WHEATLAND - Macks Creek continued play in the Wheatland Tournament on Tuesday night against the host team. When the dust had settled it was the Pirates who came away with a 14-4 win.
The Pirates plated three runs in the top of the first. Hunter Lane singled to center with two outs and moved to second on a balk call. Trever Smith drove him home with a single to right for an early 1-0 lead. Preston Borgmeyer, courtesy running for Trever, would move to second on Colten Walter's single left, up to third on a wild pitch, and then score when Oscar Cortez's ball to second pulled the first baseman off of the bag. Walter, who had moved to second on the wild pitch and third on the error, would execute a double-steal with Cortez to score the third run of the frame. Cortez would moved to third on a passed ball and Tanner Smith would walk and steal second, but both runners would remain stranded as a strike out would end the threat.
Wheatland plated their first run in the bottom of the inning. Trystin Newbold reached on an error by the short stop, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and eventually came in to score on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 3-1. Jacob Paul walked, moved to second on a balk, and to third on a ground out to second off the bat of James Burnett. Back-to-back strikeouts by Macks Creek starter Cole Register would end the threat.
Another run would cross for the Pirates in the second when Cole Register doubled down the right field line, moved to third on a ground out to the pitcher by Grant English, and eventually scored on Hunter Lane's RBI-double to left. Lane would steal second before a strike out ended the inning. The third saw the Pirates plate two more runs. Oscar Cortez walked with one out and stole second. Tanner Smith walked before a strike out was made for out number two. Zane Whitworth would also walk to load the bases. Both Cortez and Tanner would score on wild pitches with Whitworth moving to third before the third out was recorded. Macks Creek now held a 6-1 lead.
Wheatland batted around in the bottom of the third and scored three runs to cut the deficit to two. Trystin Newbold doubled to the wall in left, stole second, and scored on Jacob Paul's single to left. A wild pitch would move him to second before James Burnett advanced him to third with a ground out to first. Zeke Rusk would then hit a soft liner off the end of the bat to second, where it was misplayed and allowed Paul to score and Rusk to reach base. The score was now 6-3. Rusk advanced to second on a steal, to third on a passed ball, and then cross the plate on KJ Griffin's RBI-single to right field. Austin Rife, who had reached base via a hit-by-pitch, would move to third on the play. A strike out followed by a walk to Avery Wheeler would load the bases, but the damage would be halted by a strike out. Wheatland now trailed 6-4.
Macks Creek pushed three more runs across in the fourth. Hunter Lane led off the inning with his first career Varsity home run over the wall in left. After a pop out Colten Walter singled to center, stole second and moved to third when the pick-off attempt sailed into center field. Oscar Cortez drew his second walk of the game before he and Colten pulled off another double-steal, moving the Pirates' advantage to 8-4. Oscar would move to third on an error by the third baseman and eventually score on Tanner Smith's slow-roller in front of the plate saw him out at first. No further damage would occur in the inning.
The Pirates plated one more run in the sixth when Tanner Smith scored before batting around in the seventh to create the final margin. Hunter Lane led off with a walk and stole second and third before scoring on a strike out of Trever Smith that bounced passed the catcher for a wild pitch. Smith would reach first on the play. Colten Walter doubled down the line to put runners at second and third before Oscar Cortez doubled to left to plate both Walter and Trever. Cortez would come around to score when Tanner Smith singled into right-center field. He tried to stretch the play to a double but was thrown out. A ground out ahead of a Zane Whitworth bunt attempt that was misplayed at first brought Cole Register to the plate. Cole smacked line drive back off of the pitcher and reached first safely while Zane moved to third. A strike out ended the inning.
KJ Griffin singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh but would remain stranded.
"We made some adjustments at the plate tonight and our pitchers still were able to throw the ball around the plate as well," said Coach Jason Trusty of Macks Creek.
"We get to get back on the horse again tomorrow at Pleasant Hope and do this all over again then."
Macks Creek's Colten Walter (2-0) picked up his second win of the Spring with one-and-a-third innings of relief work for starter Cole Register. He was touched for two hits while striking out four, walking two, and hitting one batter. Register received a no-decision in the contest. He had worked the first two-and-a-third innings, allowing four runs, one earned, on two hits to go along with four strike outs and two walks. Oscar Cortez picked up the three-inning save by working the final three frames. He allowed one hit while striking out six walking one, and hitting one batter.
Justin Burnett took the loss for the Mules. He allowed six runs, four earned, on five hits while striking out six and walking five. KJ Griffin allowed eight runs, six earned, on 10 hits while striking out four and walking three.
Hunter Lane paced a 15 hit Pirate attack with a four-for-four night at the plate. He singled, doubled twice, homered, scored three runs, had two RBI's, and walked once. Cole Register singled twice, doubled, scored a run, had an RBI, and walked while Colten Walter singled twice, doubled once, and scored three runs. Both went three-for-five at the plate. Tanner Smith walked twice, singled twice, had two RBI's, and two runs scored, Trever Smith singled in a run and reached on a strike out-wild pitch, Oscar Cortez reached on an error, walked, double in two runs, and scored three times, and Zane Whitworth singled, walked, and reached on an error. Grant English reached on an error following a strike out and Preston Borgmeyer scored two runs.
Trystin Newbold and KJ Griffin each went two-for-four to pace Wheatland. Newbold doubled twice, reached on an error, and scored two runs while Griffin single twice and had an RBI. Jacob Paul singled, scored, walked, and reached on a fielder's choice. James Burnett walked and was hit-by-a-pitch, Zeke Rusk reached on an error, scored, and was beaned as well, Austin Rife was also hit-by-a-pitch, Avery Wheeler walked twice, and Josh Lewton walked.
Macks Creek improves to 4-1 and finish second in pool play. Wheatland falls to 2-6 with the loss.
Macks Creek will travel to Pleasant Hope tomorrow (Wednesday) in a game that has been moved up due to weather on Thursday. Game time is still slated for 4:00 p.m.
VARSITY BOX SCORE
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
MC | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 2 |
WHS | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 5 |