Lions, Lady Lions back at home to play ball
April 9, 2010

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE -- Back at home.

That’s the main story for the Greenville Lions’ baseball and Greenville Lady Lions’ softball teams, which are both at home for District 10-4A games tonight.

The 4-13-1 Lions, who are 1-7 in district play, will resume their string of seven straight home games with a 7:30 contest at John Mason Field against Highland Park. This game was originally scheduled for Scotland Yard at Highland Park but was moved to Greenville because the two teams swapped sites back on March 16, when Highland Park beat the Lions 7-2 at Scotland Yard. That game had to be moved from Greenville because of wet conditions and maintenance issues.

The Lions, who didn’t play their first home game until April 1, have dropped their two home games by margins of 8-1 to Rockwall and 19-7 to Rockwall-Heath, the No. 1 ranked team in Class 4A.

Brad Ratliff and Blake Taylor both rang up two hits to lead the Lions against Rockwall-Heath. Jeff Prigmore, Rafael Sanchez, N.J. Mason and Hayden Stuart also had hits for the Lions, who scored three runs in the fifth and four in the sixth.

Highland Park is 18-7 for the season and 7-1 in district play following a 4-2 victory over Newman Smith of Carrollton on Tuesday. Ryan Romo homered and doubled for the Scots and J.B. Gadd slugged a double.

The Lions also have home games remaining on April 13 (Royse City), April 16 (Newman Smith), April 20 (R.L. Turner) and April 23 (J.J. Pearce).

The 11-8-1 Lady Lions will start a string of five straight home games with a 7 p.m. contest at Monty Stratton Field against Royse City. The Lady Lions also have scheduled home games on April 10 (North Garland), April 13 (Newman Smith), April 16 (R.L. Turner) and April 20 (J.J. Pearce).

The Lady Lions are 3-6 in district play following an 11-2 victory at Highland Park on Tuesday night. Rachael Cook fired a six-hitter for the Lady Lions while striking out three.

Shelby Doederlein and Kayla Mayes both managed two hits for the Lady Lions and Cook and Arian Alford both drove in two runs.

Royse City is 16-8 for the season and 8-1 in district play following an 8-1 win over Richardson Pearce on Tuesday night.

Royse City beat the Lady Lions 7-3 at Royse City on March 16. Cook led the Lady Lions with three doubles in that game. Katie Threndyle and Leanah Halverson also slugged doubles.

Alicia Pille led Royse City with a triple and Mallory Baumann doubled.