A shutout from a freshman put the Houston baseball team back in the win column.
Alex Castleman struck out six batters over five innings and had a team-high three hits to lead the Tigers past Summersville 10-0 at home last Tuesday.
Castleman delivered the final blow in the bottom of the fifth inning with a RBI single to score Ty McCloud for the Tigers’ 10th run. It was Houston’s third shutout of the season.
HHS (6-14) topped last year’s win total with seven to go as well as the district tournament.
“If people watched us last year and this year, there’s a night and day difference,” Houston coach Brent Hall said. “We just aren’t finding ways to come through and win games in the end. We’ll get better at that.”
On Friday, the Tigers lost twice in one afternoon. They were beaten 8-3 by Dora and lost 5-4 to Thayer. On Monday, the Tigers lost 4-1 to Hartville.
In last week’s win, Houston batted around and scored six times in the third for a commanding lead. The Tigers added a single run in the fourth and three more in the third. They out-hit Summersville 11-5.
Hall said he thought his team played more confidently against their Texas County foes.
“We think we can perform well against this team,” Hall said. “We must have that same approach against every team we play.”
Castleman threw 52 of his 81 pitches for strikes en route to his second victory of the season. He gave up five hits and walked none.
Castleman led the HHS offense by going 3-for-4 with a double and pair of RBIs. The Tigers’ top three batters –– McCloud, Gavin Alston and Sterling Jackson –– had two hits apiece. Jackson drove home two runs.
In the Dora loss, Castleman was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Connor Wilson doubled. Against Thayer, freshman Trevor Mitchell had a team-best three hits.
On Monday, HHS out-hit Hartville 5-3. But Hartville took advantage of eight walks and four errors.