With a 9-run rally in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Houston High School baseball team turned a close game into a run-rule shortened rout and defeated Thayer 10-0 in a Class 3 District 9 Tournament semifinals matchup Monday at Tiger Field.

The Tigers batted around and collected 9 hits during the decisive frame. The outburst was capped off by a walk-off, 2-run double by junior Ethan Carter.

“This was our best all-around game,” said head coach Brent Hall. “We have been trending toward that the last part of the season. We executed very well playing small ball and running the bases.”

Second-seeded Houston will face top-seeded Licking in the district championship game.

HHS freshman Blake Sanders delivers a pitch during the first inning. In 4 1/3 innings of work on the mound, Sanders gave up only 2 hits and struck out 7.
“Blake pitched very well,” Hall said.
Houston senior Aaden Scantlin delivers a pitch in the top of the fourth inning. Scantlin came on in relief with the bases loaded and one out and got out of the jam with a ground ball to third baseman Tucker Venn (resulting in a force out at the plate) and a comebacker resulting in the third out at first base.
Houston outfielders, from left, Jackson “Chucky” Morgan, Stryker Sloan and Griffin Aaron wait for an inning to begin. All three scored at least 1 run in the game. Sloan went 2-for-3 at the plate, with a double, 2 RBIs and a run. Aaron went 1-for-1 with a walk and 3 runs. He scored the first run of the contest by stealing home in the second inning.
Morgan dives safely into home plate, scoring the Tigers’ fifth run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Scantlin.
Houston junior Jasper McCloy connects for an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth inning.
“This team can get the bats going whenever we get some momentum,” Hall said.
HHS junior Aaron “Tank” McCarthy scores a run during the big fifth inning rally. McCarthy came in as a courtesy runner after Jasper McCloy’s double and came home on a single by Sanders.

TO VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME (WITH THE OPTION TO PURCHASE PHOTOS), CLICK HERE.

Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald. Contact him by phone at 417-967-2000 or by email at ddavison@houstonherald.com.

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply