Choctaws shut down Calera in area contest

Published 10:53 pm Thursday, April 10, 2014

By TREY HICKMAN/For the Reporter

CENTREVILLE Bibb County burst out of the gate for a sizable lead and pitcher Brett Lightsey got things done on the mound, tossing a complete-game gem as the host Choctaws trumped Class 4A Area 7 foe Calera 8-0 in varsity baseball April 10.

After Lightsey engineered a three up, three down top of the first, Bibb County built a comfortable advantage in the bottom of the inning. The Choctaws scored a run apiece on consecutive errors before Brandon Fuller blasted a towering three-run homer to left-center that upped the lead to 5-0.

“To be honest we kind of came out very tense,” said Calera head coach Seth Gandy. “When you come out tense you’re going to make errors. They made some errors too. The only difference is they capitalized on the errors (we) made.

“We made two in the first, and they scored (off them) and the guy hits a home run. We probably could have gotten out of that inning with (having given up) only one run instead of five if (we hadn’t) made any errors.”

B.J. Barker’s single in the top of third marked the Eagles’ first hit, and they managed just four for the evening. Conversely, Bibb County tacked on another run in the third and a pair of insurance runs in the fifth en route to the one-sided win.

“It (our hitting) was a little down, but I could probably (name) about five or six off the top of my head, ones that we hit hard right at them,” Gandy said. “(The) kid in left field made a diving catch (in the sixth) to stop a rally. (The) center fielder tracked down a bunch of balls. But the sticks were a little bit deader tonight than what we’re used to.”

Matthew Marfice took the loss for Calera, surrendering eight runs (six earned), allowing eight hits, striking out one and walking two.

B.J. Barker, Ryne Phelps, Trey Turnbow and Tyler Harrell each had a hit for the Eagles.

The loss dropped Calera to 12-21 overall and 3-2 in Class 4A Area 7.