THRALL — The Thrall Tigers varsity baseball team hosted the Thrall Tournament over the weekend, finishing with a 4-0-1 record.
Sophomore catcher Weston Smiley went 7-of-14 with 8 RBIs.
vs. Flatonia
Thrall opened the tournament with a 0-0 tie against the Bulldogs as sophomores Gus Navejas and Jack Gustafson combined for a no-hitter.
However, the Tigers’ bats struggled, managing just three hits. Junior Bryce Brinkmeyer, senior Maverick McAllister and senior Hayden Heselmeyer each recorded a hit. Thrall had a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the sixth when McAllister doubled with one out, but a strikeout and flyout ended the threat.
vs. Luling
The Tigers responded with a dominant 10-0 run-rule victory over the Eagles. Brinkmeyer pitched four innings, allowing one hit and striking out 10. Thrall scored its first run in the bottom of the first when McAllister crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
The Tigers added two more in the second on a groundout and another wild pitch. A six-run third inning, highlighted by senior Ethan Boecker’s three-RBI single, extended the lead. McAllister sealed the run rule with an RBI triple.
vs. Silsbee
Thrall earned a 6-2 win over Silsbee as McAllister pitched five innings, allowing two runs on four hits.
Sophomore Weston Smiley led the offense with two RBIs. Silsbee took an early lead with a sacrifice fly in the first, but Smiley’s two-RBI single in the bottom half put Thrall ahead 2-1. The Tigers added three runs in the second on two RBI singles and a sacrifice fly before tacking on an insurance run in the fourth. Thrall secured the win with a double play and a flyout.
vs. Holland
Smiley powered the Tigers to a 12-0 victory over Holland, going 2-for-2 with five RBIs. Thrall took an early lead with two first-inning runs on an RBI double and a sacrifice fly. The Tigers then erupted for 10 runs over the next two innings, with Smiley delivering a two-RBI double and a two-RBI single in the third. Gustafson earned the win, striking out six over three innings.
vs. Jarrell
Thrall closed out the tournament with a 1-0 win against Jarrell, with Smiley’s RBI single in the sixth proving to be the difference. Ty Matthews and Gustafson combined for the shutout, with Gustafson earning the win.
The Tigers improved to 6-0-1 and faced Luling on Tuesday, March 4, before hosting the Thrall Invitational from March 6-8.
