Published: May 06, 2008 11:01 am            

Cougars take Game 3 to advance to south state

from staff reports



With a balanced offensive attack that included hits from nine different players and a 5-run eruption in the fifth inning, the Newton County Cougars got past Columbia by a score of 9-7 Monday night to advance to the Class 3A South State Championship.

With the deciding Game 3 held at Richland High School, the Cougars rebounded from an 11-9 loss Saturday to clinch the series Monday night.

Starting pitcher Tyler Davis earned the win, giving NC four strong innings. Davis allowed one earned run and struck out five to move his record to 8-3 on the year. In relief, Drew Wilson tossed three innings to pick up his second save of the season.

Offensively, Newton County got production throughout the batting order as nine Cougars collected hits and eight delivered RBIs.

Davis led the way, notching a single, double and two RBIs while Jeremy May, Tyler Laird Cole Harris and Justin Gates each singled and drove in a run. Patrick Ezell singled twice and drove in two, Jose Acosta singled twice, Hank Pugh had an RBI double, Wilson singled and Tyler Robinson contributed an RBI.

With the win, Newton County improved to 28-7 on the season and will now face Sumrall in the 3A south state finals.

That series is slated to kick off Thursday night at Sumrall, with first pitch tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m.

—Brandon Walker

        

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