Late inning rally falls short
Bears lose to Athens 5-4 completing the 2007 baseball season

Chad Wilson Photo TOP DISTRICT PERFORMER-- Junior Collin Wilson led the Bears in hits and average during District play. Pictured, Wilson led off the game against Athens with a single.

All good things must come to an end and that was the case last Tuesday night as the Bears wrapped up the 2007 baseball season in Athens.

In head coach Joe Fleming's first season in Brownsboro the Bears lost 5-4 against Athens dropping their season record to 12-13 and their District 14- AAA record to 2-8.

Athens overcame a leadoff hit and a stolen base by Collin Wilson in the first inning to shut the Bears down.

In the bottom half of the first the Hornets pushed across one run on two hits and one Brownsboro error.

On the mound for the Bears was Junior Keaton Parsell. Parsell gave up a hit to the first Hornet he faced before picking the runner off at first base.

With two outs Athens beat out an infield hit for a single and kept the inning alive on a throwing error to first base. With runners on the corners the Hornets tried a double steal.

While the Bears chased down the trailing runner between first and second, Athens scored from third. The Bears completed the rundown for the final out of the inning.

Chad Wilson Photo RUNNING HIM DOWN-- Ryan Smith makes the throw to Clayton Boyd to catch Athens' Hugo Valdez in a rundown during last Tuesday's game.

Athens scored twice more before the Bears managed to drive across any runs. The Hornets scored one run in the first, second and third inning.

In the top of the fourth inning Parsell doubled to left field and was ran for by Austin Allen. Seth Martin drew a walk and Allen advanced to third on a pass ball.

Martin stole second, as the throw down was misplayed Allen scored the Bears first run of the game.

Freshman Ryan Smith drove in Martin for the Bears second run of the game with an infield single before advancing to second on an overthrow.

The Hornets increased their lead in the bottom half of the fourth matching the two runs the Bears put on the score board.

Neither team scored in the fifth inning as the Bears drew within six outs of the conclusion of their season.

Chad Wilson Photo HE'S SAFE!-- Brownsboro's Seth Martin slides under a tag by Wesley Starkes to steal second in the fourth inning.

Not going down without a fight the Bears scored a run in the top of the sixth on a double by Smith to deep center field.

Trailing by two, 3-5, Parsell struck out 2 Hornets in the bottom half of the sixth, giving the Bears one last chance at a come-from-behind win.

Leading off the seventh inning Wilson singled to right on the first pitch of the inning off reliever Brant Radcliff.

Brad McDonald followed Wilson with a single to center before Ryan Epperson loaded the bases with a hit to centerfield.

No outs, and the bases loaded the Bears appeared to be in prime position to take the lead with the heart of their order due up.

Clayton Boyd drove in Wilson on a fielder's choice as a Hornet stepped on second for the first out of the inning.

Parsell was walked to set up a possible double play and avoid a big hit. Seth Martin hit into the Bears second fielder's choice of the inning as this time the Hornets prevented the Bears from scoring by stepping on home.

Down to their last out the Bears could not drive across the tieing run as Daniel Suggs struck out.

Brownsboro totaled 9 hits in the loss, three coming from leadoff hitter Collin Wilson. Wilson also had 2 stolen bases. Ryan Epperson and Ryan Smith each had two hits with Smith driving in two.

Parsell struck out four batters in six innings, allowing just six hits. Keaton won four games this season while losing five. He struck out 75 batters, had 7 complete games and posted an ERA of 3.27.

Tieing Parsell for the team lead in wins this season was Senior Clayton Boyd. Boyd was 4-4 this season with one save. Boyd had 3 complete games, struck out 39 and held opposing batters to a .219 average.

For the season the Bears were led in hitting by Ryan Epperson with an average of .422. Epp led the area in homeruns with 8, had 27 total hits and drove in 31. He also led the team in walks with 20. Ryan led the Bears in RBI during District play with nine.

Parsell tied with Epperson for the team lead in RBI with 31 while batting .346. Keaton had 28 hits and 2 homeruns.

Clayton Boyd led the team in hits this season with 29. He batted .367, had one homerun and drove in 19 runs.

Freshmen Ryan Smith and Brad McDonald had a great season for the Bears and will look to be a key piece of the Bears future success.

Smith batted .305, with one homerun and 15 RBI. He also stole five bases. McDonald batted .277 with 18 hits, 14 walks and 14 RBI.

Collin Wilson led the team in stolen bases with 14 and batted .351. Collin had 27 hits, drew 11 walks and scored 24 runs.

Wilson led the Bears in hitting in District play with an average of .375 and in hits with 12. Collin stole six bases in district action. Keaton Parsell batted .313 in District with 10 hits.

As a team the Bears scored 155 runs, batted .298 and had 197 hits. Brownsboro allowed 188 hits, 175 runs and had a team ERA of 4.81.

Brownsboro pitching struck out 166 batters, walked 113 and allowed 112 earned runs. Opposing teams batted .231 against the Bears.

Athens won the District 14- AAA title with a record of 7- 3, Van (7-3) was second, Bullard (6-4) third, Canton (4- 6) fourth, Chapel Hill (4-6) fifth and Brownsboro sixth.

Chapel Hill forfeited two games (Van, Bullard) because they played an ineligible player. Athens won the title after winning both games against Athens in regular district play.

Brownsboro will look to contend for the District title next season as 7 starters return and the underclassmen are very strong. Also in the Bears favor for next season is the fact Coach Fleming will have knowledge of all the players and how to use them to the best of their abilities.