Prudhomme, Lentz combine to no-hit Turner County

Published 10:30 pm Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Brandon Prudhomme was Tiftarea's starting pitcher in Tuesday's no-hitter against turner County. He struck out six in three innings before McRay Lentz came on to close the game. Tiftarea won, 15-0, in four innings.

CHULA – Brandon Prudhomme and McRay Lentz entered the Tiftarea Academy history books Tuesday night. The duo combined to no-hit visiting Turner County as the Panthers rolled to a 15-0 victory in four innings.

“I tried to focus on hitting my spots,” said Prudhomme. He said it was his first no-hitter at any level.

Lentz, who pitched the fourth inning, willingly conceded, “It was mostly Brandon.”

Prudhomme struck out six hitters and Lentz fanned two.

Everyone, including head coach Chance Benson, made sure to give plenty of praise to Noah Copeland for a play that preserved not just the achievement, but the shutout as well.

With one out in the top of the fourth and runners on first and second, Turner County’s Jacob Shiver grounded a Lentz pitch to deep second. Copeland first stopped it from leaving the infield, then threw to first to get Shiver by a hair.

Because of Copeland’s play, Turner’s runners could only move up one base. Lentz struck out the next man to end the threat.

“The play by Noah saved it,” said Benson.

Tiftarea was all over the basepaths for the entire game. The Panthers scored three runs in the first, followed by nine in the second. Two more crossed in the third before a Copeland single ended the contest via the mercy rule route.

Consecutive first inning errors let Colby Grant and Jackson Lee reach to start the offense for Tiftarea. Prudhomme singled in a run for a 1-0 lead.

With Jayk Sailer running for Prudhomme at first and Lee at third, Sailer started for second base, drawing a throw. As Sailer did that, Lee ran home for the second run. Later, Will Matt drove in Sailer.

The first eight men reached base for the Panthers in the second.

Nate Fortson doubled, then Grant tripled to expand the lead to 4-0. Singles by Lee and Hunter Hartsfield drove in Grant and Lee. Prudhomme followed by nearly socking a pitch out of the park and Harmon Maraman, Hartsfield’s courtesy runner, scored.

Sailer again running for Prudhomme, came home on another error. Will Matt scored the sixth run of the frame on a wild pitch on ball four to Copeland. Bret Bernard’s groundout to second drove in Copeland for the game’s 10th run.

Fortson, up for the second time in the inning, singled in Render Robbins. Tiftarea’s wrapped up scoring for the inning when an error off Adam McKinney’s bat allowed Copeland to touch home.

In the third, Ben Matt’s sacrifice play drove in Dawson Patterson and Copeland scored on an error.

Though Benson said Prudhomme asked to stay in for the fourth inning, Lentz came in to pitch. Lentz ran into a patch of trouble with two walks, but Copeland’s big play and two strikeouts saw the Rebels strand both runners.

Brock Hammond singled to start the sixth. Hammond had replaced Hartsfield behind the plate and was also allowed the use of a courtesy runner, Maraman. Lentz reached on an error and Will Matt walked, loading the bases for Copeland, who ended the game with a single over shortstop.

Shiver and Sunny Patel pitched for Turner. Shiver struck out two hitters. Turner batters reached base three times on walks.

Tiftarea had 14 hits for the game, two each by Grant, Lee, Prudhomme, Will Matt, Copeland and Fortson. Eighteen Panthers entered the contest, with the majority of action belonging to the younger players on the team.

Tiftarea will be at North Florida Christian Thursday for a 4:30 p.m. contest. They play Valwood on the road Tuesday, with the next home game March 29 against the Valiants.