The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Sports

Discussion

May 5, 2011

Plainsmen rally past Union

Enid News and Eagle

OWASSO — — Enid’s 2011 baseball team refuses to die.

The Plainsmen came back from a 10-3 sixth-inning deficit to eliminate Union, 12-10 in eight innings from the regional baseball tournament Friday.

The Plainsmen, 14-24, will face defending state champion Owasso at 4 p.m. today in the championship round. Enid must beat the Rams twice to advance to the state tournament.

Haden Houska’s two-RBI bases-loaded single in the top of the eighth capped the comeback victory. Enid had tied the game with seven runs in the sixth, four of which came on bases-loaded walks.

“The kids showed a lot of pride,’’ said Enid coach James Peoples. “They could have folded their tents when they were down six or seven runs but they battled back. The kids have played hard all year and they deserve this.’’

Houska was 4-for-6 on the day with three RBI.

Walks proved to be Union’s demise in the eighth. Houska’s heroics were set up by walks to Colter LeGrant, Christian Rodriguez and Cedric Rose, which loaded the bases.

Redskin pitchers allowed 13 walks on the night.

“We were fortunate they couldn’t find the zone and we were able to mix in a big hit or two,’’ Peoples said.

Freshman Garrett Sunday threw four and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief to pick up the victory. He got Eric Smith to line up for the final out with runners on first and third. He allowed two hits, walked five and struck out two.

“He stepped up big,’’ Peoples said. “He didn’t look like a freshman.’’

Enid sent 13 batters to the plate in the sixth when the Plainsmen scored seven runs with two out. It took five Union pitchers to eventually retire the Plainsmen, thanks to control problems.

Haden Houska and Joe Black had back-to-back RBI doubles. Lawson King had an RBI single after Dillon Walker was hit by a pitch. Union starter Brandon Hale was removed.

Union would not get any relief. The Plainsmen drew five straight walks, including  bases-loaded passes to Jackson Walker, Colter LeGrant, Rodriguez and Rose.

The walk to Rose tied the game.

LeGrant made the defensive play of the game in the seventh when he threw out pinch-runner Jacob Ponio at plate trying to score on a single by Thomas Hatch.

“That was an unbelievable throw,’’ Peoples said. “That unified the whole team. The momentum swung our way after that.’’

Union used its power to take a 6-2 lead after three innings. Branndon Cuddy hit a two-run homer in the first while Josh Whitler slammed a two-run home run and Garrett Odom had a two-RBI triple in a four-run third.

Enid had scored twice in the third on RBI singles by Dillon Walker and Jackson Walker. The Plainsmen added another run in the fourth when Black doubled home Houska, who had doubled.

Union went up 10-3 with four runs in the fourth on the strength of two-RBI singles by Cuddy and Jacob Smith. Sunday came in and shut the Redskins down the rest of the game.

It was Enid’s first win in four tries against Union.

Enid is expected to face Owasso ace Dillon Bundy, who has been projected to be a first-round draft choice today. Trevor Miller is expected to get the start for EHS.

“We have everybody who can pitch legally available,’’ Peoples said. “We’ll see what happens.’’

Text Only
Sports
Featured Ads
AP Video
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
NDN Video
Raw Video: Man Rescued From River in China Beyonce Entertains the First Family Celtics crush Sixers in Game 7 Alleged Lego Thief Faces Felony Charges Has Snooki Named Her Baby? Heat Wave Warms Holiday Weekend Inspiration for the class of 2012 Colorado College Student Shot While Trespassing Will Smith & Josh Brolin on "Men in Black 3" 80-Year-Old Skydiver's Nightmare Jump JWoww Sizzles in a Black Bikini Sliders on the Grill Cruise ship crunch Backstage With Beyonce Ultimate Creamy Potato Salad Pope's Personal Butler Under Arrest Jenny McCarthy's New Man Tyler's Classic Coleslaw Britney Spears Under X Factor Fire Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victim Hits Milestone
Seasonal Content
House Ads