Bob Jones, James Clemens face must wins tonight

By Lindsay Vaught For the Record

Mike Easterling contributed to this report

MADISON-  Thursday night the games that matter in baseball started and both Bob Jones and James Clemens lost. Bob Jones fell to Sparkman 5-3 and James Clemens fell to Buckhorn 2-1.

Both series resume tonight at 6 pm at Bob Jones and at Buckhorn.

Bob Jones starter Coleton Barnes had a rough first inning giving up 2 runs. Hehad a walk and hit a batter and both came around to score on a double by Sparkman centerfielder and cleanup hitter Garrett Bodine. Barnes gave up 3 runs in the fifth. A double by Andrew Stemple was the big hit.

Otherwise Barnes pitched well. He had five strikeouts in six innings of work.

“Both teams only used one pitcher so both bullpens are still available. We got what we wanted from Coleton. This park is bigger than ours and Barnes is a contact pitcher so the balls usually stay in the park. And the weather was colder and doesn’t affect Barnes as much as it would Ford,” said Bob Jones coach Jared Smith.

Smith will come back with Ford Luttrell who is undefeated this season.

“Ford really likes pitching at home so we feel good about him Friday night.”

Sparkman pitched Carter Vickers, a senior who signed with Calhoun.

Bob Jones got three in the sixth. Mitch Daly reached and Caden Rose walked before a double by Connor Daly drove them in. Daly scored on an error.

Over at James Clemens the Jets threw Garrett Brown and he had a terrific outing striking out nine. Jordan Anderson hit a double and scored in the first inning.

Buckhorn threw their ace, Kyle Davis, who went six innings and gave up only 4 hits struck out five and had no walks. Justin Parker got the save.

“It was a tough, competitive game,’’ Jets coach Cory Hamrick said. “We knew going in we would face what I think is one of the top one or two arms in the area. One of the others was on the mound for us. All of four of us (in Area 8) are pretty good. The difference each game is one or two hits, one or two plays.’’

Game three will be played at Bob Jones Saturday at 1 pm. Smith just hopes it wil be a deciding game rather than a practice game. Same with James Clemens except game three will be at Buckhorn.