BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Lake Butler Middle School pitchers Westyn Miller and Spencer Legg combined to allow just four hits as the Tigers defeated host Bradford 11-1 in an April 4 baseball game.
The Tigers (10-1-2) scored seven runs in the third, which was more than enough with the way the guys on the mound were throwing. Miller, who started, gave up one run, three hits and two walks, while striking out three in four innings. Legg pitched one inning, allowing one hit and no walks.
Lake Butler put the first run on the board in the top of the first. Tristan George drew a leadoff walk, but was put out at second when Miller ground into a fielder’s choice. An error on the play, however, allowed Miller to advance all the way to third. He eventually scored on a passed ball.
The Tornadoes (1-4-1) answered in the bottom of the inning. Kyler Hall hit a leadoff single, stole second and advanced to third on a ground out by Damarion Dodd. Hall scored on a Kaedan Parks single.
It remained 1-1 until the third inning. Lake Butler’s Kiptyn Shuler hit a leadoff single and took second on an error. Shuler stole third and eventually scored on a passed ball.
The Tigers scored the rest of their runs in the inning with two outs. Weston Thompson, who reached on a fielder’s choice, scored on an error. An error on a fly ball hit by Emery Muse allowed Ridge Robinson, who walked, to score. After Dalen Paige walked, Bradford committed an error on a ground ball hit by George, allowing Muse to score. Paige scored on a passed ball before Miller was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch scored George and allowed Miller to advance to second. Miller scored on a Shuler single.
Shuler finished 2 for 3 with one RBI.
Lake Butler added its final three runs in the fifth. Muse was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. After Brody Stephenson walked, Muse moved to third on a passed ball and eventually scored on a steal of home. Eastyn Miller and Shane Huebner both walked to load the bases, setting the stage for Braxton Griffis’ two-run single.
The teams meet each other again on Thursday, April 18, at 6 p.m. at Lake Butler’s O.J. Phillips Recreation Complex.
Prior to that, Lake Butler will host Trenton on Monday, April 8, at 6 p.m. The Tigers then travel to play Lake City on Tuesday, April 9, at 4 p.m. and Williston on Wednesday, April 10, at 6 p.m.
Bradford hosts Lake City on Monday, April 8, at 6 p.m. and then hosts Keystone Heights on Wednesday, April 10, at 6 p.m. The Tornadoes will travel to play Fort White on Monday, April 15, at 4 p.m.
