FROM STAFF REPORTS

SELMA – The Cornerstone Chargers traveled to Selma on Friday, Feb. 27 to play in the annual Morgan Academy tournament.  The tournament consists of 14 teams and takes place over a two-day period.  The Chargers first faced the Macon East Knights in the opening game and couldn’t get the bats going.  The Knights got on the board early and never let up beating the Chargers 11-1.  Ian Briggs took the hill first for Cornerstone and ran into trouble early. Quartez Walker relieved Briggs in the third, which marked his first time on the mound for the Chargers and was able to gain valuable experience.

“I was a little nervous, but it was fun,” Walker said.  “ I will know what to expect next time and I will continue to get better.

Eighth grader Grant Henderson relieved Walker in the fifth to get out of the inning.  Though Henderson is not new to the bump, this was his first varsity pitching experience.  Head Coach Tim Smith knows how important it is to get young kids experience.

“The younger guys need to understand the pressure now so as they progress they will settle in earlier,” Smith said.

Cade Adams led the Chargers with a double and the only run scored.

The second game was more interesting as Cornerstone faced the Morengo Academy Longhorns.   The bats came alive for the Chargers in the top of the first as they brought home four runs and added two more in the fifth from a double down the right field line from Tad Foster.

“Tad stepped up in a key situation and came up with a big hit to score two,” Smith added.

Cornerstone held Morengo to just two runs until the fifth inning when Morengo tied the score at six.  With these games being in a tournament, there was a time limit of one hour and 40 minutes, not the usual seven innings.  The game ended in a tie as the Chargers held the Longhorns from scoring with the bases loaded as the third out was made and time expired.  Austin Andrews added two RBI’s while Nick Green and Adams added one apiece for the Chargers.