Nick Buss beats out a bunt
photo by Tim Evearitt
An overthrow at first sends Buss to second.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Buss moves to third base on a balk.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Buss scores the game's only run on a sacrifice fly
photo by Tim Evearitt
Brady Reed is tagged out following a failed suicide squeeze play.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Opening Day is Thursday night against the Tennessee Smokies.
For the seventh straight year the Chattanooga Lookouts squared off with local junior college powerhouse Chattanooga State in a season opener exhibition contest and fo the seventh straight year walked away with a victory. This year the score was an all too close 1-0. Last year the Looks won the game 4-2.
Chattanooga scored the game's only run in the third inning.
Local high school ace Alex Ridge (5-2) (Ridgeland High School), now a freshman hurler for the Tigers got the starting nod, while RHP Matt Magill (Rancho Cucamonga, 11-5) was the Chattanooga starter.
Red Patterson got the win, while Chatt State's Carson Bryant took the loss.
Each team was limited to just three hits.
Prior to the game Lookouts manager Carlos Subero said, "Last year they (Chattanooga State) gave us a very good game. We need to get out in front of them early and stay there."
Chattanooga took the lead and the game in the third inning as leftfielder Nick Buss led-off with a bunt single and moved to second on Zach Lance's throwing error from third. He then stole third off pitcher Bryant and scored on Jake Lemmerman's sac fly to right.
The Tigers blew a chance to draw first blood in the top of the second when DH Brady Reed drew a lead-off walk and moved to second on catcher Matt Sorrow's single up the middle. A Lance sacrifice moved both runners ahead to second and third, before a Daniel Tucker strikeout and Reed was picked off by Lookout catcher J. T. Wise.
The Tiger's Sorrow was the only two-hit batter of the night.
Chatt State 000 000 0 0 3 1 Chattanooga 001 000 x 1 3 0
Lookouts Field Notes:
- 16 players have previously worn a Lookouts uniform.
- 10 players enter the season at least 25-years-old. Last year's team had 15.
- OF Anthony Jackson (6/17/84) is the elder Lookout at 27-years-old, while Javier Solano (3/31/90) is the youngest at 22.
Today in baseball history: 1987 - The Cubs trade veteran Dennis Eckersley and minor leaguer Dan Rohn to the A's for three minor leaguers.
(Staff writer Dennis Norwood may be contacted at dennis.norwood@att.net)