Gossett, Tigers steal home against Warriors
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — Whoever thought a runner down between first and second base, with two outs, tied in extra innings with a runner on third base would turn out to be the right formula for the McClain Tigers in the nightcap of their twill bill against Eastern Brown.
As Trevor Gossett stood at third base and Caleb Rayburn at first, with Dylan Trefz standing at the plate, the Tigers maneuvered around and avoided a third out for a 6-5 win on Opening Day, splitting a doubleheader with the visiting Eastern Brown Warriors, in seven innings, as the second game was scheduled for five following nine innings in the season-opener, where EB won 12-9.
The game-winning run in the second game began with Rayburn being caught between first and second bases, as he did exactly enough to keep from getting tagged out to end the inning. As Rayburn was avoiding the tag, Gossett waited until the exact right moment, breaking away from third base in a sprint, beating the throw from second base to slide in for the winning run and afterwards being tackled by teammates following the win.
"Our base runner got in a pickle, but we were able to take advantage of it," McClain head coach Brandon Streitenberger said. "Caleb did a great job to keep the run down going, and Trevor read it perfectly to take off for home.
"Trevor was our offense in the second game and came up big for us when we needed him to."
After two innings (in the second game), the score was tied at 1-1, but the Warriors (1-1) took advantage of errors, sacrifices and a couple base hits to score three runs for a 4-1 lead.
It wasn't until the bottom of the fourth where the Tigers (1-1) added more runs, scoring twice in the inning with Jordan Boles scoring on a error, while Logan Rhonemus scored on a balk, for a 4-3 deficit.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers added the game-tying run to force extra innings as Gossett scored on a passed ball with two outs, as he initially reached the bases with a single to centerfield.
Eastern took a one-run lead for a 5-4 advantage following the top of the sixth, as they also scored on a passed ball. MHS answered to continue the game with Boles scoring on a passed ball with two outs for the 5-5 score.[[In-content Ad]]
In the second game, the Tigers had just two hits, both by Gossett. Gossett scored three runs in the game, with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate in the nightcap, while stealing three bases.
Zach Puckett had one RBI with two steals. He was also hit by a pitch on two occasions and walked once.
The winning pitcher was Brent Shannon. Shannon faced nine batters, allowing two hits, no runs and no walks in two innings, while striking out one.
"Though he didn't get the win, I thought Rumer pitched well for us in both games," Streitenberger said. "Our pitchers this year are going to have to throw strikes and pitch for contact, and Zach did a nice job with that."
In game one, the Tigers led 6-1 after five innings, but a five-run sixth by the Warriors made it a 6-6 score with two outs.
The seventh inning saw the Warriors take a one-run lead, but the defensive play of the day came from MHS third baseman Cameron Spangler as he ended the inning with a diving catch off a line drive.
No more runs were scored until the top of the ninth where the Warriors sent nine batters to the plate and ran away with five runs for a 12-7 advantage.
The Tigers only could gain two of those runs back in their half of the seventh with Shannon and Boles rounding the bases, scoring on an infield error with one out.
The loss went to Rayburn on the mound, as the Tigers used five pitchers in the game, with both teams totaling 225 pitches in the nine innings. MHS threw 155 of the 225 pitches in the game.
In game one, Shannon went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs.
As a team, the Tigers totaled seven hits in the game with Puckett going 2-for-5 with one double.
"Zach was big for us at the plate," Streitenberger said. "The first game was a tough loss after squandering a big lead. What I like as a coach is seeing the kids rebound and get the job done in game two."
Also gaining hits for MHS were Boles and Zach Rumer.
MHS will play again on Tuesday, April 2 as they will travel, beginning a three-game road slate, facing Logan Elm. They follow that with a game Wednesday at Madison-Plains and a game Friday at East Clinton. They return home Saturday with a doubleheader vs. Southeastern.
As Trevor Gossett stood at third base and Caleb Rayburn at first, with Dylan Trefz standing at the plate, the Tigers maneuvered around and avoided a third out for a 6-5 win on Opening Day, splitting a doubleheader with the visiting Eastern Brown Warriors, in seven innings, as the second game was scheduled for five following nine innings in the season-opener, where EB won 12-9.
The game-winning run in the second game began with Rayburn being caught between first and second bases, as he did exactly enough to keep from getting tagged out to end the inning. As Rayburn was avoiding the tag, Gossett waited until the exact right moment, breaking away from third base in a sprint, beating the throw from second base to slide in for the winning run and afterwards being tackled by teammates following the win.
"Our base runner got in a pickle, but we were able to take advantage of it," McClain head coach Brandon Streitenberger said. "Caleb did a great job to keep the run down going, and Trevor read it perfectly to take off for home.
"Trevor was our offense in the second game and came up big for us when we needed him to."
After two innings (in the second game), the score was tied at 1-1, but the Warriors (1-1) took advantage of errors, sacrifices and a couple base hits to score three runs for a 4-1 lead.
It wasn't until the bottom of the fourth where the Tigers (1-1) added more runs, scoring twice in the inning with Jordan Boles scoring on a error, while Logan Rhonemus scored on a balk, for a 4-3 deficit.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers added the game-tying run to force extra innings as Gossett scored on a passed ball with two outs, as he initially reached the bases with a single to centerfield.
Eastern took a one-run lead for a 5-4 advantage following the top of the sixth, as they also scored on a passed ball. MHS answered to continue the game with Boles scoring on a passed ball with two outs for the 5-5 score.[[In-content Ad]]
In the second game, the Tigers had just two hits, both by Gossett. Gossett scored three runs in the game, with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate in the nightcap, while stealing three bases.
Zach Puckett had one RBI with two steals. He was also hit by a pitch on two occasions and walked once.
The winning pitcher was Brent Shannon. Shannon faced nine batters, allowing two hits, no runs and no walks in two innings, while striking out one.
"Though he didn't get the win, I thought Rumer pitched well for us in both games," Streitenberger said. "Our pitchers this year are going to have to throw strikes and pitch for contact, and Zach did a nice job with that."
In game one, the Tigers led 6-1 after five innings, but a five-run sixth by the Warriors made it a 6-6 score with two outs.
The seventh inning saw the Warriors take a one-run lead, but the defensive play of the day came from MHS third baseman Cameron Spangler as he ended the inning with a diving catch off a line drive.
No more runs were scored until the top of the ninth where the Warriors sent nine batters to the plate and ran away with five runs for a 12-7 advantage.
The Tigers only could gain two of those runs back in their half of the seventh with Shannon and Boles rounding the bases, scoring on an infield error with one out.
The loss went to Rayburn on the mound, as the Tigers used five pitchers in the game, with both teams totaling 225 pitches in the nine innings. MHS threw 155 of the 225 pitches in the game.
In game one, Shannon went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs.
As a team, the Tigers totaled seven hits in the game with Puckett going 2-for-5 with one double.
"Zach was big for us at the plate," Streitenberger said. "The first game was a tough loss after squandering a big lead. What I like as a coach is seeing the kids rebound and get the job done in game two."
Also gaining hits for MHS were Boles and Zach Rumer.
MHS will play again on Tuesday, April 2 as they will travel, beginning a three-game road slate, facing Logan Elm. They follow that with a game Wednesday at Madison-Plains and a game Friday at East Clinton. They return home Saturday with a doubleheader vs. Southeastern.