Suffolk News-Herald

King’s Fork lost their fourth and final game of the Nansemond River Invitational Tournament on Thursday, going down 17-3 to Booker T. Washington.

The Bulldogs went through four different pitchers, struggling with a pitching staff worn down by the team’s fourth game in three days.

The Fighting Bookers threatened, but left the bases loaded in the first.

In their half of the second, they did not make the same mistake; plating four times and sending 10 batters up in the inning.

The Bulldogs rallied back in their half of the second.

Colin Rivera reached first on an error to lead off, and then in a wild sequence, scored all the way from first on two more Booker mistakes.

With Rivera stealing second, the Booker catcher threw the ball into center field; Rivera scrambled up and raced toward third, the centerfielder then threw the ball past the third baseman and all the way to the fence in foul territory, Rivera scored, traveling 270 feet around the base paths.

Aaron Shelton drove in Chase White with a two-out single later in the second.

After six more Booker runs in the top of the third, Rivera added an RBI single in the Bulldog third for Fork’s third run.

Following the game, Phil Hartley was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Lakeland dropped the third-place game to Wilson, yielding the go-ahead run in the top of the fifth on the way to the wrong side of a 4-2 decision.

The Cavaliers struck first, scoring twice in the bottom of the first.

Leadoff man Steve Morean reached base on a President error, and two batters later, Dan Cross drove in Morean from second with an RBI single.

Cross stole second, and then moved to third on another Wilson error.

With runners on second and third, and one out, John Rasberry brought Cross in with a sacrifice ground out to second, putting Lakeland up 2-0.

On the hill, Rasberry retired the first 11 Wilson hitters in order before four straight Presidents reached base with two outs in the fourth inning.

Two crossed home in the process, tying the game.

In the Wilson fifth, Rasberry again found problems after getting two outs to start the frame.

Rasberry hit a batter and walked another, putting runners at the corners.

The Presidents then pulled off a double steal to score the go-ahead run.

Wilson added an important insurance run in the top of the seventh on a Cavalier passed ball.

Rasberry was the tough-luck loser, getting eight strikeouts, but giving up four walks, during his five innings.

David Morean and Gray Pope combined to pitch the sixth and seventh.

Steve Morean reached base on three of four plate appearances, and Kenny Wright had two singles in three at bats.

Rasberry, Dan Cross, and David Morean were the Lakeland contributions to the All-Tournament Team as the Cavaliers (2-6, 0-4) finished 2-2 for the week.