BASEBALL: Crab Orchard's McCree no-hits Falcons in opener

Through three innings of Tuesday's varsity baseball contest between Elverado and Crab Orchard, neither side had a hit and both pitchers were cruising along - the Falcons' Eli Fennell with five strikeouts, the Trojans' Colten McCree with six.

But it was McCree who broke up Fennell's perfect game in the top of the fourth, then later drove in the first run of the game in the top of the sixth as Crab Orchard went on to win 5-0 following a messy seventh inning for the Elverado defense.

Fennell didn't allow an earned run in his six innings of work, but still took the loss after an error allowed Tyler Deaton to reach base on a fly ball to left field. The EHS left-fielder, Braden Tuthill, was able to recover and gun down Ethan Anderson at the plate, but Deaton would score a batter later on McCree's base hit.

Things fell apart for Elverado in the top of the seventh. After reliever Collin Hester picked up the first two outs, the next five batters reached base and the Trojans tacked on four insurance tallies.

Meanwhile, the Falcons were unable to register a hit in the game, and wasted their best chance to score in the top of the first when both Fennell and Eli Keller reached on errors with nobody out, yet were stranded at second and third base after two strikeouts and a grounder back to the mound.

Fennell allowed just three hits, walked none and struck out eight in the game. McCree was just a bit better, going the distance for the no-hitter, walking one, hitting a batter, and fanning fourteen. He also went 2-for-4 at the plate. Deaton (1-4), Anderson (2-3) and Amos Beasley (1-1) also hit safely for the Trojans.