CAMERON — The Thrall Tigers varsity baseball team cruised to a 14-2 run-rule win over Cameron on Tuesday, April 1, behind a strong offensive showing and a solid pitching effort from junior Bryce Brinkmeyer, who pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs with four strikeouts.
Thrall went 7-for-23 at the plate and recorded 11 RBIs in the victory.
The Tigers struck early, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Sophomore Gus Navejas drove in the first run with an RBI single, and senior Maverick McAllister scored on a double play to make it 2-0. Cameron was held scoreless in the bottom half.
Thrall added three more runs in the second inning, capitalizing on a pair of Cameron errors to extend the lead to 5-0. Two more runs came across in the third on a fielder’s choice and a bases-loaded walk, making it 7-0.
Senior Hayden Heselmeyer launched a solo home run in the fourth to push the lead to 8-0. Cameron answered with two runs in the bottom half on a pair of RBI singles, cutting the deficit to 8-2.
Thrall put the game away in the fifth, scoring six runs after loading the bases with one out. The Tigers plated runs on a hit-by-pitch, a two-RBI single by junior Weston Smiley, and an RBI single from Jack Gustafson. A fielder’s choice and a steal of home by Heselmeyer capped the scoring at 14-2.
Thrall shut down Cameron in the bottom of the fifth to secure the run-rule win. Senior Ty Matthews came in for relief, throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
With the victory, the Tigers improved to 15-3-1 overall and 4-2 in district play. They were scheduled to close out the series against Cameron on Friday, April 4, face Salado on Saturday, April 5, and host Lexington on Tuesday, April 8.
