Veteran teams loaded with talent and accustomed to success don’t need any help, but Marion County provided it anyway Friday evening.
The Warriors committed five errors and had just one hitter get past first base in a 10-0 Class A state baseball sectional loss to perennial power Friendship Christian. The game was scheduled to be played at Friendship Christian, but rainy weather led the teams to agree to meet at Lookout Valley instead.
“The error bug definitely bit us tonight,” Marion County coach J.J. Gatlin said. “You don’t climb out of a hole that errors create and compete with a team like Friendship Christian.
“But I’m still very proud of what this team accomplished. Most people didn’t expect this much, but they competed and battled and reached this round, which is a big deal.”
Marion’s nine seniors helped a late-season surge to claim the District 6-A tournament championship and win 20 games.