Lamar's Blake Dearing makes the tag on Newton County Academy's Zach Joyner at first base after beeing pulled off the bag from the throw.

One day after scoring the lone and winning goal in his Blue team’s MAIS All-Star soccer game, Lamar’s Parker Neal traded his soccer digs for a baseball jersey as the Raiders welcomed Newton County Academy.

Neal’s scorching hot week didn’t cool off, as the Raiders’ second baseman’s bat helped carry Lamar to an 11-1, run-rule shortened victory over Newton County Academy Friday night.

Neal went 2-for-3 with five RBIs, two runs and two stolen bases. Prior to Friday, Neal’s been utilized as a designated hitter as he’s eased into playing after suffering a broken collarbone in July. But Friday, he saw his first action in the field. 

“Getting him back, and being able to get healthy and being able to put him in the field really helps our bats,” Lamar coach Luke Walker said. “Being able to move some guys around, and having him come alive with a bat is huge for us.”

Neal swatted a three-RBI double in the bottom of the first inning that scored Adie Goodman, Blake Dearing and Payton Mayatt and gave the Raiders a 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Neal smacked a grounder to left field that plated Dearing and  William Lamar and extended Lamar’s lead to 8-1.

“This is the first time I’ve been able to play second and actually throw it across the diamond — it feels good,” Neal said. “Our bats are coming around. At the beginning of the season, we were kind of in a slump. But a lot of us who haven’t been hitting, myself included, we’re starting to get it rolling.”

Adie Goodman blasted a solo shot over the left-field wall in the bottom of the fifth inning, and Garrett Webb went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Lamar starting pitcher Eli Eakes struck out seven Newton County Academy batters, surrendered four hits and allowed one run to pick up the win. A newcomer to Lamar’s pitching rotation, Walker said Eakes’ left arm has been a welcome addition.

“He’s been big for us,” Walker said. “For one, just having a left-handed pitcher who can compete and throw strikes, and two, he’s able to command the zone, and guys like playing behind him because he’s going to pound the zone and keep guys on their toes.” 

Newton County Academy’s Zach Joyner and Kemp Alderman collected extra-base hits, as the two hit doubles and scratched out one hit apiece. Alderman had an early game exit with an apparent aggravated hip flexor. 

The loss was Newton County Academy’s second in as many days, but head coach Kelly Alderman remains optimistic about the direction of his team.

“It’s spring break week, and we’re going to play at QV Sykes, and we have to get going in the right direction because district play starts as soon as spring break is over — that’s when our season really starts,” he said. 

Up next: Newton County Academy (2-7) plays Nanih Waiya Tuesday, and Lamar (7-2) travels to Pensacola, Florida, Monday to play Knoxville Catholic.