By Nick Nunn
Staff Writer

In one short week, the Morgan County Diamond Dogs have brought their record to 2-1 by beating Rockdale 12-8 and exacting their revenge in a 4-3 game against Clarke Central.

The Dogs pounced on Rockdale in the first inning. A two-run RBI double by Andrew Couch, his second of the year, put Morgan ahead 2-1, but, after the top of the third, Rockdale had battled ahead 5-2.

In the bottom of the third, Morgan’s bats came alive, batting through the order and scoring five runs. Jordan Cox, Trent Hawk, Brantley Frost, and Cody Harper earned an RBI apiece in the inning, and Andrew Couch scored on a passed ball.
The Dogs added insult to injury in the fourth with five more runs, three of them coming from a huge double by Brantley Frost that nearly cleared the fence. 

Although Rockdale had a small rally in the seventh to score three more runs, Morgan County stayed ahead through the end to win 12-8.

Rain prevented the Dogs from traveling to Social Circle last Friday to play the Redskins; that game was made up yesterday, Wednesday, Feb. 26.

Morgan County got to work early against Clarke Central, who had already scored two runs Monday night before the Dogs ever came to bat.

Carter Shultz shot a double into center field to begin the first inning and scored on a single by Stewart Spence.

Both Spence and Andrew Couch scored on a throwing error by Clarke Central’s shortstop, and the Dogs ended the inning ahead of Clarke Central 3-2.
An RBI single by Clarke Owen in the second inning which scored Clayton Gasaway, who had stolen a base after reaching on a single, was all Morgan County needed to cement their lead over Clarke Central for the remainder of the game, which ended in the Dogs’ favor 4-3.

Brantley Frost, the starting pitcher for Morgan County, walked four but struck out five in his four innings on the mound. He also managed to bean one Clarke Central batter in the third inning, marking the first hit batsman for a Morgan County pitcher this year.
But the hits just kept on coming; Clarke Owen, who was called in during the fifth, also hit a batter in the seventh inning. Owen also racked up an impressive seven strikeouts in three innings, allowing two hits but no earned runs.

The JV Dogs began their season with back-to-back victories this week. After beating Apalachee at home 7-3 last Tuesday, the JV team blew Rockdale County out of the water, scoring 15 runs to their six.

The Diamond Dogs will have a busy upcoming week. After making up their game against Social Circle yesterday, they will travel to Lamar County for a double header on Friday and then to Rockdale County on Monday. Next Wednesday, the Dogs will be home again to play Eastside at 5:55.

Printed in the February 28, 2013