Sports Hall Of Fame Goal Set

By Joe Chandler
GV Sports Editor
Officials of the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame have set a $2 million fund-raising goal for the construction of a sports Hall of Fame and museum at Paul C. Edmunds Jr. Memorial Park.
Carlyle Wimbish, president of the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame, and architect Glenn Reynolds of Reynolds Architects Inc. unveiled drawings of the proposed building Saturday night during the 19th annual Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame Inductions Banquet.
The proposed 13,356 square-foot facility will include the Sports Hall Of Fame and sports museum, a banquet room that can seat 250 to 300 people, a gift shop, meeting room and outside restroom facilities to serve Edmunds Park.
No timetable was set for groundbreaking.
Wimbish said Hall of Fame officials will pursue funding from all available sources including grants. The Old Dominion Research Conservation and Development Council is serving as the grant writer for the Hall Of Fame.
The Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame is a tax-deductible organization. Donations may be sent to the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall Of Fame, P.O. Box 12, South Boston, Va. 24592.
Halifax County officials had previously agreed to commit $100,000 in direct and in-kind contributions toward the construction of the facility. During Saturday night’s inductions banquet, Ricky Hutcherson, an official with SunTrust Bank, presented a $5,000 donation from the bank to the Hall of Fame for the building project.
“It is going to be a great undertaking,” Wimbish told the audience.
“We have the land. We have the (building) design. We have plenty (of items) to go into it. Now we need the funds to build it.”
This facility is the second proposed Sports Hall of Fame facility. Two years ago the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame announced plans for a proposed $500,000 project to construct a Sports Hall of Fame and sports museum at Paul C. Edmunds Jr. Memorial Park.
That proposed facility was to be a part of a proposed visitor’s center that the county had planned to construct at the park. However, the county later shelved plans for the visitor’s center.
In September, Hall of Fame officials reached an agreement with the county, which will allow for the construction of the Sports Hall of Fame at Edmunds Park.
“We had to go back to the drawing board,” Wimbish said.
“We’ve worked very hard over the past year to get to where we are today.”
Wimbish told the audience that the Sports Hall of Fame has received donations of two significant pieces that will be housed in the museum. One of them is a No. 22 Caterpillar sponsored NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race car from Bill Davis Racing that was formerly driven by Ward Burton in several races.
The car is being refitted to look like the No. 22 car that Burton drove to victory in the Daytona 500 and will come with documentation of the races that Burton drove in the car.
Danny Bumpass of Roxboro, N.C., who helped put the deal together for the Sports Hall of Fame to obtain the donation of the car, will store the car until space becomes available here.
The other significant piece that has been donated to the Sports Hall of Fame is a No. 31 Cingular-sponsored Chevrolet from the Richard Childress Racing team. That car will be made to look like the car that Burton drove to victory at Dover last fall in scoring his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series win for RCR. That car will be delivered to the museum as soon as space is available.
Wimbish said the Sports Hall of Fame will house display cases that will contain sports memorabilia of Hall of Fame inductees. Other significant sports memorabilia representing Halifax County and South Boston’s sports history will also be housed at the facility.
The banquet room and meeting rooms will be made available to area civic groups and other organizations on a rental basis.

U.S. Supreme Court Denies Lacys’ Petition

The United States Supreme Court has denied the Lacys’ petition for a Writ of Certiorai to stop the county from seizing a portion of their land under eminent domain to construct a roadway to King Village, according to Halifax County attorney Russell O. Slayton Jr.
Slayton wrote to Halifax supervisors, “All their appeal rights have now been exhausted and the order entered by (Circuit Court) Judge Alexander on April 24, 2006, is now final.”
According to Slayton, Judge Alexander was appointed by the Virginia Supreme Court to hear the case “because of his expertise and acuity in this area of the law.”
“Judge Alexander did not rule for the landowners on even one of the many motions they filed throughout the trial,” Slayton wrote. “Judge Alexander decided the case in favor of the county, the Virginia Supreme Court denied the Lacys’ appeal at the Writ Panel level and the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Lacys’ petition without comment.”
According to Slayton the new road will not be a private driveway, but rather a public road.
“The new road will be constructed by VDOT forces,” Slayton wrote “using VDOT funds, and will be accepted into the Virginia system of secondary highways.
“The new road will unequivocally be a ‘public’ road,” Slayton continued, “as has been determined by Circuit Court rulings and confirmed by actions of the Virginia Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court.”
Board of Supervisors Chairman William Fitzgerald said he is glad the lawsuit is over and the county can begin moving forward with the new roadway.
“I am extremely pleased that this legal battle is finally over,” Fitzgerald, said yesterday. “It is unfortunate that it has taken this many years to obtain a road that the citizens of this county deserved. I wish so much that this matter could have been resolved years ago. It would have been less costly but, unfortunately, it was not.
“In my years on this Board I had done my best to try to resolve this matter without going through the legal process,” said the board chairman. “ However, it came to a point when it was clear to me that the only resolution was to proceed with this matter through the courts and, as a result of having proceeded through the courts, it has cost taxpayers of this county for the legal proceedings.
“However, from the start I knew in my heart that it was the right thing to do and I was committed to pursuing it through all the channels until the justice system prevailed. And, again, I am overjoyed this matter is finally over and we hope in the next few weeks we can proceed with VDOT to get this road built to serve the citizens of this county,” said Fitzgerald.

A Fitting Tribute

By Doug Ford
GV Staff Writer
From his earliest days as coach and official in the South Boston Dixie Youth Baseball program, the late Hugh Moore walked to Carter Field across the Vaughan Street Bridge.
The overpass, recently rebuilt as part of the John Randolph Bridge project, now bears his name for future generations of ballplayers and fans who pass that way.
Members of Moore’s family, along with Dixie Baseball officials and friends, gathered Saturday as the plaque naming the bridge in Moore’s honor was unveiled.
South Boston Town Manager Ted Daniel noted the “whole man” concept he learned while serving in the United States Air Force.
“In the military, we have what’s known as the whole man concept, an individual who has every good aspect of life,” began Daniel.
“I can’t think of any individual who represents that as much as Hugh Moore, knowing his background and seeing how he interacted with his family and with his extended family throughout the community.
“It started with his service in the military during the Korean War. He was a patriot, a man who served and loved his country,” continued Daniel.
“He extended that into his private life and through his involvement with the youth of the community.
“The Christian aspect of Hugh Moore was clearly evident in his lifelong involvement with the church, having been a Sunday School teacher over 40 years.
“He was a great man and his memory should be preserved in a way such as this.”
Acknowledging the presence of national and local Dixie Baseball officials at the dedication, Daniel said Moore’s influential role in the development of youth through sports will forever be linked to the bridge.
“Future generations who see the bridge dedicated in his honor will read the name and ask who Hugh Moore was.
“The importance in dedicating the bridge is to ensure Hugh Moore’s name isn’t lost to future generations. When people come to the ball fields across this bridge, the question will be asked, ‘Who was Hugh Moore?’
“The answer will be that ‘He was a great man and let me tell you what he did.’
“If you want to pattern your life after a good Christian, a good patriot and a wonderful man, your life needs to emulate that of Hugh Moore.”

Obituaries

Canby ‘Polly’ Farrington Johnston
Canby ‘Polly’ Farrington Johnston, 51, of Hollywood Fla., formerly of Halifax, died April 11, 2007. She was predeceased by her parents James and Mildred Farrington of Halifax, and her husband, Robert M. Johnston.
Survivors include her daughter, Sarah E. Johnston; a son, Marshall Johnston; granddaughter, Skylar; three brothers, Stephen Farrington and wife, Darlene, Jim Farrington and wife, Karla Bryant, and John Farrington; and her partner, Raymond Heim.
A memorial service for Mrs. Johnston will be held Saturday, April 21, at 1:30 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Halifax.
Anyone wishing to give memorials is asked to consider donations in honor of Canby’s life to a charity of your choice.
Edith Edwards Woody
Edith Edwards Woody, 87, of 12089 Huell Matthews Highway, Alton died April 12, 2007 at her home. She was born in Georgia to the late Andrew Edwards and Ella Fair Edwards. Mrs. Woody was wife of the late Clyde Woody, Jr. She was a member of Bethel Hill Baptist Church, and was a retired employee of Roxboro Manufacturing with over 30 years of employment.
Surviving are one daughter, Debbie Hearin of Alton; three grandchildren, Brent Slaughter, Laurie Reaves, and Tanya Hearin; six great-grandchildren, Jessica Reaves, Lauren Reaves, Roxanne Reaves, Joshua Slaughter, Maranda Slaughter, and Gabrielle Hearin.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. April 15 at Bethel Hill Baptist Church. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Bethel Hill Baptist Church, c/o Robert Brooks, 156 Dorothy Brooks Lane, Roxboro, N.C. 27574.
Noel Lindy Throckmorton
Mr. Noel Lindy Throckmorton, 76, of Maple Avenue in Halifax, died Sunday, April 15, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was born on January 16, 1931.
Arrangements for Mr. Throckmorton’s funeral services are incomplete and will be announced by Powell Funeral Home at a later date.
Daniel Epps Lacy Sr.
Graveside services for Mr. Daniel Epps Lacy Sr. of Love Shop Road, Halifax, will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Dan River Baptist Church Cemetery. The Rev. Doug Gibson will officiate.
Mr. Lacy, 90, died Sunday, April 15, at his home.
He was born August 26, 1916 in Halifax County, a son of the late William J. Lacy and Sally Epps Lacy and was married to Thelma Palmer Lacy.
Mr. Lacy was a tobacco farmer and was a member of the Dan River Baptist Church.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Lacy is survived by one daughter, Jeannette L. Anderson and husband James of Miami, Fla., two sons, Daniel Epps Lacy Jr. and wife Tammy of Halifax and James P. Lacy and wife Lynn of Halifax, one sister, Sara L. Butler of Burlington, N.C., and two grandchildren, Travis James Anderson of Gainesville, Fla., and Chris Pridgen of Halifax.
Mr. Lacy was preceded in death by two sisters, Ann Lacy and Mary Sue Elliott, and by three brothers, William Lacy, Bailey Lacy and Charles Lacy.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home on Tuesday from 7:00-8:30 p.m. and other times at the Lacy’s home, 1029 Love Shop Road.
For memorials, please consider the Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, Va. 24592 or the Dan River Baptist Church Building Fund, 1228 Dan River Church Road, Halifax, Va. 24558.
Online condolences may be directed to powell@gcronline.com.

HC-SB Sports Hall Of Fame Inducts Four

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
The Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall Of Fame inducted the second-largest class in 16 years Saturday night with the induction of Scooter Dunn, Mason C. Day Jr., Donald Testerman and the late Sanford Ray “Dock” Ballou.
This year’s class swelled the number of individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame to 63. Twenty-two of the Hall of Fame’s 63 inductees are deceased.
In addition to honoring the four new inductees, Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall Of Fame President Carlyle Wimbish and architect Glenn Reynolds unveiled Reynolds’ drawings of the new proposed Sports Hall of Fame and museum building to be constructed at Paul C. Edmunds Jr. Memorial Park.
Along with that, Sports Hall Of Fame officials announced the kickoff of a $2 million fund-raising campaign for the construction of the new facility. (See Separate Story on the front page of today’s edition.)
In addition to the induction ceremony and the unveiling of the plans for the proposed Sports Hall Of Fame building, three Halifax County High School seniors were presented scholarships.
The Matze Family Scholarship which was presented by Bill Matze, was awarded to football and baseball standout Tony Barbour.
Barbour, who has played baseball and football for the Comets for four years, ranks 86th among the 397 students in the senior class at Halifax County High School with a grade-point average of 91.7, plans to attend Ferrum College and play football there.
Another Comets football standout, Justin Long, was named as the recipient of the Buck Williams Scholarship, which was presented by Addison Marable. Long, who has played football for four years at HCHS, has an 89.3 grade-point average and is considering attending Christopher Newport University and playing football there.
The Hugh M. Moore Memorial Scholarship, a scholarship presented by the Sports Hall of Fame, was presented Hall of Fame Scholarship Committeee Chairman Bob Cage to Keyera Ferrell.
Ferrell, who has played basketball and softball for four years, is planning to attend Lynchburg College and continue her athletic career there.
The Inductees
Dock Ballou
The four inductees into the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall Of Fame represented varied aspects of Halifax County and South Boston’s sports history.
South Boston resident Jim Burgess presented Ballou, whom he cited as being both his uncle and close friend, for induction.
Ballou, who was inducted posthumously, starred in football, basketball and baseball at C.H. Friend High School from 1942 through 1945 and is considered one of the best athletes, if not the best athlete, to ever compete at the school.
In football he played halfback and served as the team’s punter. In 1945, he scored 121 points, the most ever scored at C.H. Friend High School in one year. Ballou also played forward for the school’s basketball team and played shortstop for the baseball team. Ballou, who awarded the T.C. Watkins III Cup in 1945 as being the school’s best all-around athlete, went on to play sports at Randolph-Macon College.
At Randolph-Macon, Ballou played football, playing halfback and serving as the team punter in both 1946 and 1947, earning a letter in both seasons. His long booming kicks, earned Ballou a place in the school’s record books as being one of the best punters in the school’s history.
Following a trend he set in high school, Ballou also played basketball and baseball for Randolph-Macon. He played on the junior varsity basketball team in 1946.
Ballou played shortstop in 1947 and 1948 and lettered both seasons.
After three years at Randolph-Macon, Ballou was drafted into the military service and went into the U.S. Army. He played football in Germany for the 22nd Infantry Regiment 4th Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany, playing halfback and punting for the team. His first punt for the team was 71 yards and, he ran for 50 yards in that game.
The team Ballou played for won most of its games and came close to making it to England for the Bowl Game Of Europe.
“Dock was a gifted athlete who excelled in all sports,” Burgess said.
“He was an intense competitor with a strong will to succeed and win.”
Ballou’s grandson, Wesley, accepted the induction plaque.
“My grandfather was a great husband, father and grandfather,” said Wesley Ballou.
“He loved the South Boston area. I wish he were here to enjoy this. This a great honor.”
Mason C. Day Jr.
Day, the former owner of Orange County Speedway and South Boston Speedway, was cited for his outstanding work as a speedway promotor. For his efforts, he was named as a recipient of the NASCAR Winston Racing Series Team Player of the Year Award for the Mid-Atlantic Region and in 1993 was named as Promotor of the Year by Charlotte Motor Speedway.
He is most noted, however, for his longtime service in the South Boston Dixie Youth Baseball League where he served as a coach for 30 years and for his leadership in constructing the four-field baseball complex in South Boston known as the Day Complex, which was named in his honor.
Archie Bohanon, who presented Day for induction, told the audience “Mason, as a coach was a competitor. He wanted to win but, at the same time, he wanted to win the right way.”
He also noted that Day strived at all times to help kids develop not only as baseball players, but as good people as well.
Day said his success resulted from the help of others.
“The people that helped me are the real Hall Of Famers,” Day said.
“I’ve had a lot of great kids. I’ve had a lot of great coaches. I have a great family that has stuck with me and I’ve had a lot of great parents. When you’ve got a combination like that, you can’t keep from winning and being successful.
“It’s been great,” Day added.
“ I’ve really enjoyed the kids, I’ve enjoyed trying to build some of the things to help the kids and the community. It’s been a great ride. It’s unbelievable that I’m standing here being inducted into the Hall Of Fame.”
Scooter Dunn
Dunn, one of the top players to ever come through the Halifax Dixie Youth Baseball ranks, was standout baseball player at Halifax County High School and also starred in baseball at Elon College. Injuries kept Dunn from making it to the next level as a player.
With playing no longer an option, Dunn turned to coaching and today is considered one of the top high school baseball coaches in Virginia.
During an 11-year stint as head coach at Halifax County Junior High School, Dunn compiled a record of 142-28 that included nine conference championships and a 59-game winning streak that was featured in a 1983 edition of Sports Illustrated magazine.
He coached at Halifax County High School for 10 years and compiled a 138-57 record over the 10-year span.
In 1999, became the head coach of the school’s varsity baseball team. Entering this season, his eighth season at GW, Dunn had compiled a record of 117-31, had won four Western Valley District championships and has coached two players that were taken directly of high school in the third and fourth rounds of the Major League Baseball Draft.
Dr. Jim Priest, who presented Dunn for induction called Dunn a great competitor.
“On this side of the white line, he’s one of the nicest guys you’d ever want to know,” Dr. Priest remarked.
“You step across that white line and all bets are off, I don’t care who you are.”
Dr. Priest read a surprise letter that he had received from Dunn’s son, Hunter, a letter that brought tears to Dunn’s eyes as well as to some in the audience.
“There s an old adage,” Hunter Dunn, wrote, “that says any man can be a father. But, it takes someone special to be a daddy. You know Coach Scooter Dunn for his no-nonsense method of teaching the game of baseball as well as his impeccable win-loss record. Yet Coach Scooter Dunn has a side that you may not know. He is the greatest daddy in the world.”
Dunn said it is “truly an honor” to be inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame, a honor, he said, was made even more special by being inducted in the same class with his longtime friend, Mason Day.
“I thank the Hall of Fame committee for doing this.”
He also spoke about his remembrances of his younger days of playing baseball including the game-winning homer in the 1964 Dixie Youth World Series.
“The most remarkable ting about that season was our arriving back in the state of Virginia with a State Police escort on U.S. 58 driving right here to this school in front of 2,000 screaming fans,” Dunn said.
“I will never forget that.”
Donald Testerman
Donald Testerman, who now resides in Danville, was a former baseball player in the South Boston Dixie Youth baseball League but found his success in sports in football
Testerman is one of the best running backs to ever play football for Halifax County High School. He continued his football in college, playing for Ferrum Junior College, Virginia Tech and Clemson.
He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins of the NFL and then traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. From there, Testerman went to the Seattle Seahawks where he played for three years. After that, he went on to play for the Washington Redskins and, finishedhis career with the Miami Dolphins.
Former Halifax County High School football coach Coleman Starnes presented the former Halifax County High School football standout for induction.
Starnes called Testerman “one of the most gifted athletes I’ve ever been around.”
“I’d like to thank the South Boston and Halifax County Hall of Fame for voting me in,” Testerman said.
“I’m real proud to be up here.”
Testerman recognized several friends who were in attendance who were teammates of his at Halifax County High School.
“I wouldn’t be up here today if it weren’t for them,” he said.

Gill Slips By Field For Win

By Doug Ford
GV SPORTS WRITER
Veteran Hooters Pro Cup competitor Bobby Gill slipped by a strong field of drivers Saturday night at South Boston Speedway to take his first Pro Cup win of the season in a rain-plagued Farmers Foods 250 presented by Eaton Electrical.
Gill, a Concord, N.C., resident and Pro Cup Southern Division regular, worked his way through the field from a 19th-place starting position, inherited the lead when Derek Kale pitted on lap 213 and held off defending Pro Cup champion Clay Rogers in a green-white-checkered finish in the first Northern Division race of the season.
The win was the 44th of Gill’s Pro Cup career and his first Pro Cup Series win at South Boston since 2002, coming in a race punctuated by nine cautions and two rain delays.
Rogers, a Mooresville, N.C., resident in his first season as a Northern Division driver, qualified tenth before moving to challenge Gill late in the race, finishing ahead of Denver, North Carolina’s, Matt Carter.
Pro Cup rookie and former South Boston Speedway track champion Frank Deiny Jr., of Ashland, finished fourth after sitting on the pole with a new track record in qualifying (15.619), followed by Gary St. Amant of Delaware, Ohio.
Carl Long of Troutman, N.C., A.J. Frank of Mooresville, N.C., Jody Lavender of Hartsville, S.C., Woody Howard of Chesapeake, Va., and Jeff Fultz, also from Troutville, rounded out the top ten finishers.
Pit strategy played a key role in Saturday’s race, which was delayed by ten cautions and run under intermittent rain showers that twice stopped the action on the track.
Derek Kale and Mark McFarland, each of whom spent time in the lead, elected not to pit for fuel or tires in the early stages, gambling that the wet weather would cut the race short.
McFarland was running second to Kale when his car began to sputter just after lap 200, and Kale was forced to pit several laps after that.
McFarland’s failed gamble dropped him to 24th at the end, while Kale recovered to finish 12th, with Gill taking over the lead and holding off Rogers through another rain stoppage and late caution that resulted in a green-white-checkered finish.
After two strong third-place finishes to start the Southern Division season, Gill thought it was time to get his initial win.
“We should have won at South Georgia, but we just couldn’t miss that wreck,” recalled Gill, who said he ran on old tires during practice before the race.
“We stayed on old tires and got it running good. It stayed consistent and we got to show it off tonight.”
Gill was not discouraged by his 19th place qualifying effort, pointing to last year as an example.
“It seemed that every time we sat on the pole last year we didn’t win, and every time we started in the back we won,” said Gill, whose gamble to pit for fuel paid off.
“The No. 22 (Kale) and No. 81 (McFarland) never pitted for tires all night, and hoped the rain would help them,” noted Gill.
“I thought for a minute it would, but [Kale] darted into the pits and gave us the lead. That’s all I needed.”
Rogers said the rain frustrated him at times during the race, particularly on restarts, but was satisfied with his finish driving for a new race team.
“It was so slick out there and you really had to be on the ball with the throttle,” began Rogers.
“We were just a little bit off Bobby getting off the corners. Bobby and I have raced hard together for a long time now, and we’re good friends.
“Running second to Bobby doesn’t feel like a win anymore, but it’s pretty darn close.
“For a deal just put together three weeks ago and in a Chevrolet for the first time since 2001, I’m pretty happy with the finish, especially with the new [car] bodies, new tires, limited testing and limited preparation,” noted Rogers.
“To finish second to a guy who’s had one of the best, if not the best car the first two Southern Division races, I’m real happy with the way the weekend went.”
Carter, Deiny and St. Amant were all happy with their finishes, Carter qualifying fourth and running in the top ten all night.
“I breathed a big sigh of relief when I saw the checkered flag come out,” said Carter, who at first didn’t think he had a car capable of a top three finish.
“The car was running about seventh at the first red flag stoppage and I was willing to take that and go home.
“Then we started back and I figured we could pick up some spots. Of course, I’d like to have won the race, but third place after what we’ve done the past couple of weeks is really, really good.”
Deiny held the lead through the early portions of the race, dropped back through the field but was charging toward the front when the race ended.
He set the new track record in qualifying and led 50 laps, earning the Miller Lite Rookie of the Race Award.
“We ran strong yesterday and today, but messed up a little on pit strategy,” admitted Deiny.
“There was a lot of chatter on the radio and I couldn’t come in when they wanted me to come in. I couldn’t tell if they were telling me to come in or stay out, and that’s my fault.
“But, the car was awesome and it was fun racing guys like Gary St. Amant and Benny Gordon. I had a good time, the car is in one piece, and we have a new track record, so it’s on to Concord and see if we can get one there.”
St. Amant, whose best South Boston finish in Pro Cup was a second in April 2004, had another solid run Saturday.
“It was a great race for us,” said St. Amant, who gave a lot of the credit to his crew.
“I was a little nervous coming in, because I have some new team members, including my tire changers.
“For us to come out of here with a top five finish is great. Our car was definitely better on the longer runs, and on the shorter runs, it was just a little too tight.
“But, for the first race with a new [car] body and new tires I’m tickled to death.”

Comets Prepare For District Opener

By Doug Ford
GV Sports Writer
The Comets varsity baseball team will now get down to business as it prepares for its Western Valley District opener here tomorrow against E.C. Glass.
That’s something Halifax didn’t do in the third-place game of the Heritage Invitational Baseball Tournament at Heritage Thursday, committing six errors in a 10-3 loss to the host Pioneers.
Heritage slugged three home runs in the first three innings, two dingers coming back-to-back in the third inning, as the Pioneers built a 5-0 lead, and the Comets could get no closer than 6-2 after that.
Eric Brandon led Halifax with a solo home run and RBI single, while Justin Bagbey added an RBI single and Allen Stephens, Justin Jacobs, Kaleb Long and Joey Rogers each a base hit.
That wasn’t enough against Heritage, which finished with 12 hits, three by Brian Wallace, including two homers, and three more by Ryan Smith, including a home run.
The Comets finished the three-game tournament on a down note, falling behind early and never quite getting into the game, according to coach Kelvin Davis.
“The sad thing about it was that the guys really weren’t into it today, but that’s baseball,” noted Davis.
“Some days you come out and things don’t go your way and the bats don’t go the way you want.
“We just didn’t perform well today and when you don’t perform well you don’t win ball games.
“No pointing fingers at anything, we just didn’t play good baseball.”
Wallace’s three-run homer in the first gave Heritage a 3-0 lead and back-to-back homers by Wallace and Smith in the third made it 5-0. A walk, double and sacrifice fly gave Heritage a 6-0 advantage in the top of the fifth, before the Comets scored twice in the bottom of the inning.
Rogers hit a one-out single and Michael Ferrell walked, before RBI singles by Brandon and Bagbey made it 6-2.
A combination of three Heritage hits and two Comets’ errors made it 8-2 after six innings, and the Pioneers used two doubles, a hit batsman and a Comets error to tack on two runs in the top of the seventh.
Brandon slugged a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh for the final score of the game.
Bagbey started the game for the Comets on the mound, hurling the first five innings, before Daniel Wilborn came on for the final two frames.
Bagbey finished with six strikeouts and Wilborn fanned one batter.
Despite the final score, Davis said there were some positives to build upon before the district opener.
“Really, the wind caught those balls in the third inning and helped them out,” noted Davis. “I thought that Justin pitched a great game, and did what we wanted him to do.
“Unfortunately, those guys got the ball up and the wind helped carry them over.
“But, you have to appreciate what the guys did after falling behind by so much. Whenever you can get runs in the late innings after being down like that helps you mentally.
“We need to use the positives from this tournament to prepare us for the district. Playing good, quality ball clubs up here will help us tremendously, and that’s why we came here.”
With the Western Valley District regular season champion awarded the number one seed (and home field game) for the Northwest Region Tournament, each district win is important, emphasized Davis.
“We have two big games, with Glass coming here followed by GW, and they’re both big,” he noted.
“We’ll just try and take it one game at a time.”