By STEVE KNOX
Osceola Times
MCCRORY - Rivercrest (1-0) got a four double and five RBI performance from junior outfielder Kevin Morris to gain an 11-2 victory over McCrory in the season opener for both teams at McCrory.
Morris smacked doubles in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings to lead a 14-hit Colts attack, which had four other players record two hits each.
Rivercrest scored three times in the fourth, once in the fifth and five times in the sixth to take a 9-0 lead.
The Jaguars scored twice in their half of the sixth inning to cut the Colts lead to 9-2. Rivercrest set the final with a pair of runs in the seventh making it 11-2.
Rivercrest broke the scoreless tie in the third with two outs when Keiron Morris singled, Austin Elrod had an infield single to third and Kevin Morris followed with a two-run double. Conner Vaughn followed with a double to center, scoring Morris to make it 3-0.
Joe Louis Ralph relieved Vaughn in the third inning surrendering a walk in that inning and had a three up, three down fourth.
In the fifth inning, Kevin Morris had a one-out double to center, Vaughn singled to center sending Morris to third.
Vaughn swiped second and Morris then stole home and Vaughn went to third on the same play making it 4-0.
Ralph had a one, two, three bottom of the fifth sending the game to the sixth inning with the Colts ahead by four runs.
Jaxson Kilburn led off the sixth inning with a solo home run to left field to make it a 5-0 game. Jacob Atchley walked and Carty Smith struck out.
Keiron Morris followed with a single to short, sending Atchley to third base. Morris stole second, then three pitches later Elrod singled to center scoring Atchley and Keiron Morris.
Kevin Morris followed with a double to center scoring Elrod to make it 8-0 Colts.
The Colts loaded the bases with one out after Vaughn was hit by a pitch and Ian McClain walked. After Ralph struck out, with Kilburn at the plate, Morris, Vaughn and McClain all stole a base on a 2-2 count, with Morris stealing home for a 9-0 Rivercrest lead.
In the bottom of the sixth after a strike out, Ralph issued a walk, surrender a double, then issue a second walk to load the bases.
Kilburn relieved Ralph on the mound and Kilburn promptly hit the next batter sending a Jaguar run across making it 9-1.
Kilburn hit the next batter scoring another McCrory run making it 9-2. Kilburn would settle down and strike out the next two hitters to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Morris smacked his fourth double with the bases loaded scoring Atchley, who led off with a double, and Keiron Morris, who had reached on a walk, to make it 11-2. Ralph picked up the win with his 3.1 innings of work.
Kilburn loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning but ended the game with a strikeout.
The Colts stole seven bases with Vaughn leading the way with three and Morris getting two thefts of home plate. McClain had 15 putouts as Vaughn, Ralph and Kilburn combined for 15 strikeouts.
McCrory junior pitcher Reece Rushing went all seven innings for the Jaguars (0-1) surrendering all 11 runs on 14 hits.