Lions baseball pounds Iowa Park 12-7

Vernon pounded Iowa Park 12-7 last Tuesday to forge a tie atop the District 5-4A standings with the Hawks. It was Senior Night last Tuesday and the Lions welcomed back their old skipper, now coaching the Hawks.
Brothers Garrett Pierce and Gavin Pierce made sure the night would be remembered, blasting two homeruns in one inning to power the Lions to the convincing win. Lavery Gonzales also got in on the long ball parade– he got the Lions rolling with a 3-run blast in the bottom of the second to give Vernon the 3-1 lead. Gavin Pierce had hit a two-out doubled went to third on a balk. Ayden Smith was hit-by a pitch on a full count to put runners at the corners for Gonzales. Gonazales took a 1-0 pitch to right field for the 3-1 lead.
The Hawks took a 4-3 lead in the fifth, but it was short-lived. Copper Quillin led off the bottom of the frame with a double and scored on a Garrett Pierce grounder to short that was misplayed. Cross Durham walked. Pierce went to third on a sac bunt by Case Fleming and he scored on a pitching error. Austen Fleming pop fly score Durham and Holley scored on a fielder’s choice by Gavin Pierce that made it 7-4 in favor of the Lions.
Iowa Park tied the game 7-7 in the sixth, and again that was short-lived. Garrett Pierce belted a solo shot at lead-off over the left field fence. The Lions bats stayed hot with Durham doubling to left, and scoring on a single to center from Holley. Austen Fleming singled Holley scored on a error by the right fielder. Next up was Gavin Pierce. He popped a shot to deep left field for the 12-7 lead.
Gavin, now pitching, set the three Hawk batters down in order in the seventh to preserve the win.
Gavin Pierce finished 3 for 4 at the plate with a homerun, double, two runs and two RBIs. Gonzales was 2 for 3 with a double, run scored and three RBIs, and snagged two walks. Garrett Pierce had a homerun, RBI and scored two runs. Pierce, from his catcher position also threw out two runners attempting to steal on base.
Cooper Quillin got the win on the mound , going four innings with six hits and 4 earned runs while striking out 5. Gavin Pierce came on with three innings of relief, giving up two earned runs with 3 strikeouts.
Iowa Park 011 023 0 -7 10 5
Vernon 030 045 x -12 12 1