The last time the Houston baseball team started its season with four straight victories? Coach Brent Hall is uncertain.
“I can’t remember the last time that’s happened to be honest,” he said. “It has before, but it has been a long time.”
The Tigers continued their strong start to the 2015 season Monday with an 8-5 home victory against Seymour.
It’s a welcome stretch of success for a program that has struggled in recent years. Houston (4-0) seems well on its way to ending the run of four straight seasons without a winning record.
Hall said the victories are just as meaningful for HHS boys’ sports as a whole.
“They’ve had a tough year,” he said. “It’s just good to see them competing and having some success.”
The Tigers have trailed in three of their four games, including 1-0 and 3-1 deficits against Seymour. But they’ve been able to erase them all.
Houston took the lead for good with a five-run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning highlighted by Tanner Cantrell’s two-run triple and Kolby Walker’s two-run double.
Cantrell was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Walker knocked in three runs.
Nathan Poynter struck out nine and gave up four earned runs in five innings for his second win. He allowed up eight hits and walked two.
“Talent wise, we’ve had better teams here,” Hall said. “But they all get along and all work for each other. They don’t mind sacrificing things whether it be moving runners over or being asked to play a different spot.”
BOX SCORE
Houston 8, Seymour 5
SHS 012 010 1 – 5 8 1
HHS 011 501 1 – 8 12 2
HHS (ab-r-h-bi) – Ethan Kelley ss 3-0-1-0. Nathan Poynter p 3-1-0-1. Tanner Cantrell 3b 4-2-2-2. Whitley Welch c 3-0-1-0. Kolby Walker 1b 4-0-2-3. Stetson Welch dp 4-1-2-0. Kyle Wilson lf 4-1-1-0. Ty Wilkins cf 3-1-2-0. Tyler Burris rf 2-1-1-2. Matt Knarr cr 0-1-0-0. Totals 30-8-12-8.
2B: Walker. 3B: Cantrell. SAC: Kelley. SB: Kelley, SWelch, Wilkins, Knarr.
Winning pitcher: Poynter (2-0)