PALESTINE — Beginning the season with high expectations, the Thrall Tigers baseball team posted a 3-0-1 record at the Palestine tournament last weekend. Coach Justin Adams was pleased with the teams’ efforts in their first games of the season.
“First time out was officially a success,” Adams said. “We had to battle through several adversities, had multiple young guys collect some varsity firsts, and found a way to come home unbeaten.”
The Tigers suffered their only blemish of the weekend in the tournament opener. The Tigers rallied from a 4-2 deficit heading into the seventh inning, to earn the tie.
After surrendering a pair of runs to the Bulldogs in the bottom of the sixth, Thrall wasted little time putting themselves in a position to win the game. Weston Smiley walked to lead off the seventh and scored on a Jack Gustafson single and an Iola error. One out later, Gustafson scored on Maverick McAllister’s sacrifice fly to earn the tie.
In their second game, the Tigers scored 11 runs in the bottom of the fourth and routed the Leon Jewett Cougars 16-0. Smiley, Ty Matthews, Jayden Rodriguez, Ty Bradford and Hayden Heselmeyer each drove in a pair of runs for the Tigers. Anthony Sandoval pitched a no-hitter, allowing just two walks over four innings of work.
“Our core juniors, McAllister, Heselmeyer, Bradford and Rodriguez, provided steady offensive leadership all weekend,” Adams said. “And, our pitching staff and defense helped us to outscore our opponents 38-10.”
On Saturday, the Tigers got off to a 4-0 start against LaPoynor and posted a 6-2 win. McAllister went three for three at the plate, and Rodriguez added a pair of hits for Thrall. Smiley and Gustafson combined for a two-hitter.
In their tournament finale, the Tigers blew open a 5-4 game with a seven-run fifth and rolled to a 12-4 win over Elkhart. McAllister, Heselmeyer, and Sandoval each knocked out two hits to lead a 13-hit attack by the Tigers.
“Lots of positives for sure,” Adams said. “But, no doubt we have things to improve on this week. We walked and hit far too many batters to succeed long term.”
The Tigers were scheduled to host the Moody Bearcats on Tuesday, before traveling to Rogers beginning Thursday for their second tournament of the season.
