THS tops Phillips, misses playoffs

Published: Friday, April 10, 2009 4:26 PM CDT

Scot Beard sbeard@franklincountytimes.com

THARPTOWN - The Tharptown baseball team went on a rollercoaster ride of emotions this week as its playoff fate was decided. The Wildcats needed Phillips to lose three games for Tharptown to make the playoffs.

Phillips had not lost an area game all season. The Wildcats handed Phillips its first loss Monday and returned home Tuesday to hand the Bears a 10-4 loss.

Tharptown’s Jacob Parker and Kelby Hallmark scored in the first inning to give the Wildcats an early advantage.

Phillips tied the game in the top of the second. Tharptown regained the lead in the bottom of the second when Mackinley Flannagin and Nathan Gray scored.

The Bears cut the deficit to one in the third, but Tharptown answered again in the bottom of the inning to maintain a two run lead at 5-3.

The Wildcats increased their lead with one run in the fourth, but Phillips answered with a solo homerun in the fifth. Leading 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Nathan Gray singled and moved to second on a single by Parker.

Kelby Hallmark advanced the runners with a sacrifice before Trevor Hallmark hit a double to drive both runners home.

Brandon Cothrum and Wade Berryman both drew walks to load the bases before Flannagin doubled to score Trevor Hallmark and Cothrum for the final runs of the game.

With the sweep of Phillips, the Wildcats needed the Bears to lose to Mount Hope. Following the game, Phillips boarded a bus to Mount Hope to decide the area. Phillips won the game and clinched the top spot in Class 1A, Area 15 with an 8-2 area record. Vina, also 8-2 in area play, clinched second place. Tharptown finished third with a 7-3 area record.

Copyright © 2009 – Franklin County Times

THS keeps Bulldogs at bay 3-2

Published: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 3:14 PM CDT

Scot Beard

sbeard@franklincountytimes.com

THARPTOWN – The last time Tharptown met Belgreen on the baseball field, the Wildcats walked away with a 12-2 victory.

Monday afternoon, they walked away with a 3-2 win, but not without a fight.

“Both teams played a good, close game. Either team could have won,” said Tharptown coach Derek Ergle. “They have improved since the beginning of the season.”

Devin Lawson scored in the bottom of the third inning to give the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead.

Tharptown was unable to add to its advantage until the fifth when Nathan Gray reached first on a dropped third strike and the throw from the catcher sailed over the first baseman’s head allowing Gray to move all the way to third. Jacob Parker followed with a single to drive Gray home.

Belgreen answered in the third when William Washington doubled and stole third. Tharptown’s catcher tried to throw Washington out, but the throw went into the outfield and Washington scored to pull the Bulldogs within one run.

Shawn Hall led off the seventh inning for Belgreen by drawing a walk and moving to second on a passed ball. He too stole third and the pick off throw again went into the outfield allowing Hall to tie the game.

Parker reached base for Tharptown in the bottom of the seventh before Kelby Hallmark flew out to centerfield. The Belgreen centerfielder threw to first to try and double off the runner, but the throw went to the dugout and Parker moved to second.

A sacrifice by Trevor Hallmark moved Parker to third and a single by Brandon Cothrum allowed Parker to score.

Copyright © 2009 – Franklin County Times

Baseball Photos!!

Photo by Renita Flannagin

Tharptown split a series with Speake this week. The score at home was THS 14- Speake 11, followed by a game at Speake which ended Speake 11- Tharptown 5.

Here are photos from the weeks games

Tharptown baseball has tough week

Published: Friday, March 20, 2009 3:25 PM CDT

Slade GilmerFor the FCT

THARPTOWN - The Tharptown baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to Tanner on Thursday afternoon at Tharptown.

The Rattlers took the first game 16-5 before winning the second game 10-4, using a big inning in each game to pull away.

In the first game, the Rattlers used a big fifth inning to blow open what had been a close game. Wade Berryman led Tharptown with two singles and two RBIs, while Brandon Cothrum added a double. Jacob Parker and Nathan Gray each singled for Tharptown.

The Rattlers used the third and fourth innings of the second game to blow open what had started as a pitcher’s duel.

Leading 1-0, the Rattlers took advantage of a single, a walk, an error and two doubles to score three runs and take a 4-0 lead into the fourth.

In the top of that inning the Rattlers got four singles, an error, a walk, and a catcher’s interference call to drive across five more runs and take a 9-0 lead.

Tharptown got on the board in the bottom of the fifth.

Omar Miguel and Mackinley Flannagin led off the inning with walks before Jacob Parker grounded into a forceout at second to put runners on first and third.

Miguel scored on Kelby Hallmark’s RBI groundout and Berryman followed with a single. He came around to score on a two-run single by Gray to cut the Rattler lead to 9-3.

In the bottom of the sixth, Trevor Hallmark reached on an error, moved to second on Miguel’s second walk and scored on a single by Kelby Hallmark. The Rattlers responded with a run in the top of the seventh to close out the scoring.

Kelby Hallmark led the way in the second game with two singles and a pair of RBIs.

Gray added a single and two RBIs, while Berryman and Justin Britnell each added a single.

Berryman took the loss in Game 2, pitching 31/3 innings and giving up seven runs – five earned – on four hits and four walks while striking out five.

Vina 14,

Tharptown 7

The Red Devil offense rolled Wednesday as three Vina players had three hits each and the team recorded 18 hits in a 14-7 win against area foe Tharptown.

Adam Pharr tripled, doubled and singled while Channing Haithcock and Cass White each hit a pair of doubles and a single.

Four other players had two hits each, led by Brent Townsend who hit a home run and a single while Clay Pierce, Patrick White and Judd Childers all hit a pair of singles. Morgan McCarley hit a double to round out the hitting for Vina.

Adam Pharr pitched three innings before Sammy Pardue entered to throw four innings of relief.

Brandon Cothrum led the Wildcats with a triple, double and single while Kelby Hallmark singled twice.

Parker, Wade Berryman, Devin Lawson and Nathan Gray all singled for Tharptown.

Vina 7,

Tharptown 3

Haithcock led the Red Devil offense with a home run and a single while Cass White had a double and a single.

Townsend, McCarley, Matthew Hester and Patrick White each singled for the Red Devils.

Townsend pitched a complete game to earn the win.

Jacob Parker, Kelby Hallmark, Trevor Hallmark and Gray all singled for the Wildcats.

Copyright © 2009 – Franklin County Times

THS Still Undefeated In Area Play

Brandon Cothrum pitches against Mt. Hope
on Friday night. Photo by Renita Flannagin

Tharptown - The Tharptown Wildcats continued their Area winning streak by beating the Mt. Hope Yellow Jackets in both games of a double header on Friday night. The Varsity boys dominated the Jackets with powerful hitting, good defense, and the pitching attack of Brandon Cothrum and Jacob Parker. The Wildcats scored 11 runs in each of the games beating Mt. Hope 11-0 in tthe first game, and 11-1 in the second.

Mackinley Flannagin hits against Mt. Hope
on Friday night. Photo by Renita Flannagin

See photos of the games

Tharptown beats the Golden Bears twice in DH at Home

Tharptown – The Varsity boys beat Hazlewood’s boys 4-2 on the strength of Brandon Cothrum’s pitching along with some good outfield work on Tuesday night. That showing was followed by a 2-0 win with Jacob Parker at the helm to give the Cats 2 more wins on the 2009 season.

Clements scores early, often during 19-2 rout of Tharptown

Published: Friday, February 27, 2009 4:13 PM CST

Scot Beard

sbeard@franklincountytimes.com

RED BAY – After its first two games of the season, the Tharptown varsity boys baseball team has experienced the highs and lows the sport has to offer.

The Wildcat’s first game was a 12-2 victory against Belgreen Tuesday. Their second game was not as kind as Clements rolled to a 19-2 win Thursday in a game played at Red Bay.

The Colts jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning, but Tharptown answered with a pair of runs I the third.

Kelby Hallmark reached on an error and advanced to second on a single by Trevor Hallmark. Brandon Cothrum reached first on a fielder’s choice, allowing Kelby Hallmark to score. A sacrifice by Zack Sockwell pushed Trevor Hallmark across the plate.

Clements answered in the bottom of the inning with a 12-run explosion to put the game out of reach. The Colts sent 17 batters to the plate during the inning but only managed six hits, as they were able to draw a handful of walks and reach base on several Wildcat errors.

Tharptown’s Jacob Parker drew a walk in the fourth and Kelby Hallmark pushed him to second with a single, but the Wildcats were unable to bring either runner around to score.

Parker, both Hallmarks and Omar Miguel were the only Wildcats to get a hit – they all singled.

Wade Berryman, Devin Lawson, Sockwell and Parker each drew a walk for Tharptown.

The Wildcats will play their first home game Monday when they host Hazlewood at 4:30 p.m.

Wildcats Beat Belgreen 12 – 2 in Baseball Season Opener

Belgreen’s Daniel Melecio (8) tags Tharptown’s Brandon Cothrum as he tries to slide home during the first inning of Tuesday’s game.

Published: Thursday, February 26, 2009 2:27 PM CST

Slade Gilmer

For the FCT

BELGREEN – The Tharptown baseball team got a strong performance from its pitching staff in a 12-2 win against Belgreen on Tuesday.

Jacob Parker, Brandon Cothrum and Zack Sockwell combined on a six-hitter, striking out 14 in the win.

“I was really pleased with our pitching,” said Tharptown baseball coach Derek Ergle. “(Parker and Cothrum) are both just 10th graders.”

Parker started the first three innings, giving up four hits while striking out six and giving up two runs. Cothrum – who picked up the win – pitched the next three innings, striking out six while allowing only two hits and a walk. Sockwell closed out the game, striking out two and allowing no hits or walks.

The Wildcats took advantage of some Belgreen miscues in the first to take an early 3-0 lead. Kelby Hallmark got the first hit of the season for the Wildcats, advanced to second on a bad throw and came home on Trevor Hallmark’s RBI single.

Trevor Hallmark scored on an error two batters later, and Sockwell came home on an error two batters after that to close out the scoring in the first inning.

Tharptown added to their lead in the second. Devin Lawson walked to lead off the inning, and stole second. He came home after a passed ball to give Tharptown a 4-0 lead.

Belgreen got on the board in the bottom half of the second. Parker struck the first two Bulldog batters out before Cody Glasgow punched a single to right, moved to second on an errant pickoff attempt and scored on Josh DeVaney’s RBI single.

Tharptown answered with two runs in the top of the third. Brandon Cothrum led off the inning with a double, stole third, and came home on an RBI groundout from Sockwell. Wade Berryman then walked, and came around to score on a passed ball later in the inning.

Belgreen added a run in the bottom of the third. Parker hit William Washington, who then moved to second on a balk, and scored on Brandon Hester’s RBI single.

Tharptown again responded with two runs. Kelby and Trevor Hallmark led off the inning with singles, and both came home on passed balls.

Tharptown put the game away in the seventh inning, scoring four runs. Parker led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on Kelby Hallmark’s strikeout and scored on a passed ball. Trevor Hallmark then walked, Cothrum was awarded first after being hit by a pitch, and Sockwell also walked.

Wade Berryman grounded out to second to drive Trevor Hallmark in. Cothrum and Sockwell scored on Mackinley Flannagin’s two-run double to close out the scoring.

For the Wildcats, Kelby Hallmark led the way with three hits – all singles. Trevor Hallmark and Brandon Cothrum added two hits apiece, while Flannagin and Nathan Gray each added a hit for Tharptown.

Hester led Belgreen with two singles in three at-bats and an RBI. DeVaney added a hit and an RBI, while Washington, Trent Edwards and Glasgow each recorded a single for the Bulldogs.

Hester took the loss for the Bulldogs, going 31/3 innings, giving up six runs while striking out two.

Copyright © 2009 – Franklin County Times

See more game photos!

Baseball & Softball Schedules Are Here!

I’ve posted the Baseball and Softball Schedules for 2009. Check them out and make plans to come out and cheer for the Wildcats!

Baseball Team Chicken Stew A Success!

Tharptown – Coach Ergle stirs a pot of Chicken Stew while his Baseball players take turns on a second pot.

Coach Ergle along with the help of the Baseball players, Jerry Vandiver and a cast of several made a Chicken Stew in Saturday October 11 to help fund the Wildcat Baseball program. I bought a couple of gallons myself. Jerry always does a great job, and the Vandiver family always goes over the top in their support of the Wildcats.

Click here to see photos of the Baseball Team