By By SCOTT COOPER – Sports Writer
The Jefferson Davis Warhawks put on an impressive display of baseball over the past week. In three games contested, the Warhawks dominated from start to finish in a non-conference win over Faulkner State Community College before returning to conference play with an impressive twin bill sweep of Alabama Southern.
Entering the stretch-run portion of their schedule, the Warhawks are 15-20 overall and 6-7 within the conference.
Warhawks 7, Faulkner State 2
As the Warhawks traveled to Bay Minette for a non-conference meeting with the Faulkner State Sun Chiefs, they focused their sights on a win that would put the brakes on a four-game losing skid. With timely hitting coupled with an solid team defensive effort, JDCC took control of the contest early and accomplished its goal of returning home with a victory.
In the top of the first inning, the Warhawks came out of the gate swinging the bats with authority. Steven Cadenhead singled to start a rally before Jack Schwartz drew a walk. Bo Keahey then lined a double to centerfield to move Cadenhead and Schwartz home while giving JDCC a 2-0 lead.
In their half of the first inning, the Sun Chiefs threatened to duplicate the Warhawks' quick start at the plate. Faulkner loaded the bases with only one out when JDCC's Brian Moore came on in relief and proceeded to deliver consecutive fly-ball pitches for outs that allowed the Warhawks to escape the inning unscathed.
A big second inning allowed JDCC to take command. After Phil Currid reached on an error and both Blair Mercer and Josh Padgett singled, Steven Walls came to bat with the bases loaded and delivered an RBI base hit. Cadenhead followed with a fielder's choice that pushed another run across the plate, and then Keahey drew a walk that upped the lead to 5-0.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Warhawks continued stretching the lead. With two runners on base, Clint Howard delivered an RBI single to further escalate the JDCC advantage to 6-0.
The Sun Chiefs reduced the deficit they faced with a two-RBI double in the fifth inning, but then the Warhawks answered in the sixth.
Schwartz began the rally with a leadoff double before moving to third on Keahey's sacrifice bunt. Taking advantage of a Faulkner passed ball, Schwartz then moved from third to home while ending the game's scoring at 7-2.
Brian Moore earned the victory in a relief role, allowing only two hits and striking-out three over four innings.
Dustin Blakey got credit for a save, going two innings while giving-up no runs on two hits.
JDCC leaders at the plate were Bo Keahey, 1-for-1 with three RBIs; Blair Mercer, 2-for-3; Steven Walls, 2-for-4 with one RBI; Jack Schwartz, 1-for-2 and Clint Howard, 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Warhawks 4, Alabama Southern 2
The Warhawks looked to continue their strong play when they hit the road for a March 12 double-header against the Alabama Southern Eagles.
While Eli Himes was controlling the Alabama Southern bats with a solid performance from the mound, the Warhawks' bats accounted for enough offense to secure a 4-2 opening-game win.
In the top of the first, the Warhawks took a 1-0 lead on Bo Keahey's RBI double before pushing the advantage to 2-0 with a run in the third scored on an Eagles' error.
Following an Alabama Southern run in the fourth that made the score 2-1, JDCC regained a two-run lead with a couple of base hits in the fifth. Steven Walls' single got the inning off to a good start, and then John Huval produced an RBI double that once again placed the Warhawks up by two, 3-1.
The Eagles struck with a lone run in the sixth that cut the JDCC lead down to 3-2, but once again the Warhawks quickly responded with a run to retain a two-run leading margin.
In the top of the seventh, Leon Brasington reached after being hit by a pitch and then put himself in scoring position by stealing second base. Brasington moved to third on Walls' sacrifice bunt before heading home on a Steven Cadenhead sacrifice fly that put the wraps on the 4-2 victory.
Eli Himes went the distance, giving-up eight hits and recording three strikeouts while earning the win.
Offensive leaders for the Warhawks were Steven Walls, 1-for-2 and John Huval, 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Warhawks 10, Alabama Southern 2
As they came to bat in the last inning of the nightcap, JDCC held a narrow two-run lead. But, a seventh-inning offensive frenzy skyrocketed the Warhawks to victory and a twin bill sweep.
In the top of the first, John Huval's fielder's-choice RBI gave JDCC a 1-0 lead before the Eagles came right back in the bottom half of the inning with two hits that deadlocked the score at 1-1.
A run manufactured in the top of the third inning once again gave the Warhawks the advantage. Carson Richards started the rally by reaching on an error. Then, consecutive singles by Leon Brasington and Steven Walls moved Richards across the plate while placing JDCC out front, 2-1.
Clutch hitting in the top of the fourth added another run to the Warhawks' total. Rob Mosley's double to begin the inning gave JDCC a baserunner in scoring position. Dustin Holtzclaw then sacrificed Mosley over to third before a Clint Howard sacrifice fly allowed him home for a 3-1 lead.
Entering the top of the seventh, the Warhawks were seeking some insurance runs before the Eagles' last turn at the plate. They got that and much more, as the JDCC bats caught fire in a seven-run rally that effectively put the game away. Holtzclaw and Steven Cadenhead each delivered two-RBI hits that paced the explosion while Brasington, Walls and Huval also contributed key hits that drove home runs. After the dust settled, the Warhawks found themselves in possession of a 10-1 lead.
The JDCC defense kept the Alabama Southern bats under control in the bottom of the seventh, allowing a lone run that made the final score 10-2.
Raphael Kyles tossed a seven-hitter and struck-out four over six innings to earn the win.
Pacing the Warhawks on offense were Steven Cadenhead, 2-for-3 with two RBIs; Dustin Holtzclaw, 2-for-3 with two RBIs; Leon Brasington, 2-for-3 with one RBI; Rob Mosley, 2-for-3; Steven Walls, 2-for-4 with two RBIs and John Huval, 1-for-2 with two RBIs.