SPRING HILL ABLE TO GET BY BULLDOGS | ‘Dogs will try to halt two-game losing streak next week
LONGVIEW — Coaches like to talk about finishing strong.
Kilgore’s Diamond Dogs can take comfort in the fact that they just completed the first third of the District 17-4A baseball race, dropping a 10-0 decision to Spring Hill on Friday evening in Longview.
But, the Bulldogs still have 2/3 of the district race to make amends for back-to-back shutout losses to Carthage and Spring Hill this week.
Yes, with 10 games remaining, there’s time to get off the snide and finish strong.
But, not for the Bulldogs on this cold, wet evening at Panther Field.
Spring Hill stretched its current win streak to six games and remained unbeaten in district play with a 5-0 record, improving to 12-6-2 for the season.
They’ve run-ruled four (Gilmer, Center, Henderson and Kilgore) of their five district opponents, allowing only one run in five district ballgames.
Kilgore, meanwhile, drops to 3-2 against the district and 11-6-1 for the season.
Cayden Rhodes pitched six shutout innings, allowing only three hits, and none at-all after Todd House’s leadoff double in the top of the third inning. The Spring Hill right-hander struck out six and walked three in going the distance for his fifth (5-1) win of the season.
Mason Barnes went two-for-three and scored twice. His first-inning three-run blast over the left field fence capped the big first inning for the Panthers, who never looked back.
Spring Hill struck early and often, scoring seven in the first on four hits. The Panthers touched Kilgore sophomore right-hander Colt Bullard (0-1) for a single, two doubles and a home run, sending 10 batters to the plate.
Trent Thompson doubled to get things going. Travis Allen coaxed a walk and Carson Tidwell doubled in both runners. Wyatt McFadin reached on a one-out error, which enabled Tidwell, the Panther centerfielder, to cross with the third run.
Bullard’s opposite, Rhodes, then singled to left centerfield to score McFadin, and Cayson Wilkins reached before Barnes cleared the bases, giving Spring Hill a seven-run cushion.
Spring Hill added to its lead with two more runs in the third, with Rhodes lashing a double to left for his second hit of the contest. He would score on Wilkins’ sacrifice fly to centerfielder Cade Henry. Barnes then singled and scored on Thompson’s single to left field.
The Panthers then wrapped it up with Rhodes lashing another hit into the outfield to score Tidwell with the tenth run. The Panthers’ centerfielder reached on a single and moved to third on McFadin’s double.
Bullard pitched four innings. He allowed eight hits, struck out one and walked two. Cason Edney came on in relief for the final 1-1/3 innings. He allowed one run on three hits, striking out three and walking one.
Kilgore’s only hits were a two-out Tate Truman single to left field in the first, a one-out Joseph Hendrickson single to left centerfield in the second, and House’s one-out double in the third.
The ‘Dogs stranded six baserunners, with two of those in scoring position as they loaded the sacks in the third inning, before Rhodes completed the frame with back-to-back strikeouts to escape the jam.
Spring Hill stranded five baserunners, three in scoring position.
The second third of the season begins next week with Kilgore hosting Center on Tuesday and traveling to Center on Thursday, while Spring Hill plays Gilmer.
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