Bird and Smith lead Longhorns to late-game victory
The Longhorns’ stars of the night starting pitcher Zack Bird and home run slugger John Smith (photo by Rick Cantor).
By Rick Cantor
Staff Writer
TAMPA – When Jefferson courtesy runner Charles Fowler scored from first on an errant pickoff attempt in the bottom of the 6th inning of Tuesday’s season opener between the Dragons and Lennard, it was easy to think it run would be the only run of the night.
After all, the game was scoreless up to that point, the result of a pitcher’s duel between a pair of southpaw starters in the Longhorn’s Zack Bird and the Dragon’s Julian Vargas.
Lennard however, had other plans.
The Longhorns erupted for six runs in the top of the seventh inning to make an early season statement, defeating the Dragons 6-1.
Jefferson had chances early in the game, moving runners into scoring position in three of the first four innings, only to be thwarted by the arm and glove of the sophomore Bird (6 IP, 4 H, 11 K’s, 3 BB, 0 ER). In the second inning Bird fielded a squeeze attempt and cut down Cameron Copple attempting to score. In the 4th, Bird picked off Joseph Fritz from second to end the inning.
“I was just trying to stay relaxed when they got runners on base,” said Bird. “I was throwing a lot of sliders down and away and fastballs high and in to keep them off balance”
Lennard struggled to get anything going against Vargas. The senior came out firing, striking out the side in the first and finishing with seven strikeouts and one walk in five innings of work.
Jefferson turned to freshman Alex Linares who cruised through his first varsity inning 1-2-3 but ran into trouble in the top of the 7th.
Alex Brazer led off the frame with a walk, followed by a seeing-eye single from Keith McClain. R.J. Torres rapped a single to left to tie the score, followed by a Logan Covey single to give the Longhorns the lead. Matty Counts reached on an error as another run scored and two batters later John Smith followed with the big blow, a three-run homer to straightway left.
”He (Linares) was throwing me a bunch of curveballs, so I was just waiting for one in the right spot,” said Smith. “We were in the game the whole time, so when we got two runners on, we knew one our guys would come up clutch and get them in. We took the lead and just kept hitting.”
Both teams are back in action on Thursday, with Lennard staying on the road against Riverview while Jefferson travels to Leto.
⚾⚾⚾⚾
Lennard 6
Jefferson 1
L 000|000|6 – |6|5|4
J 000|001|0 – |1|6|3
W – Bird (1-0); L – Linares (0-1).
2B – Vazquez (J); HR – Smith (L). Records – L (1-0); J (0-1).
