Sunday, April 28, 2024
After winning a tight 7-6 game on Friday, Tolar rumbled to a bi-district championship with a 9-0 win over Moody behind a complete-game shutout by junior right-hander Jackson LeCluyse on Saturday.
LeCluyse scattered five hits, sat down eight batters, and didn’t issue any free passes to first base. Tolar’s hitters gave him all the run support he needed as the Rattlers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Tolar put up runs over four straight innings to take an 8-0 lead as the Rattlers tried to make sure all their ten hits counted.
As he went 3-3 at the plate, Keaton Morrison led the hitting charge and had two RBIs. Brock Owens was 2-4 with two RBIs.
Tolar also got hits from LeCluyse, Reis Brown, Joseph Arce and Matt Moore.
TOLAR 7, MOODY 6
While game two may have been a blowout, there was plenty of playoff drama in the Rattler’s game one 7-6 victory on Friday that was highlighted by Brock Owens’ game-winning single in the top of the seventh inning.
Owens might have had the day’s highlight, but lots of teamwork went into Tolar’s win.
Tolar starter Reis Brown gave up a two-run home run in the bottom of the frame but remained steady over the next four innings. Brown allowed five hits, and only three of five runs scored while he was on the mound were earned. Tolar’s problems on the day included three errors.
LeCluyse got things back on track for Tolar with a fly-ball to center field to score Cade Moody. Talon Culberson scored on a wild pitch, and Jesse Owen’s sacrifice fly put LeCluyse across the plate for his second run.
Moore made it a 5-3 game with a fourth-inning solo shot over the fence, but Moody would force a pitching change when the Bearcats tied it up at 5-5.
Tolar coach Lance Alford pulled Luke Willmon from his stable to finish it.
Willmon trusted in his defense and attacked the plate throwing 74 percent of his pitches for strikes. He allowed just one hit and one run while striking out two and giving up five hits.
Owen’s game-winning single drove in Arce and LeCluyse, but the Bearcats would edge within a run with two outs remaining. Willmon ended the drama when he forced the hitter into a weak grounder that he flipped to Brown, who ripped the ball to LeCluyse for the double play to end it.
Russell@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066 ext. 231
