Using timely hitting and aggressive base-running, paired with outstanding pitching, Cambridge defeated hot-hitting North Atlanta to remain undefeated in region play Friday night at the LakePoint Sports Complex.  Heavy rains in the area forced the move to the friendly turf fields at LakePoint.  Blake Renner got the start for the Bears and he put on a quite a show for the fans in attendance.

 

Serving as the home team for this game, Cambridge sent Renner out first and he set down the North Atlanta lineup in order, striking out the first two batters in the process.  Cambridge again wasted no time generating offense in the bottom of the inning against the hard-throwing Warriors righty.  Ryan Todd led off and lined the first pitch he saw just inside the foul line in right for a stand-up triple.  Ross Friedrick then stepped in and drove Todd home with a ground out to short, giving Cambridge a 1-0 lead.

 

An error, a single and a sac fly by the Warriors tied the game in the second.  Cambridge threatened in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases courtesy of two walks and a Johnny Eneberg single, but North Atlanta turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the rally.  The Warriors pulled the same trick in the third to end that inning and the game remained tied at 1-1.

 

Renner continued to cruise at a very efficient rate, retiring the side in order in the third and fourth.  The Bears moved ahead in the bottom of the fourth.  A one-out single to left by Nicholas Armstrong and an Eneberg walk put men on the corners.  Eneberg stole second to put two in scoring position before a Todd ground ball to short was mis-played causing both runners to score and give Cambridge a 3-1 lead.

 

Renner went 1-2-3 again in the fifth before the offense tacked on another run in the bottom of the inning.  Mitch Fleming walked with two outs and immediately stole second.  Jackson Woods then drove him home on a line drive single to right, extending the Bears lead to 4-1.

 

That was all Renner would need as he worked an easy sixth with the assistance of catcher Ross Friedrick, who threw out a runner attempting to steal third with an absolutely perfect throw, before setting down the side in order once again in the seventh to preserve the 4-1 victory.

 

Cambridge got balanced offense with Todd, Fleming, Woods, Armstrong and Eneberg with a hit each.  Todd had the lone extra base hit with his first inning triple.  Renner went the distance on the mound to secure his first win of the season.  In seven innings of work he allowed no earned runs on two hits with ten strikeouts and no walks.

 

Cambridge's game against Cherokee on Saturday has been rescheduled, so the next game is Monday, March 18th at Northview.  Game time is 5:55 PM.

 

Go Bears!