Houston 6, Willow Springs 2
An early offensive outburst that helped the Houston High School baseball team score 6 runs in the first three innings was enough to beat Willow Springs on Saturday in the first round of the Class 3 District 9 tournament.
“We executed very well in our first round district game. We played a lot of small ball and ran the bases well.”
Brent Hall, HHS head coach
Houston got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning, after junior shortstop Aaden Scantlin reached base on a leadoff single, stole second and then scored on a bunt single from senior catcher Caiden Root. The Tigers scored 2 more runs in the inning on an error and a single from senior third baseman John Jordan that scored senior center fielder Kolby Sisco.
Houston added two more runs in the third inning on a 2-run double from sophomore first baseman Ethan Carter and a freshman Gage Smith sacrifice bunt that scored Carter to make the lead 6-0.
Senior Shaun Buck dominated the Bears on the mound, recording 10 strikeouts before letting up his first run of the game on an RBI single in the fifth inning.
In the top of the seventh inning, two outs away from elimination, Willow Springs managed to get baserunners on an error and a single. A bunt that scored a runner on a throwing error from Buck led to the end of his day.
Scantlin came into the game and only had to throw one pitch that was hit to Buck at shortstop and then thrown to Jordan at third base to catch the runner tagging up for a game-ending double play.
Houston (11-12; 3-4 SCA) plays Licking in the Class 3 District 9 Tournament semifinals on Monday at Tiger Field.
Pitching:
- Shaun Buck (Sr.) – 6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 11 K
- Aaden Scantlin (Jr.) – 0.2 IP
Offense:
- Ethan Carter (So.) – 2-for-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI
- John Jordan (Sr.) – 1-for-2, RBI, SB
