Knights Hold on With Pesky Tigers

pounded out 14 hits and scored 13 runs and held off a pesky Archer Tigers to win 13-8 in a region 8-AAAAA matchup. Central jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning as leadoff batter C.J. Cronic walked and stole two bases and scored on a wild pitch by Archer starter Jay Jones.

Dillon Mackel drew a 2-out walk, was balked to second and scored on a 2-out single by . Archer cut the lead to 2-1 as Deondre Singleton drew a 2-out bases loaded walk. But Central scored five runs in the second inning highlighted by a 2-run homerun by Dillon Mackel. That gave the Black Knights a 7-1 lead. Archer kept fighting back with two runs in the bottom of the second as Jones hit a 2-run single to cut the lead to 7-3. Cronic scored on an error to give Central an 8-3 lead. Central starter Grant Theil (3-2) went 4 innings to pick up his third win of the year while Cronic pitched the final 2 1/3 for the save.

Archer made it exciting. Central built a 10-4 lead but the Tigers scored three runs in the bottom of fifth inning as Central reliever Dustin Hays was hit for 4 hits and 3 runs. Hayden Pendergraft, Curtis Graves and Brendon Fowler each had RBI hits in the inning to make it 10-7. Cronic came in to relieve and gave up one run over the next 2 1/3 innings to pick up a save.

Cronic had a 2-run single in the sixth to open a comfortable lead and the Black Knights went on for the victory. "I am just glad to get the 'W' and throw a lot of strikes," said Cronic. "I try not to let small stuff get to me. I just come back in there and keep doing what I am doing. I think I pitch a little bit better when I am in a jam. Shut them down in the clutch and it feels great to do it."

Head Coach David Lamberth felt this win was big with a day off on Wednesday heading into a home game with Shiloh on Friday and he also praised the effort of Archer. "C.J. is a workhorse," said Lamberth. "He does everything we've asked him to do. He can play outfield, catch for us (or pitch). He's just a kid that works hard, plays the game the right way. He's just a kid that you want to have around. He is one of those guys you love coaching."

Archer coach Chris Hays knew coming in this year, winning would be tough but he was proud of the way his club battled back. "We scored in just about every inning but we were putting up 1-2 runs and they were putting up 3-4 runs," Hays said.