Gators fall to Blue Devils

Published in Sports on March 9, 2004 1:55 PM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- If the Spring Creek baseball team doesn't run into South Lenoir squad until next year, that will probably be just fine with the Gators.

Hoping to avenge their first defeat of the season last Friday at Deep Run, coach Roger May's club found themselves on the losing end of an 18-5 game to the Blue Devils Monday afternoon at Seven Springs.

Spring Creek's offense and defense were as cold as the weather. After enjoying the luxury of shorts over a balmy weekend, spectators were forced back into parkas, toboggans, and gloves.

"We just had too many peaks and valleys," said Mays. "When you play a good team like South Lenoir, you just can't have them."

The Gators scored in only one inning. Down 7-0, second baseman Daniel Thompson tripled with one out. After Jed Potter walked, singles by Randy Amos and Jes Snyder, assisted by two South Lenoir fielding errors, pushed five runs home. Amos led his club in hitting on the night, going a perfect 2-2, and scored a run. He also walked twice.

Two other opportunities went for naught. Neither a double by Ray Brady along with a single by Jeff Kincaid in the fifth nor loading the bases in the sixth, generated any additional runs.

South Lenoir scored in every inning. After starter Paul Novicki walked to lead off the game, shortstop Josh Kennedy stepped up and blasted a ball off Josh Lewis over the left-center field fence. That homer was one of three.

Novicki was untouchable for the two innings he pitched, striking out six of the seven men he faced. Offensively, the Vikings sent at least seven men to the plate the last four innings of the game. First baseman Terrence Williams was a perfect 4-4 on the night, while catcher Carlos Amaya was 3-5.

Spring Creek will play Greene Central tonight.

"We've got to step it up," said May. "They're a very good program."

South Lenoir 223 425 -- 18

Spring Creek 005 000 -- 5

Leading hitters -- South Lenoir -- Terrence Williams 4 hits, Carlos Amaya 3 hits, Paul Novicki 2 hits, David Currington 2 hits, Brandon Rouse 2 hits. Spring Creek -- Randy Amos 2 hits.

IP H R ER BB SO

South Lenoir (2-0)

Novicki (W, 1-0) 2 0 0 0 1 6

Currington 12Ú3 3 5 1 3 2

Rouse 11Ú3 2 0 0 0 2

Kennedy 1 1 0 0 2 1

Spring Creek (2-2)

Lewis (L, 2-1) 21Ú3 5 7 4 1 2

McSwain 1 2 3 0 1 0

Kelly 11Ú3 3 3 0 1 1

Kirby 11Ú3 4 5 2 3 3