The Spartans stayed in it until the end, but Independence pulled away late in a 13-5 victory on Wednesday.
In the bottom of the sixth Carson Brown doubled on a 2-1 count that scored two runs, and Atticus Goodson belted a 2-run homer that fueled an 8-run sixth inning.
Greenbrier East got on the board in the first inning when Darris Boswell scored on a passed ball.
Goodson was also on the mound for Independence. He went four innings, allowed zero hits and one run while striking out seven and walking zero.
Jacob Roshau started the game for the Spartans. The lefthander surrendered four runs on four hits over two innings and struck out four.
Gavin Bennett, Boswell, Chris Heaster, and Gabe Patton each had their turns on the mound as well.
Independence socked two home runs on the day. Goodson had his dinger in the sixth and Michael McKinney had a homer in the first inning.
Patton, Peyton DeHaven, Clayton Morgan, Heaster, and Boswell each had one hit apiece.
Independence racked up ten hits on the day.
Andy Lester and McKinney each collected multiple hits for Independence.
East fell behind early and could not come back in a 13-4 loss to powerhouse Jefferson on Friday, April 15 in game one of a doubleheader.
Jefferson took the lead on a double by Sam Roberts in the first inning and never looked back.
The Spartans struggled to contain the high-powered offense of Jefferson, giving up 13 runs on the day.
Jefferson scored five runs in the sixth inning. That attack was led by Griffin Horowicz, Sam Wabnitz, Noah Carter, and Ryan Hefner, who all drove in runs to put the final nail in the Spartans coffin.
Roberts pitched Jefferson to victory.
The hurler went four innings, allowed three hits and three runs while struck out one.
Horowicz threw three innings in relief out of the bullpen.
Roshau took the loss for the Spartans. Roshau surrendered eight runs on five hits over five innings and struck out one batter.
Boswell went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Greenbrier East in hits.
Horowicz led Jefferson with two hits in three at bats.
In the second game, East stayed in it until the end, but Jefferson pulled away late in an 8-6 victory.
The game was tied at 6-all with Jefferson batting in the bottom of the sixth when JJ Polvinale singled on a 0-2 count, and drove in the two winning runs.
Despite the loss, the Spartans did collect eight hits in the high-scoring affair.
Unfortunately, Jefferson had seven critical hits on the way to victory.
Jefferson got things started in the second inning when Colton Smith’s sac fly scored one run for Jefferson.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Jefferson tied things up at six. Smith drove in one when Smith singled.
Greenbrier East Spartans Varsity scored three runs in the fifth inning. Isiah Brooks and Boswell led the surge in the big inning with RBIs.
The Cougars scored four runs in the fifth inning thanks to singles by Sam Wabnitz and Smith, by Daquon Shipe, and a double by Horowicz.
Ethan Hall earned the victory on the pitcher’s mound for Jefferson.
Hall did not allow a run or a hit over 2.2 innings. He struck out two and walked one.
Matthew Vickers threw 1.2 innings in relief out of the bullpen.
Gavin Bennett took the loss for Greenbrier East.
The pitcher went just one inning on the long day, allowed one run on two hits and struck out one.
Henry Goodwin started the contest for the Spartans. Goodwin lasted four innings, gave up four hits and five runs while striking out one.
Chris Heaster and Ashton Cochran each had multiple hits for East.
Polvinale went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Jefferson in hits.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.