MACKS CREEK - Macks Creek stepped back into PCL Conference play while returning home on Monday night and welcomed the Humansville Tigers into town. At the end of the night it was the Pirates that came away with a 5-3 win.
After holding Humansville scoreless in the top of the first, Macks Creek went to work. Grant English tripled to the wall in left-center. After a strikeout Trever Smith singled up the middle to plate Grant. Tanner Smith then singled to push Trever Smith to third. Tanner would steal second to put runners at second and third. Following another strike out for the second out, Dakota Willis singled to center to plate courtesy runner Jose Cortez. Tanner was also able to score on the play when the ball was bobbled by the fielder. Another strike out ended the inning, with Macks Creek holding a 3-0 lead.
Humansville would put a runner at second in the top of the second when Garrett Hoelscher singled with one out and moved to second when the ball was bobbled. He would be picked off at second and then out number three was a strikeout to end the half inning.
The Tigers would go 1-2-3 in the top of the third and Macks Creek would put runners on but would score nothing. Ethan English led off with a single to left and moved to second when Tanner Smith drew a one out walk. Hunter Harris followed with a ground ball to short that erased Tanner at second. Harris beat the throw to first to avoid the double play. A ground out to short ended the inning.
After another quiet top half of the fourth the Pirates plated their final two runs in the bottom of the inning. Preston Borgmeyer walked to lead off the inning and Olivier Sanchez and Kyler Gabriel were hit-by-pitches to load the bases. Grant English then singled to short, who flipped to second to cut down Gabriel. The throw to first bounced and went by the first baseman. Borgmeyer scored on the fielder's choice and Sanchez was able to score on the throwing error. Grant reached second on the play. A ground out and a pop out ended the threat.
Humansville plated their first run in the top of the fifth. Kooper Bays singled to right, stole second, and then came around to score on Wyatt Hoss's RBI-single to right. Hoss was erased trying to steal second just ahead of a single by Waylon Proctor. They plated another run in the fifth. Wyatt Foley singled to left and moved to second on a pick off throw that was missed at first. He would move to third on a ground out by Tucker Ahlers and then scored on Dodge Hogan's RBI-single to center. Garrett Hoelscher collected the final run when he hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh.
"Tonight was one of the more complete games we have played all Spring," said Coach Trusty of Macks Creek, "we are starting to get some things figured out and I'm anxious to see how we are able to keep things going."
Grant English (3-4) went the distance in picking up the win. He allowed three runs, two earned, on seven hits while striking out 15 and walking none.
Kooper Bays also went the distance in suffering the loss. He allowed five runs, three earned, on five hits while striking out 11, walking two, and hitting two batters.
Offensively five Pirates collected hits in the contest. Grant English tripled, scored, and had an RBI on a fielder's choice, Ethan English singled, Trever Smith singled in a run, Tanner Smith singled, scored, and walked, and Dakota Willis singled in a run. Hunter Harris reached on a fielder's choice, Preston Borgmeyer walked and scored, Olivier Sanchez was hit-by-a-pitch and scored, and Kyler Gabriel was hit-by-a-pitch.
Humansville was led offensively by Garrett Hoelscher, who singled, homered, and scored in his three trips to the plate. Wyatt Foley and Kooper Bays each singled and scored, Dodge Hogan singled, Wyatt Hoss singled in a run, and Waylon Proctor singled.
The win is the second in a modest two-game streak for the Pirates. They improve to 5-8 overall and 2-3 in PCL play. The Tigers fall to 4-11 and 1-5 in conference play. Macks Creek is back in action tomorrow (Tuesday) when they welcome in the Richland Bears. They will travel to Crocker on Thursday and then play host to another PCL foe, Halfway, on Friday night.
VARSITY BOX SCORE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
HHS 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 7 2
MC 3 0 0 2 0 0 x 5 5 3