Greenbrier picks up mercy-rule victory

What was billed as a marquee battle between two of Georgia's top left-handers didn't exactly result in a pitchers' duel.

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Greenbrier's Nolan Belcher and Burke County's Brandon Love took the mound Monday in the season-opener for both teams.

Love didn't pitch poorly, but the Bears committed five errors behind him as the Wolfpack opened with an 11-1 win at home, forcing the 10-run rule in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Belcher struck out eight in three innings for the Wolfpack, who began their defense of two consecutive Class AAAA state titles.

"It's always good to get a win," Belcher said. "I didn't have too much command with my fastball tonight, but I guess that's just it being early and having a little adrenaline pumping."

Belcher's first start of the season wasn't perfect. Two curveballs in the dirt resulted in the Bears' lone run. Belcher also walked three.

But the University of South Carolina commitment was otherwise dominant, with four strikeouts against the top two hitters in the Bears order.

Greenbrier coach Rodney Holder was pleased with the way his team played, but not with the length of the game.

After his team's scrimmage with Thomson on Saturday was canceled, Holder wanted a couple more innings Monday to see a couple more of his pitchers.

"We still got a lot of jobs up for grabs," Holder said. "We needed to see what those guys could do."

The Wolfpack got to Love early, scoring two runs in the first while sending eight batters to the plate.

Greenbrier right fielder T.D. Davis was late on a second-inning fastball from Love but drove a three-run shot over the right-field fence.

Holder's team added four runs in the fourth and needed a run in the fifth to end it.

Davis reached on an error and stole second. King then moved him to third when his deep fly was dropped by Bears left fielder Steven Frankman. First baseman Nick Page was intentionally walked.

Second baseman Ryan Cato then drove in the game-ending run with a single to left.