In the final regular season game of 2024, the Houston High School baseball team won Thursday at Plato, 7-3.
The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, and then added 2 more runs in the fourth, but the host Eagles hung in by tallying 2 runs in the fourth inning and another in the sixth.
But Houston rallied for 3 big runs in the seventh inning, loading the bases on a couple of walks and a hit batter and then scoring once on a sacrifice fly by senior Aiden Kelly before going ahead by 4 runs on a 2-run double by senior Wyatt Hughes.
The Tigers had 11 hits in the contest and were gifted 10 more base runners via 7 walks and 3 hit batters.
Senior Stone Jackson had another 3-hit outing for the Tigers, going 3-for-5 and driving in a run. Three other seniors had multi-hit games for Houston, as Hughes went 2-for-4 with a walk and 4 RBIs, Kelly went 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and 2 runs, and Gage Yardley had 2 singles in 4 at-bats.
Hughes started on the mound for the Tigers and worked 4 full innings, allowing 3 hits and 2 earned runs while striking out 9 and walking 2. Jackson pitched the last 3 innings, allowing 2 hits and no earned runs while fanning 5 and walking none.
Weather permitting, the Tigers (12-8) are scheduled to play a Class 3 District 10 Tournament semifinals game against on Monday at Tiger Field.
Houston comes into the 5-team tournament as the top seed and the only squad with a record over .500.
The event begins Saturday with fourth-seeded Seymour taking on No. 5 Liberty, with the winner facing Houston.
No. 2 Willow Springs and No. 3 Thayer will meet in the other semifinal.