Young Harris earns trip to Junior College World Series
By ALAN BECK

Submitted photo The 2007 YHC Mountain Lions.

The Young Harris College Mountain Lions came from behind to win 5-4 over a very talented Chattanooga State team, securing a trip to the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado. Nick Terry pitched seven shutout innings to record the victory. Terry entered the game with no outs in the third inning and recorded four strikeouts and only allowed three hits.

Mike Hornsby and J.C. Lyons led the Mountain Lions offensively with three hits an RBI and a run scored each. Jordan Price scored the game winning run when he led off the seventh with a single through the right side of the infield. He was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Markakis and scored on an error.

Game 2 - YHC 1 Chattanooga State 6

Chattanooga State forced Game 3 by scoring five runs in the top of the 11th inning. The Mountain Lions got an amazing start from Freshman Stephen McCray but couldn't capitalize on various offensive opportunities. McCray struck out five batters in a impressive 10 1/3 inning outing.

The YHC offense had plenty of opportunities but Jon King was the only Mountain Lion to get a big hit. In the bottom of the seventh Matt Sanders singled through the left side of the infield and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Markakis. King followed the sacrifice bunt with a double down the left field line.

Game 1 - YHC 6 Chattanooga State 4

The Mountain Lions scored four runs in the fourth inning and held off the Chattanooga State offense for a 6-4 game 1 victory. Sophomore Will Harvil threw seven solid innings to record his eleventh victory of the 2007 season.

Harvil got out of some tough spots early in the game and kept Chattanooga State scoreless until they scored four unearned runs in the sixth inning. YHC answered back in the top of the seventh to grab a 6-4 lead. Sophomore Nick Terry entered the game and threw two scoreless innings to record his third save of the season.

The Mountain Lion offense exploded for four runs in the third inning. Jonathan King led off the inning with a line drive single up the middle.

After a Mike Hornsby walk Stephen McCray got the Mountain Lions on the board with a line drive double down the left field line and advanced to third on a throwing error. Zac Rhinesmith drove in the third run of the inning with a two out single to left field. The fourth run of the inning was scored on a misplayed line drive off the bat of Mike Lobacz.

The Mountain Lions scored one more in the top of the sixth when Mike Lobacz led off with a double to leftcenter field. Mike Hornsby eventually drove Lobacz home when he hit a two-out line drive single up the middle. The Mountain Lions scored their final run in the top of the seventh inning.