The Settler

Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Kristen Salter Sophomore Zach Hendren throws a pitch in Tuesday's game.

Media Credit: Kristen Salter The Patriots of Northwest Shoals Community College dominated The Pioneers in a double-header on Tuesday.

The Volunteer State Community College Pioneer baseball team lost both games of the double-header against the Patriots of Northwest Shoals Community College on Tuesday.

The losses bring their overall record to 23-20.

Pitching was a problem for the Pioneers in their two losses.

"We had to use so much pitching on the weekend. We had a limited pitching staff for the week. And that will make it tough against a top 20 team in the nation like Northwest-Shoals," said head-coach Mike Crossland.

The wear and tear of a long season has affected the team too.

"For the first time all year, our front-line guys showed signs of fatigue. We played so hard to get back to where we are now after such a slow start," said Crossland.

Going into the last inning the Pioneers were leading 4-2. But the Patriots rallied and scored three runs to capture the win.

The Pioneer's bats have been silenced over the past few weeks.

"We haven't swung the bat well in the past few weeks, and that is what has got us back to playing well," said Crossland.

The conference tournament is coming soon and the Pioneers are getting ready.

"We are looking forward to the tournament in Columbia. We seem to be playing pretty good right now," said Athletic Director Bobby Hudson.

"We have six games left and I know that Coach Crossland and his staff are looking to gain momentum going into the tournament," said Hudson.

"We have a big series coming up against Dyersburg. If we can win five of the next six then we can get the five seed which would mean we wouldn't have to play on Friday in the play-in game," said Crossland.

The conference tournament will begin on May 2.

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