Lebanon outscored 15-13 at Smith County

From staff reports

SOUTH CARTHAGE — Lebanon was outscored by Smith County 15-13 Saturday at Crump Paris Park.

The Blue Devils scored six times in the top of the seventh inning to threaten the Owls, who had overcome a 7-6 deficit with two runs on the bottom of the fifth inning and blew the game open with seven in the sixth.

Smith County scored four times in the bottom of the third inning to go up 6-1 before Lebanon got five in the top of the fifth to go up 7-6.

Lebanon out-hit Smith County 16-15, but committed four errors to the Owls' one.

Caleb Young, the last of three Lebanon pitchers, tossed 2/3 innings, allowing three runs [two earned] to take the loss as the Blue Devils dropped to 1-2.

Starter Jake Manning was lifted two outs into the first inning for Andrew Mofield, who fired 4 2/3 innings. Mofield allowed eight runs, but only three were earned.

Eddie McDaniels went 5-for-5 for Lebanon while Jack McKeon drove in four runs on a homer and two doubles while also being hit twice. Freshman Bryce Lester went 3-for-4 with a double from the No. 9  spot. Taylor Bryan doubled among his two hits.

Devils split opener at White House-Heritage

WHITE HOUSE — Lebanon opened the season Friday with a double-header split at White House-Heritage.

The Patriots won the first game 5-3 on a sixth-inning two-run homer by Caleb Anderson off Lebanon's Michael Hastings, who struck out Anderson in the bottom of the seventh inning of the nightcap with the tying run on third base to preserve the Blue Devils' 5-4 victory.

Freshman Bryce Lester's second double of the second game drove in two fifth-inning runs for a 5-1 lead. Jack McKeon cracked an RBI single earlier in the inning.

Junior Connor Harris pitched six innings for the win, allowing three unearned runs on four hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts.

Hastings gave up an unearned run in the seventh before getting payback on Anderson for the save.

Taylor Bryan doubled and Jay Pittman singled for Lebanon.

In the first game, Lebanon led 3-0 midway through the third inning on a first-inning RBI single by Justin Huggins and a pair of passed balls.

But Heritage got a run in the bottom of the third and tied the score with two in the fifth.

Dillon Hulse pitched the first 4 1/3 innings for Lebanon, allowing three runs [two earned] on two hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Nolan Chambers notched the final two outs of the fifth before Hastings worked the sixth, throwing just 10 pitches to make himself available to return in the second game.

Pittman and Eddie McDaniels had Lebanon's other first-game hits.

Lebanon was scheduled to travel to Warren County on Monday night and is to play host to Martin Luther King at 7 p.m. tonight at Brent Foster Field.

Bears close Scenic City Classic with 6-1 win

CHATTANOOGA — MT. JULIET finished a 4-0 stay in the Scenic City Classic with a 6-1 win over Rabun Gap, Ga., on Saturday.

Brandon Smith spotted Rabun Gap an earned run on two hits while striking out four to earn the win. Logan Johnston and Eli Schreiber each tossed an inning to close out the Golden Bears' fifth win in six starts.

Mt. Juliet matched Rabun Gap's third-inning run with a tying score in the bottom half of Zach Ehrhart's sacrifce fly, scoring Jackson Hollinshead, who had walked.

Kyle Grace scored on Marshall Gei's groundout for a 2-1 lead in the fourth.

Four Bears scored in the fifth to break the game open. Hollinshead walked, stole second, went to third on Eli Mason's bunt single and scored on Ehrhart's squeeze. Cody Carr then cracked a two-run homer.

Grace followed with a walk, stole second and scored the final run on Hunter Gilbert's single.

Mt. Juliet will return to action Thursday when the Wilson County Invitational begins at four sites around the county. The Bears will play host to Brentwood at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Saints score early for 3-0 start

ANTIOCH — Mt. Juliet Christian scored six early runs Saturday and the Saints rolled past host Lighthouse Christian 9-3.

The Saints scored three times in each of the first two innings for a 6-0 lead midway through the second.

Mt. Juliet Christian collected 11 hits to back Dallas Hammer, who struck out seven in five innings for the win.

Peyton Raymer and Elliott Lee each went 3-for-5 and Andy Pitman picked up a pair of hits to help send the Saints to a 3-0 season start.

Mt. Juliet Christian will play host to Donelson Christian at 3:45 p.m. today to open district play.