The HoCo Bears traveled to play county rival Veterans earlier tonight in the opening game in the Battle for Highway 96 and the result was a Black, Silver, and White victory 5-2. The visitors got the scoring started in the top of the first when Isaiah Galason hit a sac-fly to drive in Kendall Jackson to make the score 1-0 HoCo. Veterans tied the game at one when Brandon Mercer hit an rbi double to drive in Ethan Scott in the last of the third.
The Bears retook the lead in the top half of inning four when Logan Elble hit a solo jack to left and Kendall Jackson hit an rbi single to drive in Noah Odom to make the score 3-1 in favor of the visitors going into the last of the fourth. The Warhawks loaded the bases with no outs in the last of the fourth but would only plate one run when Ethan Scott grounded into fielder’s choice and drove in Tylan Glover to cut the gap to 3-2 Bears.
The Black, Silver, and White got the insurance run back when Isaiah Galason scored on a passed ball in the top of the fifth and Galason would later hit an rbi single to drive in Vick Gann to push the score to 5-2 HoCo in the top half of the sixth. The Bears were able to shut Veterans down to get the 5-2 victory.
Isaiah Galason led the Bears in rbis with two followed by Kendall Jackson and Logan Elble with one a piece. Brandon Mercer and Ethan Scott were both responsible for Veterans’ two rbis. HoCo SP Will Allen pitched for four innings surrendering two runs (one earned) on four hits, walking two, and striking out four in the process.
Reliever Tyson Ganas relief pitched the remaining three innings and shut the host down by allowing no runs on no hits, walking one, and striking out three in the process. Veterans’ three pitchers.. Brooks Masters, Tyler Knight, and Brandon Fuller combined to allow five runs (four earned) on six hits, walking four, and striking out eight in the process.
HoCo improves to 11-3 overall; 4-0 in region play while the Warhawks fell to 6-6 overall; 2-2 in region play and these two will meet at The Garden on Friday for a doubleheader.
