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Garner High summer league twice sweeps SSS

By Chris Edwards
Citizen Journalist

Norris redeems himself against SSS

Will Norris was the tough-luck loser in his first varsity start this summer against East Wake. After a tough loss at South Central, Norris helped the Trojans rebound very nicely Tuesday, June 23 at Spartan Field at Smithfield-Selma High School.

Will Norris delivers home the pitch for the Trojans Tuesday, June 23. REESE TORRUELLA, CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

With the game scoreless in the top of the second inning, the Trojans struck first as CJ Schmitt led off the inning with a single. After a walk, Colin Perry laid down a bunt that a Spartan pitcher mishandled, allowing Perry to reach. This set up a sacrifice fly from Brett Walters, and Alec Hulmes laid down a great bunt as Garner squeezed home a run.

After another great inning from Norris, Garner went right back to work in the fourth with two outs. Brett Walters sent a looping flyball to left field, which fell in for a hit. Hustling all the way, Walters ended up at second. The next batter, Hulmes, doubled to left to plate another run and gave Garner a 3-0 lead.

The final Trojan run of the game came in the sixth when Colin Perry led off the inning with a single, and Connor Torruella got his first varsity hit of the summer, an RBI single back up the middle. Garner led 4-0.

In the bottom of the seventh, Garner sent Norris back out to try for the complete game shutout. After getting the first out, he ran into a bit of trouble as he loaded the bases with two outs before Blake Mitchell got a two-run single. This lifted Norris from the game, and Jacob Baker came in to get the final strikeout and his first save of the summer. The 4-2 win moved the Trojans to a 2-2 record on the season.

Trojans take out SSS – again

After a 4-2 win at Smithfield Tuesday night, the Trojans hosted the Spartans at Trojan Park Wednesday, June 24. Garner started Matt Hawley, who was making his first career varsity start and didn’t pitch too badly.

Hawley gave up a first-inning run on a solo homerun by Kevin Rose, but Garner would respond in the bottom half as Jesse Fisher led off the bottom of the first. He homered on the very first pitch to tie the game.

After the Spartans got two in the top of the third, the Trojans bounced right back in the bottom half with a three spot as Schmitt singled home Fisher. Brett Bailey and Hulmes both had RBI singles to chase the Spartan starter from the game.

But the Trojans were nowhere near done as they sent 12 batters to the plate in the fourth inning and scored six runs. All six runs came on solid singles and a few Spartan walks.

Garner would end the game in the bottom of the fifth as they were up 10-3 going into the fifth. With one out, Schmitt singled, which was followed by a Josh Randle single and a Brett Bailey single. Bailey scored Schmitt, and Hulmes singled to score Bailey.

The game-winning hit came from Brett Walters, who singled to left to plate the game-inning run and gave the Trojans a 13-3 win over SSS.

Garner is now 3-2 on the season.

Winning pitcher: Will Norris
6 2/3 innings, 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts

Losing pitcher: Hunter Jones
5 1/3 innings, 8 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts

Save: Jacob Baker
1/3 inning, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeouts

Related articles:

• Powell no-hits Knights; Trojans still lose
• Trojans win two; one win shy of playoffs
• Varsity summer league season ends

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