Austin Alexander

March 30, 2013 Hamilton (Ariz.) downs Lexington in NHSI finale   Cary, N.C. — Nick Ohanion pitched into the seventh inning and Tyler Hill added two hits that helped Hamilton (Ariz.) to a 6-2 win over Lexington in the final game of the USA Baseball National High School Invitational at USA Baseball Complex on Saturday.   Lexington, which finished 2-2 in NHSI play, fell to 12-3. The Wildcats, 4-0 in Region 5-AAAA action and ranked No. 1 in the latest SCBCA poll, play at region-foe and 8th-ranked South Aiken at 7:00 on Tuesday. The Huskies improved to 12-3. Hamilton got run-scoring hits from Zachary Strand, Ryan Peep and Tyler Erwin. The Huskies parlayed eight hits and six Lexington errors into six runs, only one earned.   Ohanion (2-0) picked up the win allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts over the first 6 2/3 innings. Cameron Cruz recorded the final out for the save. Chase Williamson (0-1), an eighth grader, was the starter and loser allowing three runs, one earned, in two innings of work. Sophomore Michael Smoak worked in relief for Lexington allowing two unearned runs on three hits over four innings. He walked two and struck out five.   Nick Ciuffo extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an RBI single in the fifth inning. Zach Paquette added an RBI single in the frame to account for Lexington’s two runs.   For the tournament, Wildcat pitchers sported a 0.54 ERA allowing only eight runs, two earned, over 26 innings of work. Lexington pitchers surrendered just 21 hits while walking six and striking out 21. Ciuffo led the Wildcats batting .417 (5-12) in the tournament with a pair of RBIs and a walk. Ryan Brown hit safely in three of four games (4-11, .364) and was 4-for-4 in stolen bases and added three walks. Jordan Buster was 3-for-10 (.300) at the plate. Hamilton (Ariz.) 6, Lexington 2 —————————————–Lexington……….. 000 020 0 – 2 5 6Hamilton………… 031 200 X – 6 8 1—————————————–WP – Nick Ohanion (2-0). LP – Chase Williamson (0-1).Records: Lexington 12-3, Hamilton (Ariz.) 12-3Lexington plays at South Aiken at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Region 5-AAAA play.

March 29, 2013 Godleski, Lance lift Lexington past No. 3 Cathedral Cathloic 2-1 Cary, N.C. — Matt Godleski and Elliot Lance combined on a one-hitter and Ryan Brown and Nick Ciuffoadded two hits each that helped Lexington to a 2-1 win over 3rd-ranked Cathedral Catholic in third roundaction at the USA Baseball National High School Invitational at USA Baseball Complex on Friday.   Lexington, winners of 10 of its last 11 games, improved to 12-2. The Dons, ranked 3rd by BaseballAmerica and 2nd by Perfect Game, fell to 8-3. The Wildcats will play in fourth round action in the NHSIon Saturday. The opponent and time will be annouced later today. Godleski (2-0) picked up the win surrendering only a first-inning RBI single and an unearned run. Hewalked none and struck out eight. Lance earned his third save of the season blanking the Donsover the final 1 1/3 innings. He worked out of a bases load jam in the bottom of the sixth inning.   Brown gave Lexington a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning. He reached on infield hit, stolesecond and third and scored on a throwing error.   In the top of the sixth inning, Ciuffo singled with one out and courtesy runner Brice Kirven moved tosecond on Zach Paquette’s bunt single and scored on the play when the throw to first by the Dons’ third baseman sailed down the right field line.   Brady Aiken (2-1) was the tough-luck loser allowing two unearned runs on seven hits over seven innings. Aiken walked none and struck out 14. Brown (2-for-4) and Ciuffo (2-for-3) extended their hitting streaks to 13 games. Lexington 2, Cathedral Catholic 1 Score by Innings R H E———————————————–Lexington……….. 100 001 0 – 2 7 3Cathedral Catholic.. 100 000 0 – 1 1 2———————————————–WP – Matt Godleski (2-0). LP – Brady Aiken (2-1).Hitters: Lexington; Nick Ciuffo 2-3, Ryan Brown 2-4Records: Lexington 12-2, Cathedral Cathloic 8-3.

March 28, 2013   Defending NHSI champion Mater Dei edges Lexington 1-0   Cary, N.C. — Aaron Cross worked out of a seventh inning jam and Ryan McMahon drove in the game’s onlyrun in the first inning helping Mater Dei to a 1-0 win over Lexington in quarterfinal action at the USA Baseball National High School Invitational at USA Baseball Complex on Thursday.   Lexington had its nine game winning streak snapped and fell to 11-2. The Monarchs, the defending NHSIchampion, improved to 8-1. The Wildcats will play third round action on Friday. The opponent and time will be announced later today.   In the bottom of the first, Jeremy Martinez singled with two outs and scored on McMahon’s double to leftcenter.   The Wildcats threatened in the top of the seventh inning. Cole McMillan, who went 2-for-3, had a leadoffsingle to center and moved to second on David Barboza’s sacrifice bunt. Jordan Buster singled to left center putting runners at first and third with one out. Cross escaped when Cody Smith lined into adouble play at third base to end the game.   Cross (3-0) picked up the win allowing six hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Buster (1-1) was thetough-luck loser surrendering a run on six hits over four innings.   Ryan Brown and Nick Ciuffo extended their hitting streaks to 12 games with first inning singles.   Mater Dei 1, Lexington 0   Score by Innings R H E———————————————Lexington……….. 000 000 0 – 0 7 0Mater Dei……….. 100 000 X – 1 8 0———————————————WP – Aaron Cross (3-0). LP – Jordan Buster (1-1). Hitters: Lexington; Cole McMillan 2-3. Records: Lexington 11-2, Mater Dei 8-1.

March 27, 2013 Reagan pitches Lexington to 4-0 win over Florida Christian in NHSI opener Cary, N.C. — Josh Reagan pitched a complete-game, four-hitter while Nick Ciuffo and Ryan Brown extended their hitting streaks to 11 games helping top-ranked Lexington to a 4-0 win over Florida Christian (Miami) in the opening game of the USA Baseball National High School Invitational at USA Baseball Complex on Wednesday. Lexington, which won its ninth in a row, improved to 11-1. The Wildcats will participate in quarterfinal action on Thursday.  The opponent and time will be announced later today.  The Patriots fell to 10-4. Reagan, fresh off a two-hit, complete-game effort in Lexington’s 9-0 win at North Augusta on Friday, needed just 89 pitches, only 66 after the first inning, to improve to 4-0.  He allowed four hits while walking one and striking out five.  For the season, he’s struck out 29 and walked only four over 24 innings.   Reagan retired eight of the final nine batters of the game. Brown led off the game with a single and eventually scored on a double-steal for a 1-0 Lexington advantage.  In the third inning, Brown walked with one out, moved to second on Dalton Addy’s sacrifice bunt and scored to give the Wildcats a 2-0 when Ciuffo lined an RBI single to left.  Courtesy runner Cameron Matthews stole second and third and eventually scored to give Lexington a 3-0 advantage. Cole McMillan reached second base on an error leading off the seventh inning, moved to third on David Barboza’s sacrifice and scored on a wild pitch for the final margin. Andrew George (4-1) suffered the loss allowing three runs on two hits with five strikeouts over the first four innings. Lexington 4, Florida Christian (Miami) 0 Score by Innings                  R  H  E———————————————–Lexington……….. 102 000 1 –  4  2  1Florida Christian…  000 000 0 –  0  4  1———————————————–WP – Josh Reagan (4-0). LP – Andrew George (4-1).Hitters: Lexington, Ryan Brown 1-2, Nick Ciuffo 1-3, RBI.Records: Lexington 11-1, Florida Christian 10-4.