Buffalo cages Centerville Tigers

ABOVE: BHS Senior Dylan Ansley (#12) tests the “tie goes to the runner” rule with a close play at first base, with Cort Harris covering the bag. Van’Go’photo The BHS baseball team posted two wins last week, starting with cross-county rivals, the Centerville Tigers on Wednesday in a district game that had it all: lead changes, big plays, lots of action and a come-from-behind victory for the home team.

Freshman Ty Tollett was on the mound for Buffalo and the Bison retired the side in three in the first inning. The Bison offense then went to work, facing pitcher Jeremy Hammock. BHS put two runs on the board in the bottom of the inning, scoring Harley Eakins and A.B. Bell before the Tiger defense got Out #3, leaving three runners stranded.

In the top of the second, Hammock got a base on balls but was stranded as Tollett struck out the next two batters. The Tigers set the Bison down in three, as well.

RIGHT: Bison’ AB Bell dives back to first after taking a bold lead off, as Coltin Harris (#7) covers the bag for the Tigers. Van’Go’photo Tollett struck out the next two batters in the order, then walked Seth Mahaffey. He scored when Michael Gwosdz connected with a stand-up double to put the Tigers on the scoreboard. The Bison got their third out with a heads-up play from Tate Hartley to first baseman Logan Beard.

In the bottom of the third, Bell was left stranded at 2nd.

The Tigers bats were connecting in the top of the fourth, but but Hammock and Josh Wright both flew out to Eakins. Tollett threw a strikeout to end CHS’ at-bat.

Beard stepped up in the bottom of the fourth and planted one over the right-field fence for the Bison’s first homerun of the season. Travis King reached on an error, stole second, advanced on a base hit by Dylan Ansley and scored on a bunt by Eakins. Ansley scored on a walk to put the BIson up 5-1. Three runners were left on base.

Logan Beard was all smiles after knocking one over the fence. Van’Go’photo The fifth inning belong to the Tigers. Garrett Chase started things off with a single through the infield. #1 walked and Gwosdz doubled to right center, scoring Chase and #1. Clay- Hardee was intentionally walked, loading the bases. Coltin Harris singled and Hammock walked to score Gwodsz. Hardee scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 5-5 before the Bison got out of the inning with a strikeout and a bouncer to the pitcher.

In the bottom of the inning Hammock struck out two and two Bison were left stranded.

King took over the pitching duties for BHS in the sixth and Jimbo Spence got a base on balls and would score before the Bison could retire the side, giving the Tigers a one-run lead. Two Bison struck out in the bottom of the inning and Ryan Read was robbed of a base hit by a fine snag by Gwosdz for the third out.

BELOW: Ansley slides (rolls?) safely into second as Jim Spence leaps for a high throw. In the top of the seventh CHS’s #25 hit a stand-up double and scored on another by Garrett Chase. Tate Hartley caught two fly balls to end the inning, but the Tigers were up by two as the Bison came up for their last at-bat, with the sun already dropping behind the left-field fence.

Tollett starting things off right with a stand-up double to deep center. Beard popped out for Out #1. King was hit by a pitch and took his base. Ansley reached on a blooper but Tollett was picked off at third for Out #2. Hartley walked to load the bases, bringing up Eakins. The freshman watched two balls go by, then connected with a solid hit up the middle that scored two then it stretched into a triple when the Tigers overthrew the ball into the Bison dugout. The automatic extra base scored a third -- the winning -- run. BHS got the win 8-7.

STATISTICS: Buffalo had 8 runs on 12 hits with 9 strikeouts and 4 walks. Centerville had 7 runs on 4 hits, with 7 strikeouts and 9 walks. Tollett pitched 5 innings with 6 walks, 6 K’s, 5 runs, 1 earned run and 1 . King pitched two innings with 3 walks, 1 K, 3 hits and two earned runs.

NAVASOTA

Buffalo hosted Navasota on Saturday and dominated that game 21-2 in five innings. Read was the winning pitcher, throwing 6 strikeouts in four innings, with no walks and 2 unearned runs and 2 hits. Bell pitched the 5th inning and three 3 strikeouts, with no runs, no hits and no walks.

Offensively, everything was working for the Bison. Bell was 4 for 4 with a triple and 2 RBIs. Eakin had another big game going 2-4 with 3 RBIs. Read was 2 for 4 with a double and 2 RBIs. Beard was 1/3 with a double and 2 RBIs, Tollett was 1/2 with an RBI and Jake Rodell was 1/2.

COMING UP....

The Bison are 4-4 on the season and 1-1 in district play. This week they host Trinity on Tuesday and travel to Corrigan on the Friday.