Big Sixth Inning by Tigers Dooms Sandies

Grapeland Falls to Centerville, 11-5

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

GRAPELAND – The Grapeland Sandies were on a six game winning streak when they hosted the Centerville Tigers on Friday, March 22 and for most of the District 21-2A contest, it looked like the Sandies would push their streak to seven.

Unfortunately, the wheels fell off the wagon for Grapeland in the top of the sixth inning as Centerville plated seven runs and then held on to win by a final score of 11-5.

Austin Driskell got the start for Grapeland and held the Tigers in check for five innings. In the first, Driskell got Dillon Denman to fly out to center, struck out Mikey Rojas and after yielding a hit to Cade Beshears, he forced Colton Adams to pop-up to second to retire the side.

Rojas was on the mound for Centerville and he was just as effective as Driskell. He got Josh Ackley to fly out to lead off the bottom of the first, forced Justin Bobbitt to fly out to left and then caught Driskell watching strike three to end the inning.

Driskell had another easy inning in the second as he retired James Bodine on a lazy fly ball to left, hit Sully Hill with a pitch, struck out Tanner Smoldas and forced Skylar Avant to ground into a 4-3 force.

The Sandies didn’t fare much better in their half of the second. Gavin French struck out to lead off and Blake Howard followed with a strike out of his own for two quick outs.

Cameron Navarette walked to give the Sandies their first base runner of the game, but Navarette was stranded at first when Cooper Sheridan grounded out.

The third inning saw Driskell continue his mastery over the Tigers’ lineup. He struck out Kasen Jeitz to lead things off but followed up with a walk to Denman. Denman, however, was erased from the base paths when Rojas hit into a fielder’s choice at second.

Rojas made it to first and stole second but Beshears followed him to the plate and was called out when Ackley held on to a foul tip for strike three.

The Sandies’ batting order showed some signs of life in the bottom of the third. After Jason Bobbitt and Colten Franklin both struck out, Ackley ripped a double into left. He then stole third and Ju. Bobbitt walked. Driskell was up next but flew out to left to end the Grapeland threat.

After Driskell retired the side in order in the top of the fourth, he turned the game over to the offense and they delivered.

French led off with a strikeout for Grapeland but Howard followed with a walk. Navarette was up next and hit a shot to third which was booted for an error. With Howard now at second, Sheridan doubled to left to drive in Howard with the game’s first run.

Navarette went to third on the play and Ja. Bobbitt singled to center, both Navarette and Sheridan crossed the plate to give the Sandies a 3-0 lead.

Following Bobbitt’s single, Rojas managed to regain his composure and got the next two outs to end the fourth.

Centerville got a run back in the top of the fifth, however. Smoldas bunted out to Driskell for the first out, but Driskell then walked Avant. Jeitz sacrificed Avant to second and when Denman hit a shot that was mishandled at short, Avant came around to score.  That was all the Tigers would get, however, as Rojas flew out to end the inning.

The Sandies went quietly in the bottom of the fifth, but when the Tigers came to bat in the top of the sixth they erupted for seven runs as they held on to beat the Sandies by a final score of 11-5.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

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