Errors cost Raiders in season-opening loss

KINGSPORT ? J.J. Kelly jumped all over Sullivan North mistakes and made the Golden Raiders pay with a 7-4 defeat in the season opener for both squads on Monday night.

"We had the enthusiasm of a summer league game,"? North coach Steve Dixon said. "We've got to grow up. We didn't do any of the things it takes to win."?

The game began on the wrong foot for the Raiders starting with the opening batter and that trend continued throughout.

Kelly leadoff hitter Cody Bentley reached on an error and Matt Dotson followed with a walk. Justin Wilson moved the runners with a dribbler down the first baseline, but the ball was bobbled and thrown away allowing both runs to score.

North pitcher Steven Clifton battled through and held the Indians to one earned run through five innings, but things fell apart again in the sixth.

Clifton walked Wilson to start the frame. After a strikeout, Zach Clifton singled and Zach Sturgill brought both home when his ground ball was booted.

Another error to start the seventh inning led to two more J.J. Kelly runs. Dotson and Wilson cashed in with RBI singles.

Clifton gave up three earned runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out four and walked only two.

J.J. Kelly successfully swiped eight bases without getting thrown out.

"Steven threw well,"? Dixon said. "We're not going to strike out many. We have to make plays behind our pitchers and we didn't do that tonight."?

Dixon was also displeased with the effort shown at the plate.

North rallied once in the early going, but called strike threes prevented the Raiders from making further progress.

Clifton did what he could to help his own cause. He started the bottom of the second with a single. Nick Moore singled home Clifton and later scored on a two-out hit by freshman Brandon Black.

That was the last big hit the Raiders would get.

North had runners reach second base in each of the next four innings, but three called strikeouts was a major factor in stranding five runners.

"All spring we've not been able to string three or four hits together,"? Dixon said. "Everything we've had has come from gifts.

"They're showing no fight at the plate. Called strike threes with guys on base is not acceptable."?

North's seventh inning attempt at a rally was also stymied with a strikeout looking. With the Raiders down five, Chris Frazier and Tyler Duncan walked to open the inning, but after working a full count, Brandon Morelock was punched out. A sac fly and a single plated two, but Bentley coaxed a groundout to end it to complete his three-inning stint of relief.

Justin Allen started for the Indians, but got no decision. Sturgill earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Bentley earned the save.

Clifton was the only batter for either team with two hits, leading North with a 2-for-2 effort.


J.J. Kelly 7, North 4

J.J. Kelly.....200..102..2..-..7.6.2

North.........020..000..2..-..4.5.5

Allen, Sturgill (3), Bentley (5) and Strength. Clifton, Morelock (7) and Morgan. E ? JJK 2 (Strength, Dotson), North 5 (Morelock 2, Clifton, Cathey, Morgan). SB ? JJK 8 (Bentley 3, Wilson, Z.Clifton, Sturgill, Dotson 2), North 3 (Frazier 2, S.Clifton). Sac ? JJK 1 (Sproles). SF ? SN (S.Clifton). HBP ? by Allen (Overbay), by Clifton (Sproles). Balk ? Allen.