The Republic baseball team rode a strong pitching performance and a big second inning to a convincing 7-1 victory over Waynesville Tuesday at Republic. Cannon Ellison, Jackson Overstreet, and Kyler Tate teamed up to hold Waynesville’s offense in check, while Nolan Lashley had three base hits to lead the offense.
Republic jumped out with five runs in the second inning. After Brennan Overstreet walked, Nolan Lashley and Nolan Coble delivered back-to-back singles, with Coble’s hit driving in the first run. Ryder Davis followed with an RBI single, and Jackson Overstreet delivered the biggest blow with a two-run double. Isaac White capped the rally with an RBI single, pushing the lead to 5-0.
Ellison was nearly perfect in his three-inning start, striking out five of the nine batters he faced while not allowing a hit. Overstreet took over on the mound and continued the strong pitching, recording five strikeouts over three innings while allowing just one run. Tate finished with a clean seventh inning to secure the victory.
Lashley, making a rare varsity start at catcher, put together a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double. He also threw out a Waynesville runner attempting to steal second base.
“I was really thankful that I got the chance to… start with the older guys, and I just really wanted to show up and show them what I can do,” Lashley said.
Republic added single runs in the third and fifth innings. Lashley singled and scored in the third, and Preston McCracken doubled and later scored on a passed ball in the fifth.
Waynesville’s lone run came in the sixth inning when Jonah Sahr reached on an error and scored on Justin Zuber’s groundout.
The win improved Republic’s record to 8-4, ending a two-game skid. The Tigers travel to Lebanon Wednesday.
Linescore
Waynesville 000 001 0 – 1 2 2
Republic 051 010 x – 7 10 1
