Huntland's Matthew Dickson connects on a pitch in this file photo from earlier in the season. Dickson had a hit and an RBI for the Hornets Friday in their 8-1 loss to Blackford High School.
Huntland's Matthew Dickson connects on a pitch in this file photo from earlier in the season. Dickson had a hit and an RBI for the Hornets Friday in their 8-1 loss to Blackford High School.
The Huntland High School Hornets lost to the Blackford Bruins 8-1 at Community Middle School Friday in their third and final game for the Viking Classic.
The Hornets fell behind early in the contest with the Bruins pulling away in the bottom of the sixth to leave Huntland with a 1-2 record for the event.
The Bruins scored one run each in the first and second innings to put the Hornets in a 2-0 hole early.
The lone run of the day for the Hornets was scored in the top of the third as Matthew Dickson hit into an RBI groundout to score Evan Keller from third base.
However, the Bruins scored once again in the bottom half of the third to get that run back and to set the deficit at 3-1.
The game would be put out of reach in the bottom of the sixth as a five-run inning for Blackford was capped off by a grand slam, and the time limit for the game expired before the inning concluded as the Hornets lost by seven.
Dickson pitched the first four innings for the Hornets with one strikeout, seven hits, three walks and three runs allowed.
Blaine Counts pitched the remaining 1 2-3 innings in relief with three hits, three walks and five runs allowed.
With the loss, the Hornets moved to 4-5 on the season.
Heritage Christian 13, Hornets 0
The Hornets lost to the Heritage Christian Eagles 13-0 at Community earlier in the day on Friday in their second game for the Viking Classic.
The Eagles put up 10 runs in the second inning alone to quickly pull away with the contest ending after five innings due to the mercy rule.
Landon Kerr hit a two-out single in the top of the first for one of two Huntland hits in the game, but a strikeout ended the inning before he could advance any further.
The Eagles’ second batter of the day hit a solo home run to center field to put the Hornets behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first.
Dickson led off the top of the second with a double and moved to third following a groundout from Caleb Maxwell. However, the next two batters struck out to strand Dickson, and the Hornets wouldn’t create another baserunner for the rest of the game.
The Eagles sent 15 batters to the plate in the bottom of the second with 10 of them ultimately crossing home plate to make it an 11-0 game early.
The Eagles added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, and the Hornets weren’t able to answer back in the top of the fifth as they lost by 13.
Maxwell started on the mound for the Hornets and pitched 1 2-3 innings with two strikeouts, seven hits, three walks, seven earned runs and four unearned runs allowed.
Carter Walker pitched the next two innings and had two strikeouts, five hits, six walks and two runs allowed. Kerr faced one batter in relief and struck him out.
With the loss, the Hornets moved to 4-4 on the season.
They will next play Monday at home against Moore County High School. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
