CC baseball team records tough losses

Cannon County’s baseball team put itself in position to win two games during its opening week but couldn’t finish in a pair of tough losses.

The Lions were 0-3 during opening week with a pair on one-run losses at Eagleville - the 2012 Class A state runner-up.

Nick Vassar earned the opening day start in game one of a doubleheader at Eagleville Tuesday (March 12) and scattered three hits over six innings to provide the quality start and put the team in position to win.

Cannon County led 8-3 after six innings and seemed to have the game in hand when it went to the bullpen in the seventh.

The Lions’ relief corps allowed six runs  on just two hits, walked four and hit a batter in the nightmarish seventh. There was also an error in the inning.

Cannon County erased a 1-0 deficit with four runs in the second inning.

Jackson Mason started the inning witha walk and Dalton Bell later was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second.

Chase Gunter delivered a clutch two-out hit to score Mason and Bell and Nick Vassar followed with a double to plate Gunter. Brent Duggin added a two-out RBI single and the Lions owned a 4-1 lead

Eagleville scored two in the third to cut the deficit to 4-3 but Cannon County extended its advantage.

Mason waslked and scored in the fifth, and Vassar reached and scored in the sixth to push the lead 6-3.

The Lions added two runs in the seventh. Graden Strang delivered a one-out double and Bell walked. Gunter came up with a two-out single and by the time the dust had settled the Lions led 8-3.

Gunter led the Lions at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a RBI double. Strang was 1-for-3 with a RBI double and run scored

Brent Duggin and Trent Bragg also had hits for the Lions.

The Lions lost another heartbreaker in game two against Eagleville. Starting pitcher Dalton Bell provided an outstanding effort on the mound and at the plate. Bell pitched six-plus innings and allowed just two hits. He left the game with the Lions leading 2-1 in the seventh but the bullpen couldn’t protect the lead for the second straight game as the Lions dropped a 3-2 decision in eight innings.

Brian Duggin led the Lions at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double and run scored. Bell was 2-for-2 with a double and one RBI.

Gunter and Vassar also had hits for the Lions.

Cannon County took a 1-0 lead in the second when Brian Duggin delivered a one-out single and stole second. He scored on Nathan McGuire’s sacrifice fly.

The Lions extended the lead in the top of the fourth. Graden Strang reached and scored on Bell’s RBI double to push the lead to 2-0; however, Eagleville scored in the bottom of the inning to close to within 2-1.

From there it was a pitcher’s duel.

Cannon County was one out away from notching its first win but was unable to seal the victory.

Cannon County closed the week with a 5-0 loss against Cascade.

Dalton Bell had the only hit of the game for the Lions. Bell’s one-out single in the sixth broke up a no-hitter for the Champions.

Cannon County had numerous baserunners throughout the game but could never come through with a big hit.

The Lions had the bases loaded with two outs in the first and didn’t score. They had the bases loaded with none out in the fourth and didn’t score.

The game was scoreless until Cascade scored three in the third and added two in the fourth.