In the season’s first game involving aluminum bats, the Houston High School baseball team walloped St. James 12-0 Saturday at Hammons Field in Springfield.
Earlier last week, the Tigers were held scoreless in two games while hosting the annual Houston Wood Bat Tournament at Tiger Field, falling 7-0 to county rival Licking on Tuesday and 1-0 to Mountain Grove on Thursday.
The contest against St. James was a special fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting the HHS baseball program.
Houston scored in every inning of the run-rule shorted game, racking up 7 runs in the top of the fifth and final frame. The Tigers had 8 hits in the contest, but also took advantage of 8 walks and 2 hit batters.
A trio of seniors led Houston’s offense, as Aiden Kelly went 2-for-2 at the plate, with 2 walks, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored, while Stone Jackson went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run and Sheldon Starr went 1-for-1 with a walk, 2 RBIs and 2 runs.
Junior Shaun Buck tossed a complete-game 1-hitter for the Tigers, striking out 8 and walking 3.
WOODEN SHUTOUTS
Houston had trouble generating offense in the contest against Licking. Wildcats senior Kellar Davis was in control on the mound, pitching a complete game 2-hitter while striking out 14 and allowing only 1 walk.
Kelly started on the mound for the Tigers and worked 5 innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 earned runs while fanning 7 and walking 4. Buck pitched the last 2 innings.
Licking senior Keyton Cook went 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in 3 runs. The Wildcats left 8 runners on base, while Houston stranded 4.
The Tigers’ hits were singles by seniors Jake Allen and Gage Yardley.
In the matchup with Mountain Grove, the visiting Panthers got the only run of the contest in the top of the first inning on a bloop single to shallow right field by senior catcher Kaden Richardson that drove in senior shortstop Gatlin Keeling, who led the game off with a single, stole second and reached third base on an error.
Houston had 8 hits in the game, including 2 in the first inning and 2 in the second. The Tigers had a golden opportunity to score when senior Wyatt Hughes led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a triple to deep center field. But after a pop up for the first out in the frame, the Panthers turned a double play with an out at first on a soft grounder and Hughes being thrown out at home trying to score on the play.
Hughes went 2-for-3 at the plate and had a masterful complete-game outing on the mound, allowing only 4 hits while striking out 12 and walking only 1.
Senior Hoyt Matthews pitched a complete game for Mountain Grove, scattering 8 hits while fanning 5 and not issuing a walk.
The Tigers committed 3 errors in the contest, while the Panthers had none.
In the other game in the 3-team round-robin event, Licking downed Mountain Grove 4-0 on Monday, March 18.
Houston finished last week with a record of 3-3.
“We have played well at times and could have played better at times,” said head coach Brent Hall. “We’re putting the ball in play more, which gives ourselves a chance, and our pitching has been great. Our defense is a work in progress.”
The Tigers were set to play a game Monday at Seymour, but it was rained out.
Houston’s schedule this week also includes a South Central Association conference home game against Liberty on Thursday. The Tigers will host an SCA matchup with Salem on Monday (April 1).
