THRALL – The Thrall Tigers (13-6 overall, 5-3 District 27-2A) held off a seventh inning rally by the Milano Eagles for a 3-2 win Tuesday night. The win keeps the Tigers in fourth place as they battle for a playoff spot.
The Tigers drew first blood with a run in the third. Maverick McAllister reached after being hit by a pitch. With two outs, Bobby Clark hit a line drive to right field. The ball was hit deep enough that McAllister was able to round third and come home for the first run of the game.
Thrall upped its lead to 2-0 in the fourth inning. Asa Gibbs reached on an Eagle error and advanced to second on Carson Ball’s single. An errant pickoff attempt on a steal by Gibbs allowed Gibbs to race home and give the Tigers a 2-0 lead after four innings of play.
A series of errors in the sixth allowed Thrall to up its lead to 3-0. Anthony Sandoval reached second on an error, and he advanced to third on a second Milano miscue. Sandoval raced home after the Milano catcher’s throw went wild.
Milano finally found some life at the plate in the top of the seventh inning. Hayden Heselmeyer had kept the Eagles’ bats quiet through six innings, but in the seventh a Taylor Wall single got the ball rolling for Milano. A double by Josh Millar scored a pair of runs for the Eagles. McAllister, who had come on in relief of Heselmeyer, was able to shut down the remainder of the line-up and secure the win for the Tigers.
Ball led the Tigers at the plate, going three for three. Heselmeyer got the win after pitching six scoreless innings and allowing just one hit.
The Tigers were scheduled to play the Thorndale Bulldogs Thursday, weather pending. They will host the Granger Lions Tuesday.
