Decatur Falls At Lovett After Weather-Related Suspension

fell 10-6 at Lovett Saturday afternoon, concluding a game from Friday that was suspended due to rain in the bottom of the fourth inning. When the umpires called the game, Lovett was ahead 3-1 with one out.

With the loss, Decatur closes out the regular season at 13-6 and 6-5 in Region 6-AA.

“We played very good baseball and finished 13-6 and 6-5 in the region through the first 19 games,” said Decatur head coach Rusty Bennett. “We talked a bit after Friday’s game about the things we needed to correct. Our guys came ready to play; the ball just didn’t roll our way. They gave it the best they could.”

During Friday’s action, Lovett scored one run in each inning. Lead-off hitter Zach Boden posted the first run after reaching on a double and scoring on an RBI single by catcher Brooks Schoen.

Decatur tied the game 1-1 in the top of the second on an individual effort by right fielder James Burrell. He reached on a single off the glove of Lovett second baseman Robbie Blair. He later stole second, took third on a wild pitch and then scored on a passed ball.

Lovett regained the lead in the bottom of the inning by similar means. Third baseman Sean Reagan reached base on a single, stole second, took third on the errant throw by the catcher, and scored on a wild pitch.

The Lions added another run in the third on a single by Blair. He advanced to third base on a single by pitcher Jack Geraghty, and then scored on a grounder to short by first baseman Hunter Budd.

Geraghty, a hard-throwing right-handed junior, pitched all four innings on Friday for Lovett, yielding one run on two hits and two walks. He struck out eight of the 17 batters he faced, including striking out the side in the first inning.

Decatur loaded the bases with just one out in the fourth inning on a single by Darryl Pittman; followed by a catcher's interference call, then a walk to Charlie Shew. However, Geraghty recorded two straight strike outs end the threat.

The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday and will host Greater Atlanta Christian in the region scramble. In the last encounter, Decatur lost 11-9 versus the Spartans in eight innings on March 18.

Senior James Burrell will take the mound as he tries to lead the Bulldogs one step closer to a berth in the state playoffs.

“James is a senior and he’s been in big games for us this season. I have all the confidence in the world in him,” said Bennett.

The teams with the top four overall records will qualify for the playoffs. Currently, Decatur sits fifth in the standings.

With the season near a close, every pitch, every at-bat and every inning is magnified as a year’s worth of aspirations comes down to this week’s region scramble.  However, the Bulldogs have displayed a vicious bark and bite in 2011, which will suit them well during this intense week of competition.

During a stretch in late March-early April, Decatur won seven-of-eight game, including five in a row. The Bulldogs scored in double figures in each victory with six mercy-rule routs.