Bats fail 'Horns in 2-0 loss
  
By Matt Hill
STAR STAFF
mhill@starhq.com

   KINGSPORT-- Johnson County pitcher Jon Arnold threw a gem, but it was Sullivan North that ended up winning the jewels Tuesday afternoon at Hunter Wright Stadium.
   Sullivan North's Trey Mosley matched Arnold's performance, and the Golden Raiders took the 2-0 victory in the Kingsport Baseball Classic.
   Arnold gave up only six hits and two runs, but Mosley allowed just five hits and held the Longhorns scoreless.
   "We just didn't hit," Johnson County head coach Pete Pavusek said. "Our hitting is not very good right now. We need somebody to step up and do something for us."
   Pavusek felt bad for Arnold after he had such a solid performance, but he thought Mosley deserved the victory.
   "I always hate to see a kid lose a game when they pitch so well like that," Pavusek said. "But Mosley pitched a great game."
   The bottom of the fourth was the difference for Sullivan North, as that was the only inning where any offense was produced.
   Todd Yarbrough's single scored Jon Yates for what was the game-winning hit. The Golden Raiders added their second run when Jimmy Arnold's single plated pinch-runner Justin Anderson.
   Three of Arnold's six hits were given up in that inning, as he was nearly flawless the rest of the time.
   "I left a few open that one inning," Arnold said. "It just killed me."
   Arnold thought it was a tough loss to take.
   "It's always tough to lose, but sometimes it's even tougher," Arnold said. "We played some great defense, but we can't get a hit when we need it."
   Even with the loss, Arnold knew he could hold his head up high.
   "It bothered me to lose," Arnold said. "But I pitched all right, and they played great defense behind me. We just couldn't get a hit when we needed it."
   Matt Ball had three hits to top Sullivan North, while Matt McQueen had two hits to lead Johnson County.
   Pavusek thought his team did some good things Tuesday, but believes the lack of hitting cost his team against the Golden Raiders.
   "We had good defense and good pitching," Pavusek said. "But once again you're not going to win if you don't score runs. You've got to score runs, bottom line."
   Johnson County now falls to 4-6 in the Watauga Conference and 12-8 overall. The Longhorns will be back in action Thursday at home against Sullivan Central.