Suffolk News-Herald

Eric Berry and Matt Wylie hit home runs and Greg Sexton recorded six strikeouts as host Nansemond River (NR) raced to a 15-4, five-inning victory over local rival Lakeland on Monday. After the Cavaliers jumped out to a 3-0 lead, the Warriors knocked in eight runs in the second inning to ice the game early.

Robert Hedrick tripled to right field in the first for Lakeland, and J.R. Roberts cashed him in with a single. Roberts moved to third on a pair of wild pitches, and scored on a single by Ricky Lainhart. Kevin Shelton bashed a triple into deep right field, and the Cavaliers had a 3-0 lead.

It didn’t last. Tyren Rivers walked for NR, and blazed to third on a blown pickoff attempt. Sexton singled Rivers in, and Berry hammered a two-run shot over the centerfield fence to tie the score.

&uot;Most of my home runs really clear the fence, but that one was kind of iffy,&uot; Berry said. &uot;I took off for first, because I didn’t know if it was getting out.&uot;

Lakeland went down in order in the second, and Sexton doubled to right field for NR. He scored on a single by David Ewell, who moved to third on an error. Berry drew a walk, and Mike McCarthy singled to left to bring in Ewell. C.J. Luffman bunted for a single to load the bases, and Dennis Conley smashed a double into left to score Berry and McCarthy.

With the score at 7-3, singles by Wylie and Chris Topping knocked in two more runs, and both scored on a double by Sexton.

Again, the Cavaliers were held scoreless, and Berry bounced a double off the left field fence to open the fourth. Luffman singled to left, and Conley doubled down the right field line to score both runners. Wylie then cranked his first homer as a member of the NR varsity team to complete his team’s scoring.

&uot;I thought it had a chance,&uot; Wylie said of his right-centerfield blast. &uot;I was just trying to get on base, and they gave me a pitch to hit.&uot; He finished the afternoon at three-for-three.

The Warriors will host Great Bridge at 4:45 p.m., while the Cavalier head to Western Branch at the same time.