Albany Herald

Photo by Danny Aller

LEESBURG -- Lee County baseball coach Rob Williams said it was awkward at times Saturday facing off against Jake Hill, one of his former players who now coaches Centennial High School.

But that didn't stop Williams from giving Hill and Centennial a whipping.

Behind the first home run of the year for the Trojans -- courtesy of Lee County's Jess Posey -- Williams' squad won, 10-3, win against Centennial on Saturday less than an hour after Centennial lost, 7-2, to Westover in the early half of a doubleheader.

"It was strange sometimes, a little awkward I guess you could say," Williams said. "But it was good to see him and once the game got going, it was all about baseball."

Phillip Anderson picked up the win to move to 2-0, while the Trojans are now 4-0 on the season. Anderson pitched five innings, giving up one run on six hits while striking out five and walking one. Stuart Malmals took the loss for Centennial.

Matthew Suggs dominated from the plate Saturday, going 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI.

"It was good to see him finally get going," Williams said of Suggs, who was also hit by a pitch and stole a base. "That's what we expect out of our leadoff guy."

Chase Patrick drove in two runs with a long double in the second inning that bounced off the wall in center, which was followed by Posey's homer that Williams estimated was around 375 feet.

Malmas, Dylan Kelly and Jay Baum all had two hits for Centennial in the loss.

Lee returns to action Tuesday against Tift County.

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TERRELL ACADEMY SPLITS 2010 OPENERS:

Fresh off an appearance in the GISA Class A state title game, where they lost to Randolph Southern, the Eagles started the 2010 season Saturday with one win, and one loss.

In Game 1, Terrell Academy beat Tiftarea Academy, 5-2, behind strong pitching from Lance Shernisky (6 IP, 7 K, 2 H, 0 ER), while Clay Tapp took the loss, giving up nine hits in the process.

Matt Brown and Colby Blackburn led the way for Terrell in the win. Brown went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Blackburn went 2-for-4 as well, hitting a home run, a triple and recording three RBI.

Game 2, however, was a different story as the Eagles lost to Citizen's Christian Academy, 11-6, after squandering a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning. Cole Phillips -- who hadn't given up a hit until that disastrous fifth inning -- gave up five runs as Citizen's tied the game, then tacked on at least two runs an inning in the final two frames. Phillips struck out 10 batters.

The Eagles were led by Hogan Skandamis from the plate as he went 2-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and an RBI, while Blackburn went 1-for-3 with a double and RBI.

Terrell Academy coach Ashley Walker said he was pleased with how this year's team opened after he was unsure what he'd see when the young Eagles took the field.

"This year's team is different than last year's (state title game team) in that we've got a much different identity. There's more teaching on my part opposed to last year's team that had a lot of older kids who already knew what to do," Walker said. "And that's OK because if you had told me we'd come out, and in our first two games wouldn't commit an error, I'd call you a liar. But that's what happened. We played good, clean defensive baseball (Saturday)."

Terrell plays again Monday against local rival Deerfield-Windsor in Albany. The game will be the Knights' 2010 season opener.