Parkers Chapel sweeps doubleheader against Lafayette County

PARKERS CHAPEL - A reshuffled lineup coupled with the return of a key veteran proved to be a boon for Parkers Chapel on Monday, as the Trojans swept a doubleheader against Lafayette County in Class 1A-2A District 15 action, winning the opener 16-0 before winning the nightcap 16-1.

Since falling to El Dorado in their first game at the Magnolia Tournament, the Trojans (11-5, 3-0) have won four straight heading into today’s home contest against Taylor.

In the opener, Jordan Arrington and Tyler Martin combined for six hits and seven RBIs, and Michael Brotherton tossed a four-inning no-hitter.

The left-hander didn’t issue any walks, hit a batter and struck out four. He also pitched around two errors in the fourth.

“Michael threw strikes and we got a few key hits with runners on,” said Parkers Chapel coach Mark Looney.

As far as the lineup is concerned, Looney said began tinkering with it during the Magnolia Tournament.

“We’ve got a few kids that are struggling right now, and we’re just juggling the lineup,” Looney said. “We’re just trying to wake them up more than anything else. Before long, we’ll try to have something set in stone, but right now, we’ve still got guys that are fighting to keep their spots, and we’ve got guys fighting to get spots, so we’ll see how it shakes out.”

In the opener, the Trojans took advantage of four errors and a key hit from Martin to score four runs in the second.

Arrington led off the frame by reaching after his grounder to shortstop was misplayed for an error.

The Trojans’ catcher then stole second and scored on a two-base throwing error to give Parkers Chapel a 1-0 lead.

Reece Griffin, who has been sidelined with a knee injury, reached on a two-base error, and the Trojans had runners at the corners after T.J. Bale’s bunt to third was mishandled for an error.

Bale then stole second to put runners at second and

third, Martin laced a two-run single to center to push the lead to 3-0.

Martin took third on Austin Looney’s ground out to second and scored on a wild pitch to cap the scoring in the frame.

But after registering just one hit in their four-run second, the Trojans pounded out seven hits during their eight-run third.

Griffin had a pair of RBI singles in the inning for the Trojans, who sent 12 men to the plate.

Bale and Martin followed Griffin’s first run-scoring single with successive RBI singles of their own.

Trace Shoup also drove in a run with a base hit, and Arrington had a two-run double to end the inning’s scoring.

The Trojans put the game away with four runs in the fourth.

Arrington, who went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, ended the game with a two-run single.

Martin finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs and Griffin was 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the Trojans, who had 10 hits in the win.

Skylir Phillips worked two-plus innings to take the loss.

In the nightcap, Arrington picked up where he left off, driving in three runs for the Trojans.

Cates went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, driving in a run with a double in the third and a single in the fifth.

Carson Worthey and Shoup each had two triples, while Bale went 2-for-4.

Grayson Hurst had one hit, as did Arrington.

Griffin picked up the win on the mound. He allowed one unearned run in three innings of work. He racked up eight strikeouts, didn’t issue any walks and allowed just one hit.

Cates allowed one hit and one walk in a scoreless inning in relief.