The Vidalia Indians hosted the Lovett Lions in a double header state semi-final series at Greg James Field on Monday, May 16. The two teams split a pair of games with the Lions taking game one with a 4-1 score and the Indians taking game two by a 5-3 score. The two teams will meet Tuesday afternoon at 5:00 pm again at Greg James Field with the winner advancing to the state championship series.
Game 1
The Indians had a tough time at the plate in this game picking up only 5 singles. Bryson Whited pitched a complete game allowing six hits while striking out five Lion batters and giving up four runs to take the loss. The Indians could get nothing going on offense as they only picked up singles in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th innings. The only run the Indians could plate was in the 3rd inning when Whited led off with a single, moved to second on a wild pickoff throw, moved to 3rd on a ground ball out and scored when a strikeout pitch got away from the catcher.
The Lions plated two runs in the top of the 1st inning getting a double and two hit batters that loaded the bases with one out. A ground ball to short looked like an inning ending double play but an errant throw to first allowed two runs to score. With the Indians getting a couple of base runners but no score in the bottom half the Lions were up 2-0 after one complete.
Neither team scored in the 2nd inning but the Indians were able to get one in the bottom of the 3rd inning to make it a 2-1 game but that was as close as they could get. The Lions were able to pick up single runs in the 5th and 7th innings to push the final score to 4-1 and ending the Indians win streak at 22 straight.
Game 2
Caden Spivey started on the mound for the Indians in the must win second game. Spivey went 5 innings striking out four, walking four, giving up 4 hits and allowing 3 runs while picking up the win. Bryce Morley came on to pitch the 6th and 7th innings to pick up the save and move the Indians on to game three tomorrow. Morley struck out three batters and gave up one hit while allowing no runs. The Indian offense did a little better picking up five runs and ten hits. Ty Dalley, Kevin Cox, Kaleb Bennett and Bryce Davis lead the way with two hits each.
The Indians scored one run in the top of the 1st inning as Dalley got a single and moved all the way to home plate on three wild pitches. With the Lions not scoring in the bottom half the Indians were on top 1-0 after one complete.
In the 2nd inning Cox led off with a single and was followed by Bennett and Davis with bunt singles to load the bases. Whited drew a walk to force in one run and Dalley followed with a sacrifice fly for the second run of the inning. Davis was tagged out at the plate and a strikeout ended the inning. With the Lions going 1,2,3 in the bottom half the Indians were up 3-0 after two complete.
In the top of the 3rd inning the Indians picked up two more runs as Walden singled and Cox blasted a two run homer giving the Indians a 5-0 lead going to the bottom half. The Lions were able to plate two runs in the bottom half to make it a 5-2 ball game after three complete.
The Indians were not able to score anymore runs and the Lions were only able to get one more run in the bottom of the 4th inning making the final score 5-3 and giving the Indians a split and a chance to win again on Tuesday.
