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Forestview senior right-hander Preston Lyon struck out 13 batters in a one-hitter.
By Benjamin Patton/The Gazette
Lyon sparkles in Jags' second playoff win
GASTONIA - Although Preston Lyon's future college coaches recruited him as a middle infielder, he's known more as a pitcher around here.
When the Pfeiffer coaches came to see for themselves what all the hubbub was about, Lyon gave them a show.
The Forestview right-hander struck out 13 batters, tossed a one-hitter and came three at-bats away from a perfect game in the Jaguars' 2-0 home playoff win against Asheville on Friday.
"They wanted to see me pitch, so that gave me a little bit of adrenaline going into the game," said Lyon, whose fans in the stands included Pfeiffer head coach Mark Hayes and pitching coach Ray Greene.
Lyon stayed loose and had his curveball working on a mild spring evening on which Forestview hosted a playoff game for the first time in the school's 10-year history.
The senior was perfect until surrendering a leadoff double to Ryan Carlton in the third inning. Although Carlton's courtesy runner reached third on a wild pitch, no other Asheville player came close to scoring.
Lyon hit Joey Torres with a pitch in the sixth and William Head reached on a fielder's choice, but that was all the No. 3 seed from the Mountain Athletic Conference could muster. And this was a team that entered the game with 130 stolen bases - more than 4 1/2 per game.
"We've been a team that puts the ball in play and can create havoc once we get on the bags," Asheville coach Bill Hillier said. "We never got a chance to play our game because he never let us."
The Cougars (14-12) countered with a lanky senior right-hander, Zach Hall, who was almost as tough as Lyon, but Forestview produced just enough offense to support its leader on the mound.
Shortstop Griffin Wise scored both runs - one in the third and another in the fifth. Chris Waugh's single to left center drove in the first run after Wise reached on a two-out walk, stole second and advanced to third on Josh Wood's single.
Wise reached on a throwing error by the Asheville third baseman in the fifth, stole second and marched home on Wood's third two-out hit of the night.
"I just think base hits, and base hits win ballgames," said Wood, a speedy centerfielder who will play at Limestone next season.
All five of Forestview's hits came with two outs, including Jimmy Heracklis' double in the second.
When it was finished, Forestview (18-6) had secured the second playoff win in school history and tied a school record for wins. The 2002 team had the other playoff win behind the arm of Jonathan Hovis and finished 18-9 for the most wins before this year.
"It's been a special year," Forestview coach Brian Horne said. "It's a special group of kids that work hard and are very deserving. They wanted to leave their mark on this school and they've been doing it all year."
Forestview will try to keep the season going Tuesday when it travels to Olympic (19-5), the top seed out of the Queen City Conference and a 4-3 winner over Randleman on Friday.
A 000 000 0 - 0 1 1
F 001 010 x - 2 5 0
W - Lyon (7-4). L - Hall (6-4). HR - none.
You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.
