Jackets dominate game 1 of area championship series

Alto wins by 10-run rule, Mitchell hurls no-hitter

BY LELAND ACKER

Alto's bats fired up in the second inning to give the Jackets a huge 8-0 advantage en route to an 11-1 victory over Lovelady in five innings at Morris Frank Park in Lufkin Friday. Alto's run was capped off by a three-run homer by freshman Rhett Gresham.

Alto's second inning run began when Clayton Scott hit a single, followed by Michael Parker's walk and a single by Lance Low which batted in Scott and Parker. Jared Moore, who went three-for-three on the evening with a walk, knocked in Low before being batted in by Tarlandus Mitchell. Clint Dover was walked and batted in by Gresham's home run.

Mitchell was the winning pitcher, hurling a no-hitter while striking out 11 Lovelady batters.

The area championship series between Alto and Lovelady resumes at 2 p.m. Saturday at Morris Frank Park in Lufkin. Game three will immediately follow game two, if needed.