CLIMAX SPRINGS - Macks Creek made the short drive to Climax Springs on Thursday night and came away with a 22-2 win in three innings over the host Cougars.
The Pirates started the scoring in the first. Cole Register reached on an error and then moved to second on a Colten Walter sacrifice bunt. The throw to first sailed over the head of the first baseman and Register scored on the play. Walter would move to second on the error. A wild pitch would move him to third before Hunter Lane's double to left scored him. Lane would move to second on Trever Smith's single to center. Smith would steal second and Oscar Cortez would walk before all three would move up a base, with Hunter scoring, on a balk. A strike out and pop out to the pitcher brought Grant English to the plate, where he delivered a two-RBI-double to push in Trever and Oscar. A strike out would end the frame with Macks Creek ahead 5-0.
Climax plated their first run in the bottom of the inning. Jacob Bryant walked and came around to score on Blake Baum's double to the wall in left. He would move to third and Elias Duncan would be hit-by-a-pitch with two outs but both runners would remain stranded.
Macks Creek plated six more runs in the top of the second. Cole Register led off with a ground ball to third that was thrown by the first baseman, allowing him to reach second. He stole third before Colten Walter reached on a fielder's choice in front of the plate, putting runners at first and second. Walter would steal second and Register would steal home when the throw went to second base. Walter would move to third when the throw from second went back home and by the catcher. He would score when Hunter Lane's ball to right was off the glove of the fielder and rolled by. Lane would reach third on the play. Trever Smith then collected an RBI-single to center. After back-to-back strike outs, Carsen Strutz reached on an infield single. He moved to second on a wild pitch and came around to score when Grant English tripled to right-center field. He would score when Tyrone Rios's ground ball to third had the throw to first go over the head of the first baseman. A ground out to the pitcher ended the frame.
After the Cougars went quietly in the bottom of the second Macks Creek erupted for 11 runs in the top of the third when they sent 17 hitters to the plate. Each spot in the Pirate lineup reached or scored a run in the inning. Climax plated their final tally in the bottom of the third, Jake Reed reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and third, then came around to score on an error.
Offensively for the Pirates Trever Smith, Carsen Strutz, and Grant English each had three hits. Trever singled three times, scored four runs, had three RBI's, and walked once. Carsen had three singles, scored twice, and an RBI. Grant fell a home run short of the cycle with single, double, and triple to go along with three RBI's and a run scored. Hunter Lane doubled, reached on an error, walked twice, had an RBI, and scored four runs, and Tyrone Rios collected his first Varsity hit, a two-RBI-single to go along with a run scored. Cole Register reached on errors twice, singled in a run, and scored three times while Colten Walter reached on a sacrifice bunt, a fielder's choice, and a hit-by-pitch, as well as scored three runs. Oscar Cortez reached on errors twice, walked once, and had three runs scored, and Tanner Smith walked, reached on an error, and scored a run.
Blake Baum collected the only hit for the Cougars, an RBI-double. Jacob Bryant walked and scored a run, Jake Reed reached on a fielder's choice and scored, Justus Duncan reached on an error, and Elias Duncan was beaned twice.
On the hill Senior southpaw Oscar Cortez (1-0) picked up his first win of the Spring. He threw all three innings and allowed two runs, once earned, on one hit while striking out seven, walking one, and hitting two batters.
Blake Baum took the loss for Climax. He worked the first two-and-a-third innings and was touched for 13 runs, five earned, on six hits while striking out four and walking three. Owen Plott worked one-third of an inning and allowed nine runs, three earned, on six hits while walking one. Jake Reed struck out the only batter he faced in his third of an inning pitched.
"Offensively we were sound tonight and put the ball in play," said Macks Creek Coach Jason Trusty, "we get to go right back at it again tomorrow with another game at Walnut Grove."
Macks Creek moves to 7-3 with the win while Climax Springs falls to 0-9. The Pirates are back in action tomorrow in PCL play as they travel to Walnut Grove to take on the Tigers. Game is slated to start at 5:00.
VARSITY BOX SCORE
| 1 | 2 | 3 | R | H | E |
MC | 5 | 6 | 11 | 22 | 12 | 0 |
CS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 |