Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Tower Opponents Prevail At Hearing

In a second blow to the erection of the planned E-911 communications tower in Halifax, Circuit Court Leslie M. Osborn denied the county and Town of Halifax motion to dismiss a suit filed by Ballou Trail resident Frank Lovelace.
“Everything the county asked for was denied,” Assistant County Administrator Jerry Lovelace said yesterday.
Through his attorney Bryan Selz, Frank Lovelace filed an appeal in early February claiming the planned 185-foot tower violates the Town of Halifax height regulations and the procedures used to obtain the building permit for the tower were improper.
On March 29, the Halifax County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) voted 4-1 in favor of Frank Lovelace.
Shortly after their ruling, the county appealed the decision of the BZA.
The assistant county administrator said the county and town were seeking to have Lovelace’s complaint dismissed on procedural grounds.
Attorneys for the county argued that Lovelace lacked standing to bring the suit and has failed to exhaust administrative remedies prior to bringing the suit.
In addition, the county argued that the matter has previously been ruled on in a previous suit brought by Halifax Planning Commission member Frank Carr.
“We saw this Bill of Complaint as an identical matter that has already been decided,” Jerry Lovelace said.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Osborn denied all of the county’s pleas, “all of which sought to have (Frank Lovelace’s) bill of complaint dismissed."
Although a date has not been set for the BZA hearing, both Jerry Lovelace and Selz said they believe Frank Lovelace’s suit will be consolidated with the appeal of the BZA decision.
“We’re certainly disappointed we weren’t successful," the assistant county administrator said yesterday. “We’ll now proceed to a later hearing on the merits of the zoning decision."
Selz said he feels Osborn made the proper decision in ruling in favor of his client.
“I’m pleased that it looks like the judge will have a chance to rule on the merits of placing the tower at its planned location," he said.
While tower opponents argue that the placement of the tower at the Mary Bethune site violates the town’s zoning ordinance, supporters argue that the tower will offer emergency personnel redundancy in their communications.
Jerry Lovelace said yesterday that emergency communications in the county isn’t currently operating at its full potential because of the lack of a tower.
“We’re currently operating on our backup frequency because our primary frequency is unavailable," South Boston Police Chief Mick Reed said yesterday.
“When the 911 center became operational, in an effort to coordinate communications between our office and the 911 center, some changes were made that required a repeater system," he added. “And that requires the tower.
“We still have car to car communications if we need it on our tactical radios, but if this frequency goes out for any reason we have no communications with our 911 dispatchers," Reed said.

 

Town Treasury Almost Empty

Crowell Seeks Reimbursement For Water/Sewer Overpayment

South Boston councilmen tackled the proposed 2005-2006 budget and were told the town “has no money at the end of the month” during the Finance Committee’s work session Monday night.
“Our bank account would be overdrawn if we sent the accounts payable checks out,” Town Finance Director Vandie Saunders told councilmen during his report.
Finance Committee members asked questions about proposed increases and decreases in various departments as they reviewed the proposed $8,278,799 budget for the general fund.
A one percent increase in the occupancy tax, moving from its current 4 1/2 percent to 5 1/2 percent, was not included in the budget proposal, Saunders said yesterday. The increase would add an estimated $24,900 if adopted, according to the finance director.
A public hearing is set for the town budget May 9 with a second reading and adoption planned for June 13. (See budget highlights)
In other business, councilmen also heard a request for repayment of $3,709.95 in overcharges on a water/sewer bills from 1994-1999.
South Boston businessman Andy Crowell told Council that when a sprinkling system was added at Crowell Motors in 1994, the agreement with the town was that he would not be charged sewer fees, but that he fees had been charged and paid.
A $3,939 bill in overcharges - from 2000 to date - has been confirmed by the town, but records prior to 2000 have been disposed of, according to town officials.
“I have the actual bills,” Crowell told Council during its Monday night session.
Crowell told councilmen that a decision to close off one of four or five connections at the business initiated a review of bills that caught the overcharge.
The town’s finance director said yesterday that the town has a time limit of three years that they can take action if they are under-billing customers. “That’s town policy but there’s nothing in town code about overcharging, so I couldn’t be governed by that.
“So at this point I’ve done all that I can do without Council being involved,” added the finance director.
Council asked Saunders to review the 1994-1999 bills, which he had not seen, with Crowell and report to Council at its next meeting.
Councilman Tom Raab expressed concern about the town’s liability over the extended number of years while Councilman Coleman Speece sought legal expertise about the town setting a precedent.
During the Monday night meeting, Crowell also offered to sell or donate to the town his Wilborn St. buildings adjacent to the demolished Planters Warehouse. Crowell told Council he had no plans for the building.
“I’ve offered on two or three occasions to donate or sell the building to Council,” he said. “I’m open to any possibility.”
Yesterday, the South Boston businessman said that up to four businesses have been located in that section in the past. He described the building as having concrete floors and brick walls.
Crowell also told councilmen that parking was needed in the downtown area.
Destination Downtown
Destination Downtown South Boston sought $50,000 in funding and its manager, Jerry Van Eimeren, gave an overview of the groups’ accomplishments and goals.
A ‘Hanging Flower Basket’ beautification program will get under way next week and over seven façade improvements are in process, Van Eimeren said.
Other accomplishments include a new website and newsletter in production, newspaper columns, volunteer and sponsorship database, promotions, a market analysis, customer surveys and good customer relations training.
South Boston, population 8,353, was recognized at the VMS Milestone Awards in March for over $1 million in private investment and 1,000 volunteer hours.
Van Eimeren reported private investment by businessmen in South Boston of $624,485 from January – March ’05.
For 2005-2006 the proposed Destination Downtown Design budget is $13,800 to produce a design incentive brochure; provide improvement incentives including a partial investment match; and work with town on traffic slowdown including crosswalks.
Included in the proposed Promotions’ budget, $19,200, with tasks to produce a business directory including coupon section, hard copy and online; develop an image enhancement and campaign for the Downtown District; develop a new spring ‘Racing’ theme festival and summer concert series.
In the Organization budget is $6,500 allocated to produce a revitalization program brochure, develop professional fund-raising materials; kick-off the annual fund drive with a Valentines Dance at The Prizery; hold annual DDSB Awards/Installation banquet in March.
Economic Restructuring budget, $8,500, based on market analysis develop comprehensive business retention, expansion and recruitment strategy; create an orientation kit and workshop for new business owners; work with design, IDA & Chamber on Business and recruitment incentives.
The total Destination Downtown budget is $121,500, with $50,000 sought from the town. The Destination Downtown 2005-2006 budget includes $33,660 salary for the Main Street manager with $8,940 for benefits; an administrative assistant (part-time three days/week) $13,200; administrative operating funds, $12,500; Committee activities/projects, $48,000, professional development, $5,200.
Proposed revenue sources include $16,750, membership dues; $14,500 private donations; $30,250 special events; $10,000 grants; $50,000 funding from South Boston.
The proposed town budget allocated $42,601 for the coming year, according to Saunders.
Van Eimeren told councilmen that the cumulative statistics for 20 Main Street programs from 1985-2004 revealed that average businesses created, retained and expanded per community numbered 175, while an average of 482 jobs were created per community.
During the Monday night session, the Current Issues Committee also placed the Church Hill Neighborhood Project - mandatory pre-contract activities - and a vacancy on the Halifax County/South Boston Regional Library Board on Council’s May 9 agenda.

 

Area, State Home Sales Continue To Show Climb

Locally –180 Days; Price–$93.589

Virginia home sales continue to show gains in market activity, with 11,302 contracts that closed in March, a 12% increase over the same period last year, according to the VIRGINIA HOME SALES SURVEY, published by the Virginia Association of REALTORS(r) (VAR).
Through the first three months of the year, 27,032 homes were sold, compared to 24,203 for 2004, and 33,279 homes were placed on the market, compared to 32,161 for the same period last year.
“There’s no question that there is a growing level of confidence in the economy, as well as a growing population that is fueling the demand for homes,” commented VAR President Tom Jewell of Leesburg.
“With the current high demand, we strongly encourage buyers to enlist the services of your area Realtor to help you obtain the best price and terms. Sellers need professional guidance as well, especially when dealing with the demands of multiple offers and the many disclosures now required by law.”
The Dan River Region, which includes a portion of Realtor sales in Halifax County, South Boston, Danville and Pittsylvania County, recorded a total of 86 home sales for March 2005 compared to 82 units in March 2004.
Year to date home sales in the Dan River Region number 220 compared to 184 in 2004 or an increase of 19.57%. The average price of single family homes sold in the region in 2005 is $105,628 compared to $93,589 in 2004.
Average days on the market in the Dan River Region were 180.
A portion of Halifax County and South Boston home sales is recorded in the South Central region, which includes Farmville and Prince Edward County. Single family home sales in the South Central region numbered 33 in March, an increase of 22.2 percent.
The average homein the South Central region sold for $154,439 compared to $92,711 in 2004.
Average days on the market in the South Central Region were 141.
Year to date, 11.69% more home sales have closed this year, compared to last year.
Pending sales were up nearly 3.5% for the year, but March figures for homes placed on the market were comparable to last year, with 13,045 pending sales compared to last year’s 13,264.
The average time for homes on the market was 94 days, and the median sales price was $154,625, up 8% over last year’s $142,250.
Nationally, the median existing-home price for all housing types was $195,000 in March, up 11.4 percent from March 2004 when the median price was $175,000. The median is the midpoint, which is a typical market price where half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less. The average price of a single-family home in Virginia in January was $237,693, up 24% over last year’s average of $194,822.
Of the 23 areas of the state reporting, all but four reported increases in closed contracts for the month, with the largest increases seen in Charlottesville, the Eastern Shore, Fredericksburg, Southwest Virginia, Chesapeake Bay & Rivers, the Northern Neck, and Williamsburg.
With over 31,000 members, the Virginia Association of REALTORS(r) is the state’s largest individual membership trade association. REALTOR(r) is a registered collective membership mark which may only be used by those real estate professionals who subscribe to the REALTOR(r) organization’s strict Code of Ethics, and who are members of the National, State and Local REALTOR(r) organization.

 

Obituaries

Pauline McNear Reed

Pauline McNear Reed, 80, of 1085 Pine H eight Trail, Halifax died April 24 at her home.
Mrs. Reed was born in Halifax County on April 3, 1925, to the late Robert McNear and Elsie Barksdale McNear and was married to the late Ben Harriston Reed. She was a member of New Zion Baptist Church.
Survivors include three daughters, Elsie Kirby of Halifax, Geraldine Funderburk of Yanceyville, N.C. and Gladys Connelly of Lawrenceville, Ga.; three sons, James H. Reed of Java Robert Lewis Reed and Clifford L. Reed, both of Vernon Hill; two sisters, Augusta Pilgram of Petersburg and Mary Powell of Washington, D.C.; one brother, Edward McNear of Petersburg; 25 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Reed will be held April 30, at 3 p.m. at New Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Willie M. Yancey officiating. Burial will follow in the Reed Family Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Viola Marie Traynham

Viola Marie Traynham, 44, of New Haven, Conn., formerly of Halifax County, died April 21 at Yale New Haven Hospital.
Ms. Traynham was born in Halifax County on December 29, 1960, to Lottie Traynham and the late Richard Penick. She was a member of Thomas Chapel Church of Christ in New Haven, and was a Army Veteran.
Survivors include one son, Brydale Traynham of New Haven; her mother of Clover; two sisters, Hattie Britton of Clover and Elnora Traynham of West Haven, Conn.; six brothers, Roy Traynham of Crystal Hill, Richard Penick Jr. of Temple Hills, Md., Howard Jones of Baltimore, Md., Frank Traynham of West Haven, Walter Traynham and Rickey Traynham, both of New Haven.
Funeral services for Ms. Traynham will be held April 30, at 1 p.m. at Ellis Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Rodney Forrest officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home of Hattie Britton, 5118 Newbill School Road, Clover.

Donald McCown White

Donald McCown White, 72, of 1067 Ash Avenue, South Boston died April 26 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. White was born in Halifax County on November 19, 1932, the son of the late Richard Edward White and Fannie Newton White and was married to Barbara Stewart White. He was a member of Ash Avenue Baptist Church where he was a deacon. He was a member of American Legion Post 8, VFW Halifax Post 8243, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and a Navy Veteran of the Korean Conflict.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Donna W. Daniel and husband, Mike, of Halifax, and Dianna W. Tiller and husband, Billy, of South Boston; two grandchildren, Jami D. Hunt and husband, Stephen, of Radford, and Cory A. Tiller of South Boston; and one brother, Kenneth L. ‘Sonny Boy’ White and wife, Kitty, of Halifax.
Funeral services for Mr. White will be held April 29 at 11 a.m. at Ash Avenue Baptist Church with the Rev. John Eure officiating. Burial will follow in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends Thursday evening, from 7:00 until 8:30, at Powell Funeral Home, and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Ash Avenue Baptist Church Building Fund, 900 Ash Avenue, South Boston, or the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, 24592.

Jones Named As New Legion Post 8 Skipper

Former HCHS And Anderson College Baseball Standout Jason Jones Will Coach The Legion Post 8 Baseball Team This Season

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

Former Halifax County High School and Anderson College (S.C) baseball standout Jason Jones of South Boston has been named as the new head coach of the South Boston American Legion Post 8 baseball team.
Jones will take step in to take the place of Chris Conner who has moved away from the area.
“I’m very excited to have this opportunity,” said Jones.
“I played Legion ball from the time I was 15 through my 18-year-old season and feel it is a great program. I had the opportunity to play for a great coach, Barry Powell. He taught me a lot of things during that time. It will be exciting to get out there and test my knowledge and see how I can do against other people.”
Jones is working as an assistant coach this spring for the Danville Community College baseball team and is working with DCC head baseball coach John Bailey, who is the head coach of the Danville Post 325 team.
“I’ve been learning a lot from him,” Jones pointed out.
“He has a great deal of baseball knowledge and it’s been a great experience working with him. After having gone through this season at DCC I feel confident I can do the job. I want to thank the people at American Legion Post 8 for having confidence in me and giving me this opportunity.”
American Legion baseball signups are scheduled for Saturday, May 14 from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. and on Sunday, May 15, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the parking lot next to the baseball field at Halifax County High School.
The district that the South Boston Post 8 team will play in this season will be a five-team district that will include South Boston Post 8, Danville Post 325, Big Island, and two Lynchburg teams, Lynchburg North and Lynchburg South, both of which will be sponsored by Lynchburg Post 16.
One of the exciting things about this season is that this year’s American Legion Baseball State Tournament will be played at nearby Dan Daniel Park. The district tournament will be played at the Heritage High School field in Lynchburg.
Jones said the Post 8 baseball schedule is still being tweaked and that the South Boston team will play between 20 and 26 regular-season games. The district part of the schedule will consist of three games against each district team.
“We’re going to have a good schedule," Jones said.
“We will be playing each of the teams in our district three times and we have several other games scheduled. We have Franklin County back on the schedule, Roxboro (N.C.) is back and we have two doubleheaders scheduled against a new Legion team out of Rockingham County, N.C. We’re also talking with the people associated with the New River Valley team and trying to work out something with them."
Jones said that while the schedule will be a full one, he feels like the players would rather play more games and have fewer practices.
“Plus, playing more games will provide more opportunities for everyone on the team to play and contribute," he noted.
Jones said former Comets baseball player Dan Powell will assist him as an assistant coach when he’s available.
“Dan will help us when he’s in town," Jones said.
“He has some other important obligations that he must take care of but has said he will help out as much as he can."
Jones said he and Powell make a good fit.
“Dan and I are very close in our baseball philosophy," he pointed out.
“Both of us like to play “small ball," put guys in motion, steal bases, execute the hit and run and that’s ort of thing. Coach Bailey and Coach Powell instilled that in me, Coach Bailey, especially. He will come up with the double steal at any time, go with a hit and run with a double steal. He likes to put guys in motion."
Jones says he hoping to have a good pool of talent for this year’s Post 8 team.
“I invite any players interested in playing to come sign up and try out," Jones said.
“I’m going to do what I can to give everybody an opportunity to play through practice, hard work and dedication to the team.
“I hope we will have a good number of players from Halifax County and South Boston to come out for the team this year. If the talent in Halifax County decides it wants to play for us and we can get some role players, position players and some additional pitching from other nearby areas to help us, I don’t see why we can’t be a contender in our district," Jones added.
“If we get a good pool of players I feel like we can competitive. And, with the state tournament being in Danville this year, that should give us a little extra motivation to try to get there."
Not only is Jones encouraging players to come out for the team, he is also encouraging area baseball fans to come out and enjoy a season of exciting American Legion baseball.
“I invite area baseball fans to come out and join us for some good baseball," Jones said.
“This is amateur baseball but it is the closest thing to college baseball you will see in this area. I want to encourage the community to come out and support the team because these kids work hard and they and Legion Post 8 deserve the support. This is a great program for the young people that participate in it."
Admission for this year’s Post 8 games will be $3 for adults with kids under 12 being admitted free.

 

No Contest: GW Snaps Comets Win Streak At Eight

After VHSL Officials Declared Friday’s Action As “No Contest" GW Returned Here Monday Night And Hammered The Comets 12-5

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

After Virginia High School officials ruled Friday night’s rain-aborted Halifax County-GW game as “no contest," GW returned here Monday night and demonstrated the true meaning of the phrase.
The Eagles teed off with a three-run first inning that included a two-run homer by Reggie Keen and scored in each of the last five innings enroute to a 12-5 win over over an error-plagued Comets team.
GW’s win snapped the Comets’ eight-game winning streak, and gave the Eagles (11-1, 4-0 district) sole possession of the top spot in the district standings.
Halifax County fell to 9-3 overall and 1-1 in district play with the loss.
While GW moved into the drivers’ seat in the chase for the regular-season district title, GW coach Scooter Dunn cautioned that nobody can count on anything just yet.
“Nobody’s out of it," said Dunn, a former Halifax County High School baseball coach.
“We’ve played more district games than anybody else. It hasn’t been easy and it’s not going to get any easier. One pitch on Friday (last Friday’s rain-shortened game) and it could have been a different story.
“It isn’t over," added Dunn.
“We’ve still got a lot of baseball left to play in this district. Anything can happen in this district. I’m just glad to come down here and get this victory. This is big for us."
Halifax County head coach Kelvin Davis said he knew Monday’s game, a marathon contest that lasted for more than three hours and 15 minutes, was going to be a tough one.
“We knew coming in it was going to be another dogfight," said Comets coach Kelvin Davis.
“This was a game we wanted and we didn’t get it. We’ve got to move on."
That, the Comets do.
This week could be a tell-tale week for the Comets who, thanks to the postponement of last Friday’s game to Monday night, started the week facing three key Western Valley District games and having to play four games in a span of five days.
The Comets were scheduled to host Patrick Henry in a district game here last night (weather permitting) and are set to travel to Rocky Mount Friday to face Franklin County in another district contest. As if that weren’t enough, the Comets have a non-district game against Group AA Magna Vista slated here tonight.
Monday’s drama started when VHSL officials ruled that the Comets-GW game was going to have to be restarted from scratch rather than be resumed in the top of the fifth inning with the Comets leading 1-0 as was initially thought when the contest was stopped Friday night by heavy rain.
The Comets were one out away from a win when the contest was stopped. But, they didn’t find themselves close to win in Monday night’s contest.
In an uncharacteristic mistake-prone performance, the Comets victimized themselves with four errors, five passed balls and an assortment of defensive misplays.
That, coupled with an “off" night on the mound from Comets hurler Jeremy Jeffress opened the door for GW to have its way with the Comets.
“This is not Comets Baseball," said Davis.
“ This is not us. We know we’re a much better team than what we displayed out here tonight and everybody knows that as well. We’ve got to keep our heads up and make some improvements. We learned a lot from this game. Hopefully, these guys can take it and grow from it."
Davis, obviously disappointed, tried to take the loss philosophically.
“That’s the game of baseball," he said.
“ It looked like we opened up a can for them and things started happening."
Halifax County had nine hits, the same number as GW, but couldn’t put them together at the right time against GW hurlers Jonathan Walker and Rob Whitley.
Jeffress, who suffered through a dismal night on the mound in which he allowed five runs on five hits and two walks while fanning two of the 14 betters he faced, gave the Comets their biggest offensive punch.
Jeffress led the Comets’ offense with a 3-4 night at the plate and five RBIs. His night included a two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning that give the Comets their first two runs of the contest and a three-run round tripper in the bottom of the fifth inning that accounted for the Comets’ final three runs of the game.
The third-inning homer scored Justin Armistead who reached base on a walk. The fifth inning homer, a blast that cut GW’s lead to three runs, plated Chris Conner and Armistead who reached base with back-to-back singles.
“He (Jeffress) was disappointed about his pitching performance but he’s a gamer," said Davis.
“He knew we needed some runs and we were very fortunate to get those two homers from him."
Along with Jeffress, Conner and Armistead, the Comets got hits from Chris Perkins, Blake Waller, Bobby Owens and reserve catcher Miles Thomas.
Leading 3-0, GW extended its lead to 5-0 in the top of the third inning with the help of three hits including a run-scoring double from John Gregory who had two hits in the game, two passed balls and a throwing error on the part of Jeffress.
Halifax made it a three-run game again with Jeffress’ first home run only to have GW take advantage of Comets miscues to add a run in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth inning to go up 8-3.
Jeffress’ homer in the fifth inning again made it a three-run game. However, GW plated two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to make the final 12-3 count.
“We got people in scoring position and ran the bases, got a key hit here and key hit there and came out on top," said Dunn.
“We got some two out hits with men in scoring position and I was pleased with that. For our kids to come here and do what they did –that’s impressive."

 

HCMS Lions Baseball Slips Past Russell 11-6 Monday

Late-Game Rally Breaks 3-3 Tie And Gives Lions Win

BY Doug Ford
G-V STAFF WRITER

The Halifax County Middle School baseball team rallied for seven runs in the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie in defeating Russell 11-6 here Monday in a Southside Middle School Conference game.
Halifax struck for seven hits during the fifth-inning uprising, four for extra bases, Dale Trent smacking a two-run double, Kyle Long an RBI triple, and Chris Sizemore, Sam Lantor and Mike Owens RBI base hits. Kaleb Long and Michael Puryear each hit a double and a scored in the inning.
Kaleb Long finished with three hits (two doubles) to lead Halifax, while Kyle Long (triple), Lantor and Owens each had two hits. Trent (double), Brandon, Sizemore and Puryear (double) had the other three hits for Halifax.
The Lions used four pitchers in the game, Josh Rogers hurling the first three and one-third innings, before giving way to Puryear, who pitched one and two-thirds innings. Tyler Lewis pitched the sixth inning and Kyle Long closed out the game in the seventh inning.
Lions coach Barry Powell said Russell came ready to play, while his team took awhile to shake off the rust of a one week layoff.
“We obviously weren’t game-ready and up to speed at first," said Powell while noting the solid game played by Russell, which featured a strong starting pitcher and a stout power-hitting catcher behind the plate.
“It’s hard to practice for a week and stay ready to play and focused. We were a little slow with the bats early on, and they came ready to play," said Powell. “Their pitcher was around the plate and it took us three or four innings to get to the place where we could start to move base runners."
The game started as if it would be a slugfest before both teams settled down, the Russell catcher smacking a two-run homer in the top of the first to put Russell up 2-0, but the Lions responded in their first at-bat.
Lead-off batter Trent was hit by a pitch, stole second, went to third on a passed ball and scored on an RBI single by Owens. Kaleb Long followed with an RBI double and Kyle Long hit a one-out single to plate Kaleb Long to make it 3-2 after one inning.
Russell put two base runners aboard the next inning, but a 6-4-3 double play got Halifax out of trouble on that occasion.
Kaleb Long threw out two consecutive runners attempting to steal second to help keep Russell off the board in the third inning, but Kaleb Long was stranded at third after a leadoff single in the bottom of the third to keep the score 3-2.
A pair of Lions miscues allowed Russell to tie the score in the top of the fourth, the leadoff batter reaching on an error, and the second batter getting a base hit. A Lions throwing error allowed the lead runner to come around and score to make it 3-3.
With Russell runners at second and third with one out, Puryear got two strikeouts to get Halifax out of the inning.
An alert defensive play by the Lions kept Russell from taking the lead in the top of the fifth, a one-out triple putting a Russell runner at third base. The next batter hit a grounder to third, the Russell runner attempting to score on the play, but Lions third baseman Luke Griles threw home to nail the runner. Puryear got another strikeout to end that threat.
Halifax bats warmed up to break the game open in the bottom of the fifth, Kaleb Long hitting a one-out double and scoring after an error on an attempted pickoff play to make it 4-3.
A Brandon walk and RBI triple from Kyle Long made it 5-3, and RBI singles by Sizemore and Lantor made it 7-3, before Puryear hit a double to put runners at second and third.
A two-RBI double by Trent and an RBI single by Owens completed the rally, giving the Lions a 10-3 lead.
Russell got two runs back in the top of the sixth, using three walks, a base hit and fielder’s choice to make it 10-5, and Brandon scored the Lions’ final run after hitting a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning. Brandon advanced to third on an error and walk before scoring on a fielder’s choice.
Russell used a leadoff double and a pair of passed balls to make it 11-6 in the top of the seventh, but a Kyle Long strikeout ended the game.
Powell said that he was pleased with his pitching overall against Russell, the foursome giving up a total of eight hits, while striking out a total of seven batters and walking five for the game. That experience will pay off for them in the long run, he added.
“We can’t expect our pitchers to come out and pitch a perfect game after a long layoff," explained Powell. They’ve been pitching so well to this point, but it’s so hard to stay focused after not playing for a week.
“Give some credit to Russell, they put the ball in play, and it did them [pitchers] good to have to battle out there."
Halifax, now 6-0 in conference play and 9-0 overall, has a game today here against Bluestone, a win giving the Lions the conference title.