The Houston baseball team started 2019 with a pair of victories.
The Tigers cruised past Lesterville 11-3 Saturday morning in the Van Buren Wood Bat Tournament. They then edged Naylor 3-2 a few hours later.
The wins were Nos. 297 and 298 in the career of coach Brent Hall. He’ll look to hit 300 this week with three games – Cuba on Tuesday, Mountain Grove on Thursday and Licking on Friday – in the Houston Wood Bat Tournament.
In the opener, Sterling Jackson knocked in three runs and Jacob Koch had three hits as part of Houston’s 10-hit attack. The Tigers (2-0) scored four runs in both the third and fifth innings.
Alex Castleman scored twice and stole three of the team’s 11 bases from the leadoff spot. Connor Wilson also had three steals.
Koch struck out five and allowed one unearned run in two innings for the victory. Wilson fanned six batters in three innings of relief.
In the second game, HHS scored three times in the third inning and three pitchers combined to allow just three hits to edge Naylor.
Houston’s Connor Wilson follows through after making contact Saturday against Naylor. Wilson had two of the Tigers’ six hits.
Senior Braedin Groff didn’t allow a hit over four innings in the win. He struck out four and walked two. Jackson, who fanned three in two innings, got the save.
Castleman started and allowed one run in one inning.
Castleman, Wilson and Wallander had two hits apiece to combine for the six for the Tigers.
BOX SCORES
Houston 114 14 – 11 10 1
Lesterville 102 00 – 3 5 3
HOUSTON (ab-r-h-bi) – Alex Castleman 2b 2-2-2-0. Sterling Jackson 1b 2-1-2-3. Connor Wilson ss 4-1-1-1. Cody Allen c 3-0-0-0. Devin Wallender lf 0-2-0-1. Jacob Koch p 4-1-3-0. Braedin Groff 3b 3-2-1-1. Trevor Mitchell dh 3-0-0-0. Hunter Stilley cf 2-1-1-0. Wiley Sisco pr 0-1-0-0. Totals 23-11-10-6.
2B: Jackson. SF: Wallander. SAC: Groff. SB: Castleman 3, Wilson 3, Koch 2, Stilley 2, Groff. CS: Castleman, Koch.
Win: Koch (1-0).
Houston 003 000 0 – 3 6 0
Naylor 100 001 0 – 2 3 1
HOUSTON (ab-r-h-bi) – Alex Castleman p 3-1-2-0. Sterling Jackson 1b 2-0-0-0. Connor Wilson ss 4-1-2-1. Cody Allen c 3-0-0-0. Devin Wallander lf 2-0-2-1. Jacob Koch 2b 3-0-0-0. Brecken Adey dh 3-0-0-0. Trevor Mitchell 3b 1-0-0-0. Braedin Groff 3b 2-0-0-0. Hunter Stilley cf 2-0-0-0. Wiley Sisco pr 0-1-0-0. Totals 25-3-6-2.
2B: Castleman, Wilson. SB: Castleman 2, Koch, Sisco. CS: Stilley.
Win: Groff (1-0).
Save: Jackson (1)