AUGUSTA, Ga. - Behind an impressive pitching performance by Cody Ewest, Thomson blanked the Lexington, S.C., Tornadoes 3-0 last Saturday night to end summer league baseball play. The game was played at the Gerald Barnes Field at Westside High School.
"It was great to end the summer on a winning note," Thomson Assistant Head Coach Aaron Hall said. "We kept after it against Lexington and finally scored some runs."
Just before Thomson scored their first run of the game, Coach Hall had emphasized to his players that they had to find a way to score some runs.
Apparently they listened.
Thomson center fielder Will Tankerlsey drilled a triple down the left field line in the bottom of the fifth to get things uncorked. The next two batters, Jesse Usry and Nic Wood, struck out before catcher Austin Cooper was hit by a pitch.
It was at that time that Coach Hall called for a double-steal. Like in a similar situation earlier this summer against Harlem, the execution was perfect. It happened after Josh Jones was called upon to pinch run for Cooper. When Coach Hall called the play, Tankersley broke for home plate, while Jones headed to second base. Both runners were successful.
Such wasn't the case when Jones attempted to steal third on the next play. He was tagged out, thus ending any further scoring threat.
In the bottom of the sixth, Thomson tallied two more runs to take a 3-0 lead.
Third baseman Cody Corbitt, who turned several fine defensive plays during the game, led off with a single into left field before Ewest reached on a one-out walk. The bases then became loaded when Andy Grimaud lined a single into left center. Corbitt later scored on a RBI single by shortstop Nick Rau. Ewest scored Thomson's third run of the game when Abram Cartledge reached on a fielder's choice.
Ewest picked up the win as the pitcher, going the distance against the South Carolina prep team. He allowed the Tornadoes just three hits - all singles - while striking out five and walking two batters.
"Cody pitched a real good game," Coach Hall said.
Ewest managed to pitch out of a jam in the top of the seventh, as Lexington got two runners on base with only one out. He got out of it by striking out a batter for the second out and the last out was a ground out to Rau.
