. Mount Pleasant scored the game-winning run after Riley Greenlee reached on an outfield error, advancing to third on the play. Tony Flores then drove in Greenlee with a bunt.

The Lions scored first as Michael Riskey walked, stole second and came home on Miguel Saavedra's double in the first inning.

Greenville scored again in the third as Riskey reached on an infield error and Saavedra singled to drive in Riskey.

But the Tigers rallied with four runs in the fourth inning, helped by a couple of Lion errors and two talks by Saavedra.

The Lions rallied by in the fifth as Riskey walked and Saavedra singled for the Greenville senior's third RBI of the game.

Mount Pleasant's Tony Flores singled with two out in the top of the sixth, then came home on Wyatt Caddel's single.

Greenville answered as Blake Taylor singled, Justin Koger reached first on the Mount Pleasant pitcher's error, Justin Benton then was tagged out at first, but the Mount Pleasant first baseman lost the ball, allowing Taylor and Koger to score to tie the game at five.

Saavedra, the Lions' starting pitcher, struck out 11 in seven innings. Dustin Wofford took the loss in relief.

The Lions are now 7-7-1 for the season and 0-1 in district. They will travel to Sulphur Springs Tuesday for a 7:30 p.m. game with the Wildcats.

District 13-4A baseball

Mount Pleasant 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 1 --6 4 3

Greenville 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 --5 6 3

WP: Michael Kopech, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 ER, 3 BBs, 3 Ks in 4 2/3 IP, in relief of Cody Heintz, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 ERs, 2 BBs, 6 Ks in 3 1/3 IP.

LP: Chase Wofford, 0 hits, 1 run, 0 ERs, 0 BBs, 2 Ks in 1 IP, in relief of Miguel Saavedra, 3 hits, 5 runs, 4 ERs, 2 BBs, 11 Ks in 7 IP.

Leading hitters

MP: Wyatt Caddel 1-3, 1 RBI; Tony Flores 1-3, 1 RBI; Michael Kopech 0-3, 2 RBIs; Luke Hill 2-4, Riley Greenlee 0-4, 1 RBI.

G: Miguel Saavedra 3-3, 3 RBIs; Zack Edgerton 1-2, Blake Taylor 1-2, Chase Wofford 1-4, Justin Benton 0-3, 2 RBIs.

Records: MP 7-7, 1-1; G 7-7-1, 0-1.

Next game: Greenville at Sulphur Springs, JV-V, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.