Griffin leadoff hitter Keyston Fuller at the plate against Stockbridge Wednesday at the Bear's Den. (Anthony Rhoads/Daily News)
Griffin improves to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in region play with the no-hitter Wednesday — it’s the first time the Bears have started a season 2-0 since 2007. Stockbridge played its season and region opener, falling to 0-1, 0-1.
Griffin took advantage of wildness from Tigers starting pitcher Ryan Sims in its home opener. The junior walked the first three Bears and he balked in Keyston Fuller from third base for the quick 1-0 Griffin lead. After Bears starting pitcher Daniel Gooden reached on an error, senior catcher John Pope smacked a two-run single to give the Bears the 3-0 lead. Four batters later, the Bears led 7-0 and chased Sims in the first inning.
Sims was replaced by Alberto Vargas and he allowed two more runs — an RBI single from Fuller in the second and a sacrifice fly from Pope in the third — and the Bears led 9-0 and basically sealed the game. Meanwhile, Gooden was cruising along. The junior pitched three innings, striking out eight batters and walking three. Gooden was relieved by sophomore Steven Ventura, who pitched two more scoreless innings and combined on the no-hitter for the Bears.
“I believe I did okay. I have to give God the glory. My fastball was pretty good and my slider was nice today,” Gooden said. “The guys gave me a good lead so I had the confidence to go after the Stockbridge batters. It was a good win for us.”
The Bears belted 10 hits against Stockbridge and every starter except one scored at least one run. Pope, Montico Dodson and Marquavious Brownlee had two hits each, with Dodson getting a triple in the fourth. Pope led the Bears with four RBIs.
The Bears travel to face region foe Jonesboro Friday at 6 p.m. before hosting Howard High and Washington County High in the Griffin High School Diamond Day tournament Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.
GRIFFIN HIGH
Date| Opponent |Time
2/18 |vs. Russell Co. |W 10-7
2/27 |STOCKBRIDGE* |W 13-0
3/1 |Jonesboro* |5:55
3/2 |vs. Howard |10 am
3/2 |vs. WACO |3:00
3/4 |WOODLAND* |5:55
3/6 |Riverdale* |5:55
3/8 |Dutchtown* |5:55
3/11 |E. LANDING* |5:55
3/13 |Newnan |5:30
3/15 |UPSON-LEE* |5:55
3/18 |N. Clayton* |5:55
3/20 |SPALDING* |5:55
3/22 |L. Grove* |5:55
3/27 |Stockbridge* |5:55
3/29 |JONESBORO* |5:55
4/1 |Woodland* |5:55
4/3 |RIVERDALE* |5:55
4/5 |DUTCHTOWN* |5:55
4/8 |E. Landing* |5:30
4/10 |Ola |5:55
4/12 |Upson-Lee* |5:55
4/15 |N. CLAYTON* |5:55
4/17 |Spalding* |5:55
4/19 |L. GROVE* |5:55
4/26 |Pike Co. |5:30
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
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