by Wes Griffith

PORTSMOUTH
The Southampton Indians improved their record to 2-0 overall after defeating the Presidents of Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth last Friday. The Presidents fell to 0-2 on the day. The Indians were able to get on the board in the top of the first as leadoff batter Jesse Martin was able to draw a walk. With one out, Carter Johnson hit a ground ball to the second baseman that resulted in Martin being thrown out at second base. With Johnson on second, Jayton Billups was able to single down the first base line to plate the first run of the game.

The Presidents were able to tie the game in the bottom of the second after drawing a couple of walks and an error by the Indians’ left fielder. The game would not stayed tied for long as the Indians were able to plate two in the top of the third inning. Casey Nipper, Johnson and Billups all led off the innings with singles. Billups’ single scored Nipper and Johnson crossed the plate on John Blum’s groundout to second base.

Defensively, the Indians struggled in the bottom of the fourth, giving up four runs on two doubles, two errors, and a walk. However, the defensive struggles hit the Presidents in the top of the seventh, as the Indians were able to regain the lead 6-5 on two singles and three Wilson errors. The bottom of the seventh was eventful, as the Presidents were able to get the leadoff batter on via a base on balls.

After a fly out to right field and a strikeout, the Presidents managed two singles. On the second consecutive single, John Blum threw a laser to the plate to gun down the runner from second base to end the game in dramatic fashion.

Hunter Rountree earned his first career win on the mound. Charlie Britt earned his first start on the mound giving up two hits and striking out three in four innings. The Indians tallied nine hits and committed five errors and the Presidents tallied six hits and five errors.