Southern Alamance edges Jordan-Matthews in Easter tourney finale

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SILER CITY — Held without a hit over the first five innings, Southern Alamance managed to piece together a pair of base knocks in the sixth to take the lead for good, and behind a complete-game outing by Scottie Thompson edged host Jordan-Matthews 2-1 Monday afternoon on the final day of the second annual J-M Easter Classic at Jimmy Warfford Field.

With their hard-earned victory the Patriots improved to 14-6 for the year, while the Jets fell to 10-8 overall.

Thompson scattered five hits in going the distance on the mound for the third time this season to collect the win. The senior right-hander, who gave up one unearned run and fanned four, never went above a two-ball count to any batter while throwing a total of 88 pitches, including a phenomenal 71 (81 percent) for strikes.

“Scottie had his best control of the year today and was in full command of all his pitches,” commented Southern Alamance coach Jason Smith. “He doesn’t record a lot of strikeouts, but if the defense plays behind him we’re going to win. I was very disappointed in our lack of hitting this afternoon. We didn’t demonstrate a good mental approach at the plate and left too many opportunities to pick up runs on base, stranding seven people in scoring position.”

Chris Rios, the second of three Jordan-Matthews’ hurlers, sustained the loss after yielding a pair of hits and one earned run while walking one and whiffing three over one and two-third innings of work.

Jets’ starter Luke Hinshaw tossed three and two-third innings of hitless ball but was nicked for an unearned run in addition to issuing one free pass and fanning three.

Kevin Cano pitched the final one and two-third innings for J-M, allowing one hit while striking out one.

“Overall I thought it was a well-played game by both teams, even though mistakes cost us,” said Jordan-Matthews coach John Will Headen. After Southern Alamance established an early lead I was proud how we battled back and tied the game up in the fifth, but their defense made some good plays on hard-hit balls all day. We rely on pitching as our main strength, and I was pleased how our three guys on the mound combined to hold our opponent to just three hits.”

The Patriots forged a 1-0 advantage with two away in the top of the third as Jacob Ray reached on an infield error, moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a wild pitch prior to dashing home when Ayden Edwards reached on a throwing error.

J-M rallied to pull even in the bottom of the fifth as leadoff batter Huston Causey lined a base hit to right-center, was sacrificed to second and went to third on a groundout before coming in to score when Chris Morgan reached on an infield error.

But Southern Alamance would then plate the winning run an inning later as Austin Gilley led off the visitors’ sixth with a single up the middle prior to courtesy runner Evan Shaw being sacrificed to second and scoring when Hunter Harrelson notched a base hit to center.