Swamp Foxes storm the fields against Auctioneers

The Marion High School softball and baseball teams paid a visit to Mullins for an early season region showdown, but the fight was pretty much one-sided.

Dominant pitching for the Lady Foxes and red hot batting for the varsity baseball squad secured the victories.

Coaches Lynn and James Shelley are excited about their young team. Junior pitching ace Daniel Spivey is adding to that excitement with a high volume of strikeouts. Spivey earned the victory, pitching a complete game in 9-0 final. “We’re still young but we’re coming around with strong pitching,” James Shelley said, adding that when the batting heats up the teams will be in good shape.

 Lady Auctioneer Brooke Kirkland was solid in her start on the mound holding the Lady Foxes scoreless in the first two innings of a pitchers duel. Eventually, Kirkland was needed at the catcher’s position to hold off Marion’s rally with bases loaded in the top of the third inning.

The Lady Foxes would add two runs in the inning, followed with three batters struckout by Spivey to end the inning.

A huge fourth inning highlighted by a RBI single from veteran Arti Patel helped Marion breakout to a 6-0 advantage. Teammate Brittany Pridgen has been playing for the squad for six seasons and will provide valuable leadership and experience.

The Lady Foxes aggressiveness on the basepaths was a major pay-off in the win. Coach Glen Arthur’s very young team were able to get runners on during pivitol moments of the game, but just couldn’t capitalize.

“I got a long way to go with many youngsters,” Arthur said, adding that the starting line-up has four middle school players and two freshman.

Head coach Tony Boyer and the Foxes baseball team generated run support for pitcher Ross White in their 15-1 win over the Aucs. Things went well, we did a good job hitting the baseball and Ross pitched well,” Boyer said.

White picked-up 12 strikeouts in the contest. A wild first inning start had Mullins losing out on a two out advantage, giving up early four early runs for Marion. Infielder Jarrott Hooks and catcher Martin Gasque highlighted the explosive performance with each hitting “monster” homeruns.

“Things have been going extremely well for the season ...the kids have worked hard and earned what they’ve got, but we’re still not where we want to be, we have a lot to work on before I’m going to call us good,” Boyer said, adding that despite the good start his team knows what he expects.

Hooks, Micheal Godbold, Russ White, and Sam Maddox accounted for three hits each to help their squad earn their sixth win of the season.

Mullins coach Hal Lambert has stressed that his team focus and cutback on defensive errors, but were winners of their first two games before facing their rival.

“Even in those games we have to play better defense, we’ve given teams way too many runs, and you can’t win when you give up that many.”

Mullins only gave up one run in their game on the road this past Friday against Loris. Cole Rogers pitched a complete game and added an RBI, earning the 2-1 victory, giving the Aucs a much needed region win. Dustin King scored on a passed ball in the top of the sixth inning for the game winning run.