Veterans’ comeback bid falls short against West Laurens

KATHLEEN — Despite a big swing in the fourth inning Veterans (2-2) couldn’t overcome a few self-inflicted wounds in a 9-7 loss to West Laurens (3-0) on Monday night.

Three errors and six walks were enough to give the Raiders an edge despite a four-run bottom of the fourth from the Warhawks.

A trio of walks scored one run and set Ethan Scott up with two outs and loaded bases.

In what was a relatively bleak offensive night, Scott was the bright spot.

“I think he’s incredible,” Head coach Jeff Sans said of the junior infielder. “I’ve seen a lot of maturity between last year and this year. Just really settling in the box, and knowing his role and fighting with two strikes. Trying to put the ball in play and get RBIs in. He’s doing a great job.”

He was the only player to significantly lengthen a couple of at-bats, and he made West Laurens’ arms work to get him off the plate.

His fly ball to right field in the fourth cleared the bases and scored three runs for the ‘Hawks, giving them a 6-4 lead — their first of the night.

Scott fouled off two balls in the sixth before belting a RBI single out to right field. That was Veterans’ last run of the game.

Seven runs isn’t a bad output, and considering how much the offense struggled to find gaps and straighten out their contact, it was nearly miraculous.

But the defense fell short in many ways. Fumbled grounders, missed throws and a general lack of aggression chasing balls down.

“I think we’re playing a little scared defensively and we need to be a lot more aggressive,” Sans said. “The kids can play, [but] we’re real young, so they just ned to realize, ‘Well I can do this’ and go make plays.”

The mound wasn’t exonerated of responsibility either. Between the four pitchers to hit the diamond there were seven strikeouts to six walks, and eight earned runs. They found themselves down in the count often.

“We’re just trying to find ourselves, really,” Sans said. “Like I said, we’re real young. We have one senior on the field normally, and we pitched two freshmen tonight. Just trying to find ourselves and find out who we are and what we can do. Once they find that, I think we’re going to be alright.”

The fifth inning was the culmination of Veterans’ issues and ultimately the nail in the coffin.

The side started off with an error and after a single the ‘Hawks walked three of their next five batters. The other two hit singles.

By the end of it another walk plated a run, and the Raiders tallied another before the final out.

UP NEXT

Veterans will host Perry on Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. for another non-region competition.

West Laurens will return home to play Richmond Academy on Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m.