Tigers fall behind in conference race

An extra-innings loss dropped Houston out of the early-season lead in the South Central Association. But the Tigers have important games remaining to stay near the top.

State-ranked Mountain Grove scored on an error in the bottom of the ninth inning last Thursday to edge the Tigers 6-5.

It was the first conference loss of the season for Houston (6-6, 2-1 SCA), which also lost to the Panthers by two runs earlier this season. The Tigers play two conference games this week, including Tuesday at state-ranked Thayer, and Aug. 29 against undefeated Ava –– a game that was previously rained out.

Mountain Grove, which scored twice in the sixth inning to erase a 5-3 deficit, started the game-winning rally in the ninth with a walk. An intentional walk and another free pass loaded the bases with one out, and the winning run scored on an error.

HHS senior Aaron Cantrell gave up seven hits and four earned runs in 8 1/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked seven.

Tanner Cantrell had two of the Tigers’ seven hits. Devin Coulter scored twice.

After falling behind 3-0, Houston scored three times in the fourth and twice in the fifth to take a two-run lead.

Aaren Cantrell’s groundout scored Coulter with the Tigers’ first run. Quinton Alston and Trevor Merckling followed with consecutive singles as HHS pulled even at 3-all.

Coulter scored on Tanner Cantrell’s single in the fifth to give Houston the lead. Whitley Welch followed with a run-scoring single to plate Kolby Walker to make it 5-3.

The Panthers, who are ranked fourth in Class 3, had a double and RBI groundout in the sixth to tie it.

Blaine Halford struck out two batters in the ninth for the win. Garrett Newberry gave up seven hits and five earned runs in the previous eight innings. He struck out seven and walked five.

BOX SCORE

MTN. GROVE 6, HOUSTON 5

HOUSTON (ab-r-h-bi) – Devin Coulter ss 4-2-0-0. Kolby Walker 1b 5-1-1-0. Tanner Cantrell 3b 3-1-2-1. Whitley Welch c 3-0-1-1. Aaron Cantrell p 3-1-0-1. Quinton Alston lf 3-0-1-1. Trevor Merckling 2b 4-0-1-1. Nathan Poynter rf 2-0-0-0. Stetson Welch rf 2-0-0-0. Ethan Kelley cf 3-0-1-0. Totals 32-5-7-5.

MTN. GROVE (ab-r-h-bi) – Halford lf 4-0-0-1. McNew ss 4-1-0-0. Otwell c 4-0-1-0. Mitchell 1b 3-1-1-0. ECollins 3b 4-1-1-1. Newberry p 5-2-2-0. Allen cf 3-0-0-0. Coffman 2b 3-1-0-0. TCollins dh 3-0-2-1. Totals 33-6-7-3.

2B: Newberry, TCollins. SAC: Alston, Halford. SB: Mitchell 4, McNew 2, Allen 2, TCollins. CS: Kelley.