Eagles Soar on Back of Big 2nd Inning, Beat Lake Region, 6-5

Sat. April 14, 2012 at 12:35 a.m. | By Blake Hasenzahl

Lake Region's Scott CampbelL mishandles a ball as George Jenkins' Ryan Terlap slides into second during the second inning on Friday evening. (Photo by MICHAEL WILSON | THE LEDGER )

By Blake Hasenzahl

LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

LAKELAND | It wasn't pretty but George Jenkins got the win.

The Eagles scored six runs in the bottom of the second, before allowing Lake Region to answer right back in the top of the third with five of their own. However, that was all the Thunder could muster and fell 6-5 to the Eagles.

Lake Region worked through three pitchers in the bottom of the second but only gave up three hits. Sayge Woodham scored on a wild pitch, Chris Stephens was walked in and Tyler Cooked scored on an error.

The Thunder also struggled with walks and had to throw 61 pitches to finally escape the inning.

"All of their (Lake Region) pitchers are good," Jenkins head coach Tom Patton said. "They can really work the zone and hit their spots. But we had composure to lay off some of the outside pitches and swing only at strikes."

Jenkins pitcher Kyle Hunter was able to work past the tough third inning and threw a complete game, striking out five on 101 pitches.

Hunter worked his way out of a few jams in the top of the fifth and sixth when Lake Region had the tying run on third.

His breaking pitches weren't working, but his fastball was on target and overpowering.

"That's the pitch I'm most comfortable throwing," Hunter (5-2) said. "We stayed sharp in tough situations and my defense helped me out."

For Jenkins (14-8), Caleb Leach was 1-for-2 with a walk and a RBI. Dylan Allen was 2-for-4 and Chris Stephens 2-for-3 with a double.

Bradley Williams was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, a walk and an RBI for the Thunder (14-6). Cole Yoder had a three RBI double for the Thunder in the third.

Lake Region 005 000 0 — 5 9 3

George Jenkins 060 000 X — 67 2

WP: Kyle Hunter (5-2). LP: Jacob Kelly (1-3). 2B: Lake Region: Cole Yoder. George Jenkins: Trey Montanez, Chris Stephens, Kyle Hunter.