GAINESVILLE -- On paper in looked like another pitcher's duel was in order.
The North Hall offense had other ideas.
The Trojans pounded out 10 hits and took advantage of two big White County errors in taking a surprising 15-0, three-inning win over the Warriors in Region 8-AAAA action Friday night at Jody Davis Field.
The two teams' had played a thrilling one-run contest on Wednesday (a 3-2 North Hall victory). On Friday, White County turned to its ace Joel Pritchett and North Hall countered with Aaron Miles, who tossed a no-hitter against Gilmer in his only other start of the season.
"I'm a little surprised because it's always a tough game and we always expect a dogfight," North Hall coach Trent Mongero said. "But we talked going into this one about putting the ball in play with two strikes. That has been a problem for us."
Problem solved.
The Trojans, in a pair of seven-run innings, had seven RBI hits with two strikes against three White County pitchers. Senior Lincoln Hewett was one of four North Hall batters with two hits and three batters had two or more RBI, led by Hewett's three.
"I think we all just tried to focus a little more," Hewett said. "We have some great young players and I just try to help lead the team."
And while Hewett was leading the offense, his defense in left field was just as key. Hewett gunned down a White County runner at the plate in the second inning that would have tied the game at 1-1, he made a sliding catch in foul ground in the third, and ended the third inning with a diving layout catch in left center to keep the Warriors hitless.
"I really think Lincoln's defense set the tone for the game," Mongero said. "He was all over the field. We could have given up some early runs if not for his throw and the catch he made in the third was a big-league caliber catch."
It also helped preserve what would turn out to be the second consecutive no-hitter for Miles, who improved to 2-0 and has a 0.00 ERA so far in 2015.
Miles is part of a Trojans staff that has thrown well collectively in the early part of the season.
"I think we're deeper pitching-wise than last year and Aaron has thrown the ball very well," Mongero said. "Two no-hitters in a row is impressive. But he's gotten some help on defense but we talk about playing as a team and we're doing that right now."
White County, which has had troubles on offense in the early part of the season, could not take advantage of a North Hall error in the first inning stranding Jay Taylor at third.
North Hall was able to capitalize on a Warriors error to start the bottom of the first. Taber Mongero reached on a throwing error to lead off and came around to score on a two-out RBI double by Corbin Lewallen for a 1-0 lead. Pritchett limited the damage in the first with a pair of strikes outs.
The Warriors had another chance to score in the top of the second when Parker Applewhite walked, stole second, and moved to third on a balk by Miles. But Hewett caught Chris Jackson's fly to left and then gunned down Applewhite at the plate for a double play to end the inning.
North Hall blew the game open in the second. Fowler Brooks doubled to start the inning and then three consecutive walks by Pritchett, the last on four pitches to Matthew Cox, brought in courtesy runner Brock Wingo for a 2-0 lead. An error by the Warriors' left fielder on a long fly ball to the wall by Micah Strickland gave the Trojans a 3-0 lead when Drew Coker scored on the play. Hewett singled in Cox and a wild pitch by Pritchett allowed Mongero, who reached on a fielder's choice, to score for a 5-0 lead.
Applewhite relieved Pritchett and after a walk to Lewallen, Strickland scored on a second wild pitch in the inning. Applewhite then walked Drew Atha to load the bases for a fourth time in the inning. Miles then helped himself with a two-run single to center for an 8-0 lead.
Pritchett (1-2) came into the game with a 0.74 ERA and was tagged for seven runs -- just four earned -- on three hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings. He fanned two and now has 24Ks in 20 2/3 innings on the season.
Miles's no-hitter looked in jeopardy in the top of the third inning on a long drive to deep left center by Tray Gearin but Hewett's diving catch to end the inning kept it in tact.
The Trojans offense then went to work again against Applewhite. Cox singled and Mongero and Strickland walked to load the bases with no one out. Hewett stroked a 2-run double to center and Lewallen, Brooks, and Miles followed with RBI singles to make it 14-0. Maddux Dills then laced a single through a drawn-in infield for the game-winner.
Miles went three innings yielding no hits and walking one while striking out one.
For the North Hall offense, Hewett, Lewallen, Brooks, and Miles each had two hits. Miles and Hewett each had three RBI and Lewallen added two RBI for the Trojans. Cox and Dills each had a hit and one RBI and Brooks and Coker also had one RBI each for North Hall.
Miles in the seventh spot was the only regular spot not to score a run. Taber Mongero scored three times with Strickland, Hewett, Lewallen, Brooks' spot, and Cox each scoring twice for North Hall.
The lopsided win for North Hall (8-2, 3-1 Region 8-AAAA) bucked a recent trend. The Trojans three previous victories all were by one run. They will travel to Monroe Area on Monday in the first of two straight Region 8-AAAA games against the Purple Hurricanes.
White County (3-9, 1-3) will play host to Madison County on Monday in a virtual must-win for the Warriors to stay in the playoff race in 8-AAAA.
Sunday
January 26th, 2025
1:57AM
