MTCS comeback foils Lions

By TONY STINNETT, Courier Sports Editor

It appeared Sam Schau’s first career start was going to be a memorable one.

The Lions freshman carried a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the fifth and was on the verge of his first career win.
Then it happened.

Three errors in the bottom of the fifth, including a two-out miscue with the bases loaded, open the floodgates for a six run-inning as the Cougars came from behind to take a 10-7 win.

“Sam pitched well enough to win,” Lions Coach Justin Fann said. “He gave us a chance to win. We just didn’t make enough plays. We have been preaching that you have to make the plays when they count.”

Cannon County (2-16) collected 11 hits, including two each from Jackson Mason and Tucker Francis. Mason has been on a tear of late and was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Francis was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Nick Vassar, Trent Bragg, Josh Williams and Bailey Hale also had base knocks for the Lions.

The Lions tied the game, 4-4, with a three-run fourth inning. Mason, Williams and Hale had RBI hits in the inning.
Cannon County took a 5-4 lead in the fifth when Austin Martin walked and scored on Bragg’s groundout.

Three of the first five Cougars reached on errors in the bottom of the fifth. The other two flew out. Following the third error of the inning, MTCS strung together two straight hits and then benefitted from a walk and hit batsman.
Mason’s two-run single scored two runs for the Lions as they tried to rally in the seventh. They got the tying run to the plate but could not complete the comeback.

The Lions are scheduled to face Central Magnet on the road Monday, and at home Tuesday. Start time is 5 pm.