Kat Frazier
Sports Editor
The Bryan College Lions celebrated their final home series of the season and Senior Day with a 2-1 series win over Virginia Intermont College (Bristol, Va.) this weekend. They finished the season 29-24 overall and 14-13 in the AAC.
The Lions suffered a devastating 14-8 loss in Friday’s nine-inning game after starting with a 7-0 lead at the end of the second inning. Back-to-back solo home runs were hit by sophomore designated hitter Justin Morhardt and junior first baseman Kelvin McMiller during the second inning. Senior shortstop Grant Zawadzki recorded three RBIs, three hits, and one run. Junior third baseman Joey Underwood finished with two hits and one run. Sophomore right fielder Preston King finished with one hit and one run. Junior pinch runner/pitcher John Cain and junior center fielder Kevin Roberts each scored one run. McMiller finished the game with one RBI, two hits, and two runs.
Sophomore pitcher L.J. Rowden pitched the first four innings where he gave up 10 hits and four runs. Freshman pitcher Jared Breazeale pitched one-third of an inning giving up three hits and five runs. Breazeale received the loss. Cain pitched one and two-third innings allowing one hit. Senior pitcher Brannon Shortt pitched one-third of an inning and gave up no hits or runs. Sophomore pitcher Hunter Tipton pitched one and two-third innings and gave up two hits and one run. Freshman Ian Andrews pitched the final inning and gave up four hits and four runs.
The Lions were on fire Saturday winning both games of the double-header on Senior Day 4-2 and 22-8.
In game one, Bryan scored two runs in the first inning and once in the second. The Cobras scored one in the fourth and both teams scored once in the sixth to give the Lions the 4-2 victory. McMiller led the offense with one RBI, three hits and two runs. Roberts had one RBI, one hit, and one run. Latham played left field and finished with one hit and one run.
Freshman pitcher Chad Burrows pitched six innings giving up two hits and two runs. Junior pitcher Kenny Knudsen pitched the final inning giving up no hit or runs. Burrows earned the win and Knudsen had the save.
In game two, the Cobras struck first scoring one run in the first inning the Lions, however, were on fire scoring nine runs – including a grand slam by Latham who returned as catcher. Virginia Intermont scored three more in the second while the Lions only scored one. The Cobras added three runs in the fourth while the Lions added another eight – including three-run homerun by Latham. In the fifth inning, the Cobras added one and the Lions added four to win the game 22-8. Zawadzki finished with two RBIs, three hits, and five runs. Latham recorded six RBIs, three hits, and two runs. Roberts had two RBIs, two hits, and three runs. Cain was the pinch runner and scored once. King had two RBIs, one hit, and two runs. Sophomore left fielder Crandon Wallace had two RBIs, two hits, and two runs. Morhardt finished with three RBIs, two hits, and two runs. Underwood had two RBIs, three hits, and three runs.
Senior pitcher Tristan Speak started one the mound for the Lions and pitched three and two-third innings giving up seven hits and seven runs. Breazeale pitched one and one-third innings allowing one hit and one run, earning the win. Shortt came in for one inning and gave up two hits. Senior Ike Meyers pitched the final inning and gave up no hits or runs.
After the games, the team honored the following seniors: shortstop Grant Zawadzki, pitcher Tristan Speak, catcher Tyler “Derf” Latham, pitcher Brannon Shortt, and pitcher Ike Meyers.
Zawadzki originates from Shrewsbury, Mass. and played two years for the Lions after transferring from Cleveland State Community College (Tenn.). He finished his career with 110 games played, 109 games started, 389 at bats, 81 RBIs, 149 hits, 102 runs, eight homeruns, and 214 total bases. He had a slugging percentage of 0.550 and a batting average of 0.383. When it came to defense, Zawadzki recorded 281 assists, 51 double plays, and a fielding percentage of 0.892.
Speak, a transfer from St. Charles Community College (St. Louis, Mo.), is a native of Sefner, Fla. During his two years playing for the Lions he appeared in 23 games including 22 starts. He was the starting pitcher the second game of Saturday double-headers. Speak earned eight wins and struck out 73 players in the 111 innings he pitched.
Latham, a Spring City, Tenn. native, started as the second baseman for the Lions his freshman and sophomore years before transitioning to catcher. He played and started in 203 games. During those games he had 685 at bats that included 237 hits and 135 runs. He broke the career homerun record with 33 career homeruns. Latham had 170 RBIs, 402 total bases, a slugging percentage of 0.587, and a batting average of 0.346. As a defender he had 291 assists, 54 double plays, a fielding percentage of 0.960, and 66 stolen bases attempted against him.
Shortt is originally from Winston Salem, N.C. and appeared in 13 games during his two years as a Lion. He pitched 12 and two-third innings where he earned one win and struck out six batters.
Meyers is a second generation Lions’ baseball player, as his father played in the 1980s, from Westerville, Ohio. He had 39 appearances on the mound including one start. During the 44 and two-third innings he pitched he struck out 18 batters. Meyers recorded eight assists and had a fielding percentage of 0.909.
