The Thrall Tigers varsity baseball team used a strong first inning to power past the Fayetteville Lions, 8-5, on Friday, March 21.
The Tigers plated six runs in the top of the first. Sophomore Gus Navejas, junior Bryce Brinkmeyer and sophomore Logan Heselmeyer each contributed an RBI single to give Thrall a 3-0 lead.
The Tigers then scored on a fielder’s choice, a sacrifice fly and an RBI single from senior Ethan Boecker, extending the lead to 6- 0.
The Lions responded with two runs in the bottom of the first after drawing two walks with the bases loaded. Thrall went down in order in the second, while Fayetteville cut into the lead once again, scoring on a groundout to make it 6-3.
Both teams were scoreless in the third before Thrall added a run in the fourth when Navejas stole home to make it 7-3. Neither team scored in the fifth or sixth innings, but Thrall added an insurance run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh, making it 8-3.
The Lions tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs to trim the lead to 8-5, but the Tigers held on for the win as senior Ty Matthews caught the final out. Brinkmeyer earned the win, pitching 4.1 innings, allowing three runs and recording seven strikeouts.
Thrall improved to 13-2-1 overall and will resume district play with a home-and-home series against Rogers. The series started Tuesday, March 25, at home, and concludes with a 7 p.m. game at Rogers on Friday, March 28.
