Lamar baseball falls to Magnolia Heights in Game 1

Published 6:00 pm Tuesday, May 10, 2016

The Lamar School Raiders fell to the Magnolia Heights Chiefs 4-0 in the first game of the best-of-three MAIS Class AAAA, Division II state semifinal series at Jim Wall Field Tuesday afternoon. 

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The Chiefs rode to victory on the pitching of senior starting pitcher and Mississippi State commit Riley Self, who tossed a one-hit, no-walk shutout while ringing up 13 strikeouts. Lamar coach Luke Walker gave due credit to Self afterwards. 

“They sent a really good pitcher to the mound today,” Walker said. “He was able to locate his fastball and beat us with his slider. My hat’s off to his performance today.” 

Greyson Calhoun toed the rubber for Lamar and was able to hold his own against the Chiefs, scattering eight hits while allowing only two earned runs. He struck out three and induced 13 fly outs, with eight of them not leaving the infield. 

“Greyson Calhoun pitched a great game for us,” Walker said. “He did a nice job keeping them off-balance and jamming them with fastballs that made them keep popping up.” 

The Chiefs plated two runs in the top of the second inning, the only inning that Calhoun allowed consecutive hits, and single runs in the fifth and seventh innings for the final tally. 

“We were able to play with them today,” Walker said. “We proved that we’ve earned the right and deserve to be here.“ 

Self took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, but Will Roberts ended the hitless run when he scorched down the first base line for a leadoff, infield single in the bottom of the seventh. However, Self followed with three consecutive strikeouts to end the game. 

Lamar was led defensively by Adie Goodman with two nice scoop-and-throw plays that ended a Chiefs threat and a quick tag at second off of a throw from catcher DJ McGrew to nail a Chiefs baserunner. 

The series continues at 4 p.m. today with Lamar traveling to Senatobia for Game 2. Game three, if necessary, will follow immediately.