Cottondale falls to Ponce de Leon 11-6

DUSTIN KENT
Floridan Sports Editor
Published: February 19, 2008

The Cottondale Hornets fell to 1-1 on the season Monday night with a 11-6 loss at the hands of Ponce de Leon in Cottondale.

Cottondale was coming off of a 14-4 win over West Gadsden Feb. 12 in its season-opener.

Drew Bellamy started for Cottondale and went four innings, giving up five earned runs on five hits, five walks and three strikeouts.

Cody Saye pitched three innings in relief, surrendering five earned runs on two hits, five walks and three strikeouts.

The Hornets actually out-hit Ponce de Leon nine to eight for the game, with Bellamy leading the way, going 2-for-2.

Cody Saye went 1-for-2 with two RBI, while Vincent Bender drew two walks, scored two runs and stole a base.

Cottondale coach Greg Ohler said there were positives to take from the game, particularly his team’s offensive effort.

However, he said his team still had some rust to shake off.

“I thought we did a great job at manufacturing our runs,” he said. “Our pitching is still a little rusty. That was Drew’s first time on the mound due to basketball and he did a great job.

“He just had one bad inning in the second. Cody did a good job coming in, he just struggled in the sixth.”

Ohler said the free passes issued by his pitchers was the most difficult thing to overcome.

“Of Ponce’s 11 runs, eight of them were put on with walks,” the coach said. “It’s hard to win when you give up free ones like that.”

Cottondale next goes on the road to play Poplar Springs Friday at 3 p.m. before playing a district contest Saturday night against Bozeman in Panama City.