Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe overcomes chilly temps, miscues to get past Dade County

Dade County shortstop Seth Swader runs down LFO runner Matthew Trusley in the base path after he tried to sneak an extra base out of a walk during their prep baseball game at Dade County High School on Thursday, March 8, 2018, in Trenton, Ga.
Dade County shortstop Seth Swader runs down LFO runner Matthew Trusley in the base path after he tried to sneak an extra base out of a walk during their prep baseball game at Dade County High School on Thursday, March 8, 2018, in Trenton, Ga.

TRENTON, Ga. - In some years past, Johnny Burch would have taken the "W" and ran with it.

On Thursday, the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe baseball coach let his team know a win is not always a win.

LFO beat Dade County 10-6 on a bitterly cold night, despite walking nine batters and hitting two others. But with play in ultra-competitive Region 6-AAA beginning next week, Burch wants the Warriors (7-2) to understand the good start to the season won't mean much unless their level of play increases.

"The weather is tough, but we expect it every year and we have to deal with it," he said of wind chills that dipped into the 20s. "I thought our defense handled it well, but our pitchers did not for the most part.

"We had too many walks today, and I know the elements get to them, but you just can't have it. We start region play Tuesday, and then it's amplified. We have a big week next week with North Murray, Ringgold and Calhoun."

The Wolverines (4-4) were also generous with gifts, including five errors that led to four unearned runs. Two of those were committed during the second inning, when the Warriors sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs.

Jacob Flanagan, Bryce Donahoo, Giovanni Barrosio and Andrew Brock each had RBIs in the second. The Warriors also had three of their six stolen bases in the inning, with speed a big part of the team's daily game plan.

"We have over 60 stolen bases, and that's who we want to be," Burch said. "We don't want to be crazy-aggressive, but we have to play our game and put some pressure on teams. We have been scoring runs and stringing some together, but we haven't been clicking overall at the plate."

The Warriors needed the runs as, after giving up two runs on two walks and a hit batter in the first inning, starting pitcher Jackson Herrod gave up three more walks in the second before getting pulled with one out. Zac Coots came on to strand two of the three runners and produced three more scoreless innings before tiring in the sixth.

By that time, LFO had built its lead to 8-3 and managed to hang on despite allowing three runs and allowing the tying run to come to bat in the seventh. Brock allowed a hit, walked two and worked around LFO's only error to end it when he got Jordan Heath to ground out back to the mound.

"Coots came on and did a super job when we really needed it," Burch said. "We just can't have that many walks, which is something we've seen a couple of other times this year. We've set our goal to get in the playoffs and then be the best you can be from that point. If we are doing the things we should do every day, we feel good about reaching that goal.

"Today, you're happy with the win but not happy with the performance."

Leadoff batter Donahoo led an 11-hit attack with three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Brock, Barrosio, Flanagan and Matthew Trusley each added two hits.

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow on Twitter @youngsports22.

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