thedailytimes.com : Your 24/7 news source

SEYMOUR -- Matt Lynam just needed a little rest.

Seymour's senior ace had missed the previous three weeks with a raging bout of mononucleosis, but the hard-throwing right-hander never looked healthier than he did Thursday evening. Lynam was simply dominating against Alcoa, tossing a two-hit gem in a 6-0 blanking of the Tornadoes in the winners' bracket semifinals of the District 3-AA baseball tournament.

"He's our ace, there's no doubt about it," Eagles coach Scott Norman said. "He just got cleared to play about a week ago, and he's gotten some bullpen sessions in.

"But he looked real good (Thursday night)."

Lynam (6-1) was at times overpowering, striking out eight while walking just two. His off-speed assortment was equally impressive, and he only got stronger as the game went longer, retiring eight straight at one point.

"It's really a shame he missed the time that he did," Norman said. "Before he got sick, he was putting up All-State-type numbers. He had 46 strikeouts and only two walks in 26 innings."

Alcoa third baseman Michael Stubblefield laced a clean single to right to lead off the fourth inning for the Tornadoes' first hit. Lynam, who likely is headed to play at Cleveland State Community College, wouldn't allow another hit until there were two outs in the seventh.

"(Lynam is) real tough, but our kids battled," Alcoa coach Steve Dunn said. "I'm proud of the fact that we didn't give up."

The Eagles (23-6) took a quick 2-0 lead in the home half of the first inning on back-to-back run-scoring singles from first baseman Keagon Newport and third baseman Andrew Escalona. It was all Seymour would need.

Alcoa will face Austin-East, the team it beat 16-3 earlier in the day, in an elimination contest today at 5 p.m. back at Seymour. If the Tornadoes outrace the Roadrunners, they must again face the Eagles and beat them twice in two days in order to advance to the Region 2-AA Tournament.

Alcoa 16, Austin-East 3

The Tornadoes quickly disposed of an overmatched Roadrunners squad in the afternoon's first contest, 16-3 in five innings. Lance Bowling picked up the relatively easy victory, scattering three earned runs in three-plus inningswhile allowing just one hit with one strikeout.

"That's really a tough situation to be (in), to be honest," Dunn said of opening the postseason against the Roadrunners. "I'm proud that our kids were able to battle through it.

"We had some quality at-bats despite the situation."

Alcoa rapped 16 hits in just 31 at-bats, including five doubles, a triple and a home run. Left fielder Neil Borden smashed the long ball and finished with three hits, two runs scored and four RBIs.

Third baseman Daniel Robinson added three hits and two runs scored, while three other Tornadoes each garnered two base knocks. Seven of the nine Alcoa starters scored twice, and the other two crossed home plate once each.

Former Alcoa football and basketball star Brian Sommer stole two bases and scored the first run for the Roadrunners.