CRESTVIEW — Half way through the season Crestview High School’s baseball team still has plenty of work to do before the district tournament.
The Bulldogs have been on a merry go round season that has been a series of ups and downs.
Monday was one of those down nights for Crestview as the Bulldogs hosted a talented Tallahassee Lincoln team.
Trojan batters touched Crestview pitchers for nine hits en route to an 8-1 win.
Crestview-Lincoln baseball photos>>>
“I’m speechless,” Crestview Coach Tim Gillis said. “I don’t have anything to say. I can’t say anything positive.
“It’s just all about competing and we didn’t compete very well.”
Tyler Holton led the Lincoln attack with a two-run homer and three runs batted in.
Holton picked up his first RBI in the top of the first inning. Holton’s sacrifice fly to center field scored Jordan Curtis. Curtis reached base on a Bulldog error to lead off the game.
Lincoln scored two more runs in the top of the third inning before the Bulldogs plated their lone run in the bottom of the inning.
Bryant Berry reached on an infield with one out and later scored as Corey Armstrong, Colter Hancock and B.A. Larkins drew walks from Lincoln starting pitcher Brayson Smith.
Lincoln added a run in the fourth, three in the fifth and one in the seventh. Holton hit his home run, a shot over the fence in right, in the three-run fifth.
Crestview (7-7) managed just three hits off of Smith and relievers Austin Pollock and Blake Reese.
Larkins and Berry had singles. Zach Degraaf had Crestview’s only extra base hit, a double in the seventh.
Travis Wiljakainen got the start on the mound for Crestview and took the loss. Wiljakainen worked 4 1/3 innings and struck out five Trojan batters.
Hancock went 1 2/3 innings and gave up the home run to Holton. Ryan Weekley worked the seventh for Crestview.
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview baseball team struggles with Lincoln (PHOTOS, VIDEO)