Cloverdale falls after big first inning from Southmont

Nick Winders fires a pitch in the third inning against Southmont in the first home game of the season. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

CLOVERDALE The spring season brings the good weather for most but for sports fans it brings out the baseball teams. Cloverdale opened its season at home Tuesday, unfortunately for Clover fans, falling to Southmont 12-2 in seven innings.

"I'll tell you what," first-year Clover coach Tony Meyer said. "We saw some really great things. Nick Winders looked good pitching today. Noah Winings looked good pitching. Joe Martin did the first inning and though the inning was bad score-wise he was solid."

The Mounties picked up five runs in the first inning and another in the second to go up 6-0 early.

TJ Hagymasicatches a ball at first base for an out at home against Southmont Tuesday. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

"They had four infield singles," Meyer said. "We're still trying to figure out some personnel things. That was rough and it was good pitching from them. They said he was their pitcher No. 3. I'm glad I didn't see No. 1 or No. 2."

Cloverdale held Southmont scoreless for two innings and at the top of the fourth when the Mounties had runners in scoring position and batter hit a line drive down the third base line, Martin reached out and snatched the ball from the sky and stepped on third for the double play, getting CHS out of the inning.

"Parker Watts did well defensively," Meyer said. "TJ Hadymasi did well at first. Then there was Joe Martin. Defensively, literally everybody contributed. For a first game out, that's a pretty tall order. "

Cloverdale's first score came in the fourth inning when a single from Winings brought in Martin, who rounded third and slid home to beat the throw from the outfield.

CHS' next score was in the fifth when Watts brought in Haiden Herbert--Davis who got into scoring position via a passed ball.

Though CHS fell in its opener Meyer is excited to watch his team grow and become better in every area.

"This basically a completely different team," Meyer said. "Two of our top players now play at North Putnam. We've got few returning starters and two junior starters. The rest are freshman and sophomores and I think they are solid. We made young people mistakes. I'm optimistic. You can only expect so much when you have young kids and it's your first game out. I'm looking forward to Friday against Union Dugger and hopefully we can take two."

CHS' Friday game with Union Dugger starts at 5 p.m.

At Cloverdale

Southmont 510 024 0 -- 12

Cloverdale 000 110 0 -- 2