Stephanie Sturgis - Press Sports Editor
Posted: Thursday, May 7, 2009 3:20 pm

For the out — Westview senior second baseman Madison Hughey throws to first base for an out during the Chargers' 8-3 win over Obion County on Wednesday night.

With a shot at the district championship and a berth in the regional tournament within their grasp, the normally steady Westview Chargers defense had trouble making plays in a must-win game during the District 13-AA Tournament Wednesday night in Newbern.
Unearned runs doomed the Chargers as they were defeated 13-5 by the Dyersburg Trojans. The loss came on the heels of a strong showing earlier in the evening that saw Westview eliminate Obion County, 8-3.
A half dozen WHS errors kept the Charger defense on the field and pitcher Travis Garner on the mound and repeatedly plated Dyersburg unearned runs.
"We hadn't done that all year. Travis pitched his heart out out there tonight. We haven't had that sort of effort all season," Charger head coach Brian Allen said. "We finished the season in third place, one game away from the region."
After a scoreless first inning, the Chargers drew first blood thanks to a DHS error. Madison Hughey drew a leadoff walk and later scored on a throwing error.
The lead was short-lived as Dyersburg scored five runs in the bottom of the second. An error and three hits were coupled with a bout of wildness by Travis Garner, who hit two batters and walked one.
The Chargers tied the score with four runs in the third.  Four walks and a passed ball on a third strike helped the cause. Hughey and Drake Copeland each recorded a RBI for Westview.
Any momentum was relinquished as the Trojans scored three in their next at-bat to regain the lead at 8-5 at the end of three innings. The Dyersburg lead stretched to 12-5 with four more runs in the fifth before settling at 13-5 for the final score.
In the win over Obion County, the WHS bats were busy, rapping out 14 hits, while Charger starter Adam Garner limited the Rebels to five hits while striking out eight batters.
Five WHS seniors played their final game in a Charger uniform. They are Drake Copeland, Andrew Fisher, Madison Hughey, Alex Parham and Stanton Walker.