PLEASANT HOPE - Macks Creek continued action in the Wheatland Tournament on Tuesday, this time taking on the Walnut Grove Tigers. At the end of the night the Pirates fell by the score of 6-5.
Macks Creek took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Grant English singled but was erased at second on a fielder's choice by Ethan English. Trever Smith walked to move runners to first and second. He was replaced by Keith Edelman as a courtesy runner. Following a strikeout, Austin Brown walked to load the bases before Preston Borgmeyer drew another walk to bring in Ethan for the first run of the game.
Walnut Grove responded with a single run in the bottom of the first to knot up the score. Both sides would slow offensively until the bottom of the fourth. The Tigers were able to utilize two Pirate errors and two hits to plate two more runs for a 3-1 lead.
The Pirates plated two more runs in their half of the fifth. With two outs Tanner Smith reached on an error and was replaced with courtesy runner Connor Welsh. Welsh would move to second ahead of an Austin Brown walk. Both runners would advance and Preston Borgmeyer would reach on a dropped third strike to load the bases. Dakota Willis then hit a chopper to second that was misplayed and went into right field. Both Welsh and Brown would score and Borgmeyer would advance to third. A strikeout would end the threat.
The Tigers again plated three more runs in their half of the fifth. This time they utilized three doubles to score their runs and two passed balls. They now led 6-3.
Macks Creek continued to chip away in the top of the sixth. Grant English singled to left with two outs and advanced to second when the ball scooted away from the fielder. Following a pop out to second, Trever Smith singled to left, pushing Grant to third. Keith Edelman, courtesy running again for Trever, advanced to second on a wild pitch. English scored on the play. Edelman would then come around to score when Tanner Smith doubled to the wall in right-center, cutting the deficit to 6-5. The Pirates would hold Walnut Grove scoreless in their half of the sixth before going 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh to end the game.
"Offensively we were stagnant and we still kicked it a bit too much tonight," said Macks Creek's Jason Trusty, "our pitching did well tonight and really allowed us a chance to potentially come out on top."
Tanner Smith (0-2) took the loss. He worked the first four-and-a-third innings and allowed six runs, two earned, on eight hits while striking out seven and hitting one batter. Grant English relieved and worked the final one-and-two-thirds innings, striking out six, with one reaching on a dropped third strike.
On the offensive side Grant English led all Macks Creek hitters with two hits and one run scored. He also reached on an error. Trever Smith walked, singled, and reached on an error, and Tanner Smith doubled in a run and reached on an error. Ethan English reached on a fielder's choice and scored a run, Austin Brown walked twice and scored once, and Preston Borgmeyer walked, had an RBI, and reached on a dropped third strike. Dakota Willis reached on an error and Kyler Gabriel was hit-by-a-pitch. Keith Edelman and Connor Welsh each scored runs as courtesy runners.
Macks Creek falls to 2-3 with the loss. They complete pool play on Thursday night when they will play the Lakeland Vikings. Game time is slated for 6:30.
VARSITY BOX SCORE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
MC 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 6 4 3
WG 1 0 0 2 3 0 X 7 8 5