Mountain Grove’s late rally spoils Cantrell’s outing

The Houston Tigers’ offense couldn’t support a strong outing from Aaron Cantrell.

One day after scoring its most runs in four seasons, HHS stranded 11 batters on base in a 3-1 loss Tuesday afternoon to Mountain Grove in the Neal’s Sporting Goods Leadoff Classic.

The Tigers (1-1) face Cuba at 4 p.m. Thursday to conclude the season-opening tournament. Mountain Grove (2-0) can clinch the tournament title with a victory against Salem at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Cantrell, who signed with Crowder College prior to the season, was strong in his 2014 debut. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out 10 batters and allowed just two hits. 

But a short stretch of wildness and an error spoiled Cantrell’s performance.

With two outs in the sixth inning, Cantrell walked Bobby Otwell and hit the next two batters to load the bases. Easton Collins then lifted a high fly ball into right field that fell in front of Stetson Welch and scored a pair of runs to break a 1-all tie. The play was originally scored a hit but later changed to an error on Welch.

Houston loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning for No. 3 hitter Tanner Cantrell. But the reigning all-starter grounded out to second to end the threat.

Senior Devin Coulter had two of the Tigers’ six hits in the loss. Ethan Kelley was 1-for-3 with a RBI.

Collins scattered five hits and struck out three batters to earn the victory for the Panthers. He allowed one earned run.

Houston took an early lead in the second when Kelley beat out an infield single with the bases loaded to score Trevor Merckling. But the Tigers failed to extend the lead and left three runners on base. 

Mountain Grove pulled even in the top of the third as Cory Allen led off with a double and scored on Blaine Halford’s RBI groundout.

HHS, which scored 16 times in Monday’s season-opening victory against Salem, stranded runners on base in the final six innings. Six were left in scoring position.

BOX SCORE

MOUNTAIN GROVE (ab-r-h-bi) – Blaine Halford lf 4-0-0-1. D.J. McNew ss 4-0-0-0. Bobby Otwell c 1-1-0-0. Jacob Mitchell 1b 1-1-0-0. Garrett Newberry 3b 2-0-0-0. Easton Collins p 3-0-0-0. Brock Coffman 2b 3-0-0-0. Cory Allen cf 2-0-0-0. Austin Creed rf 2-0-0-0. TCollins ph 1-0-1-0. Totals 24-3-2-1. 

HOUSTON (ab-r-h-bi) – Devin Coulter ss 4-0-2-0. Kolby Walker 1b 3-0-0-0. Tanner Cantrell 3b 3-0-1-0. Whitley Welch 4-0-0-0. Aaron Cantrell 4-0-1-0. Trevor Merckling 2b 3-1-0-0. Quinton Alston lf 2-0-1-0. Stetson Welch rf 2-0-0-0. Ethan Kelley cf 3-0-1-1. Totals 28-1-6-1.

2B: Allen. SB: ECollins, TCollins. CS: Coulter.

HBP: Mitchell, Newberry, Alston, SWelch.

Monday’s scores

Houston 16, Salem 4 (5 innings)

Mountain Grove 1, Cuba 0

Tuesday’s scores

Mountain Grove 3, Houston 1

Cuba 13, Salem 1 (5 innings)

Thursday’s games

Houston vs. Cuba, 4 p.m.

Mountain Grove vs. Salem, 6 p.m.