Mineral Wells Area News

Gordon scores nine runs in the first and cruise to key first game win

By DAVID MAY | Special to Mineral Wells Area News

STEPHENVILLE – After a devastating week of destruction and recovery from Sunday’s tornado in Gordon, the Longhorns baseball team had some pent up emotions they needed to unload.

Unload they did. 

Gordon on Thursday night exploded for nine runs in the top of the first inning en route to a 13-2 Game One win over Perrin-Whitt in the Class 1A region finals. The game was shortened to five innings.

Among the heavy tornado damage in the community, Gordon ISD essentially lost its outdoor athletic facilities and equipment. Area teams and the Texas Rangers baseball organization came to their aid with donations of gear and use of their fields so they could prepare for a series in which the winner earns a trip to the state tournament.

It was a rough start for the Pirates as the first five Gordon batters reached base. Two walks and a Stryker Reed single loaded the bases. Evan Jackson was hit by a pitch that scored Maddox Stewart for the game’s first run. Landon McDonald’s line drive resulted in an error that scored Aiden Shank and Reed for a 3-0 lead with no outs.

Jackson scored on a groundout. A walk to Noah Kostiha was followed by a Brayden Walters single that scored McDonald. A pitching change and another walk preceded a two-RBI single by Stewart to make it 7-0. With two outs, Kostiha and Stewart advanced on a passed ball with Kostiha scoring on a catcher’s error. Reed was issued the inning’s fifth walk. Jackson then stroked a run-scoring single to put Gordon on top 9-0 before the Pirates were able to get back in the dugout.

Perrin-Whitt got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second thanks to a leadoff single and a pair of Gordon errors.

The ‘Horns got the run back and more in the top of the third. Kostiha led of with a walk, stole second, and scored on a Stewart double. Stewart scored on a Reed single for an 11-1 Gordon advantage.

Campbell’s fifth inning single scored Lambert and Kaden Crowe. Perrin scored the game’s final run on a two-out single in their half of the fifth.

Shank earned the win on the hill. He surrendered three hits and one unearned run over three innings, striking out one and walking two. Gatlin Simmons worked in relief of Shank with two innings of work, racking up three strikeouts and allowing one hit and one earned run.

The ‘Horns recorded nine hits, lead by Walters, Stewart and Reed who each had two hits for the ‘Horns. Stewart collected three RBIs on his 2-for-3 day at the plate.

Four Perrin-Whitt pitchers allowed 12 walks with just one strikeout. Defensively the Pirates committed four errors.

Travis Welch went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Pirates. Noah Morris and Welch each drove in a run.

Game Two is set for 4 p.m. Saturday at Weatherford High School, with Game Three, if necessary, to follow.