Lewisville baseball roars back to eliminate Lamar

Lewisville starting pitcher Drew Colvin was a pitch or two away from getting hooked in the third inning Monday night.

But the junior lefty tightened up and played an integral part in the Lions’ 11-7 comeback win that knocked region rival Lamar out of the 1A baseball playoffs.

The Silver Foxes beat Lewisville 9-0 both times they met during the regular season, but Billy Keels’ crew got the victory in Monday night’s Upper State tournament elimination game in large part because it didn’t fold after a poor start. The hosts trailed Lamar 7-2 after two innings but gradually chipped away before seizing control in the fifth and sixth innings.

“Thought nobody gave us a chance tonight besides the people in this dugout,” said Keels. “And then when they got up 7-2 there were probably even more naysayers.”

Lamar got off the bus raring to go.

The Silver Foxes posted four runs in the first inning and three in the second, with Lewisville walking the leadoff batter both frames. Lamar loaded the bases in the first and Luke Amerson doubled, clearing the bags for a 4-0 lead. In the second, eighth grader Cameron Galloway doubled in a run, before ninth grader Tyler Twiford knocked in two more with a single to make it 7-2.

Lewisville recovered with a big third inning. Drew Stewart, Quentin Sanders and Trey Keels singled in succession to load the bases and Denver Moseley smashed a two-run single into left field to score two runs, Sanders beating a tag at the plate to cut the visitors' lead to 7-4. A costly error on Drew Culp’s infield shot scored two more Lewisville runs to make it 7-6.

Colvin settled down after the first two innings. From the third on, the lefty didn't face more than four Silver Foxes in an inning, ending the fifth and sixth innings with a momentum-building strikeout that carried over into the Lions’ turns at the plate.

Lewisville continued to chip away at the Lamar lead until the bottom of the fifth when it finally took the lead. Keels led off with a single, stole second, then scored on Culp's bloop into shallow left field to tie it 7-7. Billy Keels' club went in front when Jack Jordan's shot up the middle was gloved by the Lamar shortstop but then dropped enabling the Lions to take an 8-7 lead, and they tacked on three more in the sixth for extra padding.

Turning point

Moseley’s two RBI single into left field cut Lamar’s lead in half in the third inning and gave the Lions some belief they could come back. Keels felt that Colvin began to pitch better once the Lions cut in the deficit and he finished strong, striking out the final four Lamar batters.

“With them hitting like they did, I knew I had to do my part,” said Colvin.

Critical

Lamar only had one senior on the roster Monday night, while Lewisville’s roster sported a number of contributors from the last two seasons when the Lions reached the Upper State championship in 2014 and the 1A state finals series last spring.

“In the pressure situations, we handled it better than they did,” said Moseley.

Star contributions

Colvin recovered to produce a winning performance on the mound, but he had so much help offensively from his teammates. The Lions’ first three batters - Stewart, Sanders and Keels - got on base nine out of 12 times, presenting No. 5 hitter Moseley with several RBI opportunities. The senior first baseman took advantage, knocking in four runs.

On deck

Lewisville plays at Dixie - located near Greenwood - on Wednesday in another elimination game. The winner advances to face McBee on Friday in the Upper State championship. Either Lewisville or Dixie would have to beat McBee - undefeated thus far in the Upper State tournament - twice on Friday to advance to the 1A state championship series.

Box score

Lewisville 11, Lamar 7

Lamar;430;000;0- 7;9;5

Lewisville;204;023;X- 11;11;0

WP- Drew Colvin; LP- Daniel Galloway

Leading hitters: Lamar- Tyler Twiford 2-3, 2 RBI; Luke Amerson 2-2, 3 RBI, 2B, BB; Cameron Galloway 1-2, sac bunt, RBI 2B. Lewisville- Trey Keels 3-3; Quentin Sanders 2-3; Denver Moseley 3-4, 4 RBI.

Records: Lewisville 18-8; Lamar 22-6

This story was originally published May 9, 2016 at 11:34 PM with the headline "Lewisville baseball roars back to eliminate Lamar."