Lakeside shellacs Harlem 13-1

With baseball season fully under way, the Lakeside Panthers are sitting pretty.

Despite sustaining a 14-4 loss at Elbert County last week, the Panthers rebounded on the road Friday night with a 13-1 blowout win over Harlem.

Lakeside first baseman J.C. Huffman highlighted the night with an offensive explosion. The junior batted 3-for-3 with three runs scored, three RBIs and homers in the first and second innings.

"Offensively, we know we have some guys who can hit," Lakeside baseball coach Jay Matthews said. "As far as who has the power, we know J.C.'s one of them."

Second baseman Zach Lawson also hit a homer for the Panthers and senior Trey Dove threw four innings to give up one run on two hits and eight strikeouts to earn the win.

"Anytime I can come out and throw eight strikeouts, I'll take it," Dove said. "The 13 runs makes it so much easier."

Harlem's Eric Schnitzler flied out to center field in the fourth inning. The sacrifice fly scored Evan Slagle for the Bulldogs only run of the game.

The loss kept Harlem winless on the season with losses to Greenbrier (10-0), Lakeside (13-1) and Westside (6-0).

Longtime Bulldog coach Jimmie Lewis said after three games, this is no time for his young team to panic.

"I saw a sign the other day that said failure isn't falling down, it's refusing to get up," Lewis said. "We've fallen down, but we're going to get up."

The Evans Knights held their Diamond Day on Saturday and split a pair of games.

The Knights defeated Lincoln County 17-5 to start the day, but logged their first loss of the year to Elbert County, 5-7 in the afternoon game.

Evans pitcher Kevin Millward picked up the win against Lincoln County giving up only one run in three innings while Robbie Bryant, Wes Baxter, Kyle Golden and Jason Brearley all homered in the contest.

Greenbrier, with sophomore pitcher Nolan Belcher eligible to play, earned a 17-1 win over Westside to improve their record to 3-0 overall.

Also in action last week, the Augusta Prep Cavaliers picked up a pair of wins Saturday in a double-header against Curtis Baptist.

The Cavaliers are entering the week with a record of 3-1.