H.S. BASEBALL: Hardin County rallies late for win

DECATURVILLE – The Hardin County baseball team has faced a tough schedule from the start to be ready for postseason play in the next couple of weeks.

Playing those quality teams, the Tigers have learned how to play from behind.

Hardin County had to do that on Thursday at Riverside. The Panthers took the lead after five innings, but the Tigers scored four unanswered for the 9-6 victory at Riverside.

Hardin County (11-12) beat Riverside by 10 runs early in the season.

“They are a good team, and one thing you can always say about them is that they are going to hit the baseball,” Hardin County coach Clint Arendall said. “We got them early in the season the first time, but they are always tough at home.”

With Riverside (14-10) holding its lead, Hardin County got its first two batters on with a walk and an error.

Dillon Bonee scored on a fielder’s choice by Nick Godwin to tie the game 6-6, but it was Mac Smith’s two-RBI double to the centerfield wall that put the Tigers up for good.

“We had to get some good hits and put the ball in play,” Smith said. “On defense, we just had to get outs.”

Hardin County added one more run in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by Bonee to score Tyler Gammill.

“That is one thing that we have not been doing,” Arendall said. “Besides three of our losses, we have had the lead late in the last couple of innings and lost.”

Hardin County took the 4-0 lead after three innings, but Riverside put up four runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie it up.

Spencer Odle and Mason Stokes had RBI singles, Owen Bartholomew scored on a passed ball, and Braden Moore brought home a run on a sacrifice fly.

Hardin County took the lead back in the top of the fifth, but an RBI double by Chance Lott and a sacrifice fly by Bartholomew gave the Panthers the 6-5 lead.

Smith and Grant Alexander were the only Hardin County batters with two hits.

Arendall feels like wins like this will help his team in the upcoming postseason.

“This will prepare us for the postseason,” Arendall said. “We have played a tough schedule, and our record reflects that.”

Hardin County split with all three opponents in District 13-AAA – Dyer County, Munford and Brighton – and the Tigers will be the No. 2 seed in the tournament.

“We think that we can play with any team,” Smith said. “We just have to keep on hitting the baseball.”

Having beaten all three district opponents, Arendall believes that is a confidence boost.

“We know that we can play with any team in the district,” he said. “We just have to go out and compete. All four teams have a really good pitcher.”

Michael Odom, 425-9754