Photo: Glencoe High’s Paul Hicks delivers a pitch during the Yellow Jackets’ 15-2 win over Gaston on Tuesday (March 13). (Gary Wells)
By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent
The Glencoe High Yellow Jackets overwhelmed the Gaston Bulldogs, 15-2, in Etowah County baseball action on Tuesday (March 13) in Glencoe.
Gaston struck first after a leadoff single from Garren Brown in the top of the first inning, and Mason Reaves reached safely on an error in the following at-bat. Clean-up hitter Lane Talbot crushed a double and drove home both Brown and Reaves to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
But it was all Glencoe from there, and the Yellow Jackets wasted little time retaliating in the bottom of the inning.
Bryan Benefield hit a leadoff single, and Noah Huff brought him home a few pitches later. The bases were loaded for Roemello Williams four batters later, and he reached safely on an error and scored Payton Hicks from third base.
Later in the inning, Alec Pointer had three RBIs to give Glencoe a 5-2 lead. The Yellow Jackets batted around, and Huff hit a double that scored three runs during his second at-bat of the game. Hicks followed that up with an RBI single, and Williams tacked on another RBI single as Glen-coe scored 13 runs in the first inning.
Hicks pitched the first three innings for Glencoe , retiring the side in the top of the second and the top of the third.
Williams added another RBI to his day in the bottom of the second to extend the lead to 14-2. He finished the game with three RBI, one hit and two runs scored.
Kade Crowder pitched in relief in the fourth inning for Glencoe (5-0), striking out two batters while only allowing one hit.
Glencoe scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI walk from Huff, who went 2-for-4 with a triple, five RBI and two runs scored.
Colton Stone pitched the fifth and final inning for the Yellow Jackets, and he struck out the side. Glencoe coach Charlie Robertson said it was the first time Stone had pitched in several years, and he said his pitching staff was able to get some necessary experience as area play app-roaches.
Pointer finished the game with four 4 RBI, while Hicks went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. He allowed two hits, two runs and struck out two on the mound.
Benefield went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Bradley Scott went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.
Talbot led Gaston at the plate, finishing 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI.
