FAIRVIEW – Despite walking 11 Fairview batters, Lee-Huntsville pitcher Robert Samaniego was effective, keeping the Aggies off stride Friday evening with the Generals taking game three of the AHSAA 5A baseball playoff series by a final of 9-3.
Fairview was unable to be productive against Samaniego's control problems. The Aggies stranded nine runners on base through the first six innings against the senior left-hander. Samaniego was able to get outs when needed to prevent the Aggies from having a chance to capitalize.
The best the Aggies could do was in their half of the third, when they scored twice; thanks to four passed balls against catcher Noah Hill, Clay Lanier and Ragan Ashley scored on passed balls to close the deficit to 4-2 with two outs in the third and runners on the corners.
But Samaniego bounced back, getting Riley Carroll to strike out and end the inning.
Lee broke the game open in the bottom of the third vs. Fairview's Truman Boyd. Boyd came in in the second to relieve starter Lane Schnittker. Kane Adams doubled in a run then scored when Brandon Powell took a curve ball from Boyd and ripped it over the left field fence for a two-run homer and a 7-2 advantage.
Trailing 8-2 when they batted in the top of the sixth, the Aggies had one final chance to get Samaniego out of the game. Boyd led off the inning, getting hit by a pitch, pinch hitter Bryson Fletcher lined to left field for the first out, then Garrett Dunn walked and a single by Schnittker loaded the bases.
That was the only hit allowed by Samaniego as he followed that by walking Lanier that forced in Boyd and the Aggies trailed 8-3. Samaniego had 121 pitches when coach Robert Weaver went to the bullpen and brought in right-hander Nathan Henderson.
The change worked with Henderson fielding a ground ball by Preston Moore, throwing to Hill at home plate for the second out. Hill threw to first base to retire Moore and the Aggies' big opportunity for a comeback was put to rest.
Hill produced an insurance run for the Generals in their half of the sixth on an RBI single.
Ashley opened the Fairview seventh with a single to right. Dane Black popped out to second for the first out with the game coming to an end at 6:53 p.m. on a ground ball by Tyler Ball that was turned into a double play.
The Aggies managed just two hits off the Generals' pitching and struck out four times. Samaniego retired six in a row between the fourth and fifth innings.
Lee moves on to the second round, waiting for the winner of the Etowah/Cleburne County series. If Etowah is the winner, the Generals will play round two in Huntsville. The Generals, runners-up in 5A, Area 15, take an 18-16 record to round two of the playoffs.
Fairview completed their season with 19 wins against 16 losses. They were in the 5A playoffs for the first time ever in a season that included winning the Cullman County championship and the 5A, Area 12 regular season title.
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