It was a beautiful Thursday afternoon.  It was a chance to go 2-0 on the season and 2-0 in the Three Rivers Conference.  It was a chance to beat the Unicoi County Blue Devils!  It was not to be, because we played poorly.  Sammy Hampton did not pitch into the 4th inning for Johnson County and none of our pitchers threw a curveball for a strike until the 6th inning of the game. 
     Offensively, we left the bases loaded in the 1st and 2nd inning and stranded 11 runners on the day, including 9 in scoring position (2nd or 3rd).  We also had several plays on defense, that although they do not go down as official errors, are plays that should have been made.  In saying all of that, we were only down 6-5 after Danny Herman hit a 3-run bomb over the centerfield fence in the bottom of the 5th, but the top of the 6th saw Unicoi County score 7 runs and put the game away.  In addition to Herman's home run, he also had two base hits and scored two other runs.  Sawyer Ward also helped the Longhorn cause, as he went 2-4 with two doubles.  Jacob Henson, Harley Reece, and Ryan Mahala all had base knocks for Johnson County and Henson's hit plated a run. 
     It was a frustrating evening, but we do not have long to dwell on this game, because we travel to Damascus, VA tomorrow to play the Holston Cavaliers.  Sawyer Ward will make his first start of the 2011 season for the Longhorns.  First pitch is scheduled for 5:00, with a JV Longhorn game to follow.  Andy Woods will be taking the ball for the JV Longhorns.