In a battle of county and conference rivals, the Houston High School baseball team fell 4-1 in a South Central Association game Monday at Cabool.
The Tigers managed only 2 hits in the contest, but had 5 other baserunners thanks to walks and were unable to capitalize.
Senior Trey Atkins started on the mound for the host Bulldogs and worked 6 full innings, allowing 2 hits while striking out 14 and walkling 5. Senior Aceton Gonzales worked the seventh frame and allowed 1 hit while striking out the side.
Senior Wyatt Hughes pitched another complete game for Houston, allowing 2 earned runs and 5 hits while fanning 15 and issuing only 1 walk.
Atkins and Gonzales provided most of Cabool’s offense as well, as Atkins went 2-for-3 at the plate with 2 RBIs and a run scored, while Gonzales went 1-for-2, smacking an RBI triple and scoring twice.
The Tigers’ run came in the top of the seventh inning when junior Shaun Buck led off with a single, took second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by senior Keaton Goetz.
SHUT OUT AT NORWOOD
On Tuesday of last week, the Tigers won a nonconference game at Norwood, 10-0 (in 7 innings).
The Tigers got the only run they would ultimately need in the top of the first inning after senior Aiden Kelly led the game off with a single and later scored on a ground ball by senior Hughes.
Houston then scored 5 runs in the second frame with a rally including a 2-run double by Hughes. The Tigers went on to add 1 more run in each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
Houston finished with 5 hits in the contest, including 2 each by Kelly and Hughes, and also took advantage of 11 walks. Seven different players scored at least 1 run for the Tigers.
Buck was the starting pitcher for Houston and went 6 innings, allowing only 2 hits while striking out 14 and walking 4. Senior Stone Jackson worked the seventh frame and fanned 2.
The host Pirates committed 3 errors in the game and the Tigers played clean in the field and didn’t have an error.
Next up for Houston (7-6, 1-3 SCA through Monday) are SCA home games Thursday against Ava and Monday (April 22) against Willow Springs.
