HARLEM --- Lakeside has streaked to an undefeated start mostly because of its ability to club the baseball at a rate and ability no opponent can match.
The Panthers are also winning games like they did Wednesday against Harlem.
Lakeside needed only five hits -- just two for extra bases -- to blast Harlem 12-1 in a rainy Region 3-AAAA affair shortened to five innings because of the mercy rule.
Kody Belcher, the third batter of the game, scorched a two-run homer to highlight a three-run first inning. Lakeside (9-0, 5-0) never trailed and is now the only team in the region without a loss. All but one of its five region wins have lasted five or fewer innings because of the mercy rule. (A 16-11 win over Cross Creek on Monday is the exception.)
Lakeside has scored at least eight runs in all but one of its nine games and plated 14, 11, 21, 16 and 12 runs in region play. The rain, a consistent mess that pelted players especially hard in the second and third innings, did little to affect Lakeside's offensive groove.
"It was difficult to stay down and concentrate," said Lakeside leadoff hitter Spencer Starnes, who drove in three runs. "But I'd rather stay here and win than come back tomorrow."
Harlem (4-3, 2-1) singled three times off Lakeside starter Jeffrey Stoner in the first inning, but did not collect a hit the rest of the game. Stoner, who did not walk a batter and struck out four, improved to 3-0.
"He's attacking guys," said Lakeside coach T.J. Davis. "He's pitching inside, and in this league right here to get what you got to get, you have to pitch inside. He's making a big difference. Everybody behind him plays (better) when he's on the mound."
Harlem coach Jimmie Lewis pulled left-handed starter Derek Beasley, who pitched the Bulldogs past Greenbrier earlier in the year, at the start of the third inning with the score 5-1. Six consecutive Lakeside batters then reached base without earning a hit against two relievers. Lakeside sent 11 batters to the plate that inning and led 12-1 by the time it was over.
Lewis said he wanted to keep Beasley fresh for a possible relief appearance Friday against Hephzibah.
Beasley is also slated to start Monday's key region game against Evans, which is set for Lake Olmstead Stadium.
"It was looking rough," Lewis said. "I didn't want to waste him in a night it wasn't working out too well for him."
The Bulldogs allowed 10 runners to reach base on walks or errors. They also hit a batter.
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