TATUM DROPS WINNSBORO, 6-3 | Wins series; awaits West Rusk-Dekalb winner for next round
TATUM – Cayden Tatum scored a run and drove in a run, but it was his throw from left field cutting off what would have been the tying Winnsboro run at home plate that made all the difference in the Eagles 6-3 victory over the Raiders in this Class 3A, Region II Area playoff series at the Eagles Nest on Friday night.
Tatum won the first game of this best-of-three series 5-1 on Wednesday in Winnsboro.
With the win, the 16-3A champs have now won four in a row, improving to 20-9 overall and await the winner of today’s third-and-deciding game in an area series between West Rusk and DeKalb.
The Raiders won the first game 6-3 on Thursday night, and DeKalb answered with a 4-3 decision Friday to force a deciding game today at 2 p.m. at Marshall High School.
Winnsboro, the 13-3A runner-up to Harmony, ends its season with a 24-8-1 record.
“Cayden threw out the trying run at the plate. That could have changed the whole ball game,” said Tatum coach Dustin Russell. “It turned out to be quite a game. We had some timely hits and I thought Ashby (Anthony) pitched a heck of a game for us.”
Carson Gonzalez continued his hot streak (from Wednesday night) against Winnsboro, doubling in Brody Downs to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Tatum would add a crooked number, extending its lead to 4-0 in the third, making the most of Downs’ two-run single up the middle into center field to score Dustin Henigan and Tatum, who reached base on a fielder’s choice.
Cooper Whiteus then delivered the fourth single in a row, the second off reliever Daxon Worley, and the fifth hit of the inning to drive Anthony home.
Through five innings, the Eagles led 4-0 and Ashby, a right-hander on the bump, had allowed only an infield single by Mason Harrison.
That would change, though, in the sixth. The visiting Raiders put some things together and got off the snide, scoring three runs. They could have had more if not for Cayden Tatum’s alertness and throw to his catcher Grant Adcock guarding home plate to retire Mason Harrison, who was trying to score from second base on James’ hit to left field. The tag by Adcock ended the Winnsboro rally and the top of the sixth inning.
The Raiders batted around in the inning getting single RBI from Will Wilcox, Harrison and Reed James.
Leading by one (4-3), the Eagles tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, and two on, following a walk to Whiteus and a single by Gonzalez, Cayden Tatum, who had made the defensive play of the game just minutes earlier, delivered his shortstop Whiteus with a single. And, Gonzalez crossed with the final run of the game on a Winnsboro error.
Ashby allowed three runs on five hits in six innings of work. He struck out three and walked two in earning his seventh win (7-0) of the season. Tatum moved from the outfield to the mound to pitch the seventh inning. He collected the save, striking out two and walking one. He retired Chayne Tedford for the final out, making the catch of a high pop fly in front of the pitching mound.
The Eagles got nine fly ball outs and solid defensive play once again.
Downs, Henigan, Whiteus, Gonzalez and Kohen Kiefer all had two hits. Adcock, Tatum and Ashby contributed with a hit each.
Ethan Arrington (3-2) was the starting and losing pitcher. He allowed four runs on five hits, struck out four and did not allow a walk in 3-1/3 innings. Before the Raiders’ season was complete, Daxon Worley, Bradon Sacrey (1-2/3 innings) and Skeet Brumley (1) worked in relief.
Mason Harrison had two of the Raiders five hits, a single and a double. Joining the Raiders’ first baseman with hits were Wilcox, Nolee Carroll and James.
Tatum left nine baserunners and seven of those were either on second or third base. Winnsboro stranded only three baserunners and none of them were in scoring position.