Prep's Cavaliers thrown to the Lions, 15-0

The Augusta Christian School baseball team delivered a shellacking to the Augusta Prep Cavaliers with an 15-0 rout that lasted only three innings.

The mercy rule prevented Prep from receiving any more punishment.

The Tuesday contest at Augusta Christian featured two Region 3-AAA rivals, but it really hasn't been much of a rivalry, considering Augusta Prep has never beaten the Lions in baseball.

The pecking order hasn't changed so far in 2003.

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Augusta Christian is expected to challenge for the region title this season, and should have a shot at a Georgia Independent Schools Association championship, while the Augusta Prep program is still in the developmental stages.

Pitching tells the tale of last week's game, with the Lions' junior hurler Adam McKinney throwing a no-hitter. Meanwhile, AC batters racked up 13 hits off Prep pitching.

"I was expecting us to win, but I didn't think it would happen this fast or by this much," said AC Head Coach Craig Johnson.

To describe his team's hitting extravaganza, Johnson said, "The past three games we've faced some pretty tough left-handed pitching. I think my guys were just happy to see a right-hander and it showed. They took full advantage of it."

The Lions did most of the damage in the first inning, scoring 11 runs on nine hits.

Prep batters went three-up, three-down to start the second inning.

AC's hitters started off the inning with a high fly ball Prep's left-fielder lost in the sun, turning an easy out into a triple for Will Reese.

Augusta Christian senior Jordan Belcher followed with a double to bring in Reese and set himself up for a run home following a single to right field by Sam Pitts.

McKinney pitched himself into a little trouble to start off the third inning by walking a batter and hitting another. However, he still managed to keep the Cavaliers scoreless by recording two strikeouts.

Errors and walks by Prep gave the Lions a bases-loaded situation when Wayne House stepped to the plate. House singled into left field advancing a runner and ending the game.

"Augusta Prep has played some good teams really close this season so far," Johnson said. "They're a better team than what you saw here today."

The Cavaliers will get another crack at AC this week, when the Lions visit Augusta Prep for a Tuesday matchup.