TOUGH START
Copperas Cove 7, Lampasas 1
Badger bats fail to back up Bailey in loss to Bulldawgs
By JEREMY HEATH Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY GABE WOLF LHS shortstop Kyle Landry turns what appeared to be a double play Tuesday night in a 7-1 loss at Copperas Cove, but CCHS catcher Daniel Garrett was ruled safe on the front end.

The Lampasas High School baseball team just didn't have an answer for Copperas Cove pitcher John Ropple Tuesday night at Copperas Cove.

Ropple not only held the Badgers scoreless for six innings, but he also drove in three runs in a 7-1 Bulldawg victory in the seasonopener for both teams.

Ropple threw six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out eight. He helped his cause with a two-run single in the first inning and an RBI triple in the fifth.

"We struggled hitting the ball," LHS head coach Brian McBeth said. "We weren't aggressive enough at the plate, but you have to give him (Ropple) credit; he threw a great game."

The only sustained success the Badgers had at the plate came against Copperas Cove reliever Daniel Cabral in the seventh. Seth Fry and Stetson Magilke opened the frame with back-to-back singles, and Nick Cummings later drove in Fry with a ground ball to short.

Left: LHS starter Cody Bailey allowed two earned runs in 4.2 innings. Right: Seth Fry singles to right field in the fourth inning of Tuesday's loss.

"All in all, I think we have some things to build on," McBeth said. "We swung the bat better late in the game, and the kids fought hard at the end."

Another aspect the Badgers will attempt to build on is the solid performance of starting pitcher Cody Bailey. The Bulldawgs nickle-anddimed Bailey for two runs in the first inning, but the senior rebounded to hold the opponents scoreless into the fifth before his defense broke down and allowed three unearned runs.

From the second to the fifth inning, Bailey recorded eight consecutive outs, including five straight strikeouts in the third and fourth innings. In the third inning, he struck out 3-4-5 hitters Billy Mee, Ropple and Cody Brannon on 13 pitches.

"Things were a little rocky for Cody early because he was struggling with his location," McBeth said. "But as the game went on, he got stronger."

The Badgers were scheduled to play Killeen Shoemaker and Harker Heights Thursday in the first day of the Copperas Cove Tournament. They will play Gatesville at 4:30 p.m. today and Taylor at 7 p.m. in the second day of the tournament. Both games are scheduled for Lampasas.

Saturday's final game, which will be decided by today's results, will be at Copperas Cove at a time to be determined.