Lakeside got its second standout pitching performance in as many games to claim a convincing win over crosstown rival Lake Hamilton Monday night.
Five days after sophomore Ethan Bates dominated Texarkana with 10 strikeouts in a complete-game shutout, classmate Gage Golden scattered three hits while issuing one walk and striking out four as Lakeside (15-3, 7-0 in 5A/6A-6) rolled to a 10-0 win over the visiting Wolves (2-11, 1-4).
"Gage went out and did what Gage does," Lakeside coach Leighton Hardin said. "He gave up a lot of soft contact; I think they hit one ball hard today in five innings against him. That's what Gage is."
After going down in order in the bottom of the first inning, the Rams used a patient approach at the plate to put the pressure on in the second frame.
Lakeside drew five free passes via walk or hit batsmen, while Justin Scott delivered a two-run double and Bates sent a two-run home run over the right field wall as the Rams built a commanding 8-0 lead.
"We started out hot on the mound in the first inning and then we just couldn't find the strike zone all of the sudden," Lake Hamilton coach Mac Hurley said. "One big inning has killed us all year. If I look in the book at our 11 losses, I guarantee 10 of those, we've given up one big inning."
In the top half of the second, the Wolves threatened to take a lead of their own before Golden settled in. Spencer Gracie and Jace Robbins each singled, while Brayden Clark reached first on a dropped third strike to load the bases.
Golden later induced a fly ball to retire the side and escape the inning unscathed.
"That could have been huge," said Hurley. "We get a couple runs on them in that inning and maybe it changes the complexion of the game. It would have put pressure on them and given us some confidence. I don't think we're playing with a lot of confidence right now."
After stranding Remy Bilodeau on second base in the bottom of the third, Lakeside extended its lead with an RBI groundout from Bates in the fourth inning.
Continuing to swing a hot bat, Bates finished with two hits and four RBIs in four plate appearances for the Rams. The University of Arkansas verbal commit has a team-high 26 RBIs in 18 games this season.
"It's the same way with all of our guys; it's because of the work they put in," Hardin said. "You want to put work into this game, it's going to reap benefits. Ethan's a hard worker, and those are the guys you love having around."
As the lineup gave Lakeside a comfortable 9-0 advantage, Golden held the Wolves in check on the mound. The sophomore left-hander allowed just two hits over the last three frames, inducing five groundouts in the process.
Leading 9-0, Bilodeau, Scott and Brady Prince each reached base safely in the bottom of the fifth. Bates delivered an RBI single to give the Rams a 10-run lead and enact the mercy rule.
Bilodeau and Prince each finished with two singles in four plate appearances. Golden, Prince and Jesus Minjarez each had one RBI.
Tanner King doubled in the top of the third for Lake Hamilton's lone extra-base hit of the contest. Cole Plyler suffered the loss with five runs allowed on one hit in 1 1/3 innings pitched, striking out two while issuing two walks and three hit batsmen.
Both teams hosted conference foes Tuesday night, Lakeside against El Dorado (13-3, 2-1) and Lake Hamilton against Magnolia (10-3, 5-1). The Rams are scheduled to travel to Hope (2-10, 0-6) on Thursday, while the Wolves travel to El Dorado on Friday.
"It's great to start out the week by throwing up a zero," said Hardin. "Shutouts are something we take pride in. We have to do a lot of things right to get a zero on the board, and that's two games in a row now. Hopefully we carry that momentum into the rest of the week and get the same performance on the mound."
Sports on 04/11/2018