Spanning the County: Crusaders fall in extras

Newberry Academy went to the 8^th inning tied 10-10 with Laurens Academy in baseball Thursday, but a hit batter, Thomas McLean, pushed in what proved the winning run in the Eagles’ 13-10 victory at Crusader Field.

NA also outhit LA (3-3) by a margin of 15-12, led by Jack Montgomery’s 4 hits in 5 trips to the plate. He both scored and drove in 3 runs. Ryan Brown was 3-3.

Elijah Hornberger led LA with 3 hits

Evan Asalone and Jared Willard each had 2 hits for the Crusaders. Asalone drove in 3; Willard scored 3. Clarence Bertoli’s double was the game’s only extra-base hit. Caleb Hardy also drove in 3 runs but only had 1 hit.

McLean started the game but turned the mound duties to Montgomery, who earned the decision with 5 innings on the hill. Six pitchers saw action for Laurens Academy.

Clinton athletics director Louie Alexander is AD of the Year in Region 4-3A.

Laurens won a pair of golf matches against Ware Shoals, 186-208 on the road and 176-202 at Lakeside Country Club. Jaeden Weathers was the medalist with a 43 in the former and a nifty 37 in the latter.

Riverside defeated Laurens 6-0 in the Raiders’ 1^st Region 2-4A boys tennis match on Thursday, a day after winning against Hillcrest, 5-1.

LDHS is off next week before taking on Fountain Inn on March 27.