Dragons rally past Lumberjacks

WARREN - Whatever rust Charles Hoof had coming out of basketball, he has quickly lost it.

A junior, Hoof ripped a two-run double to highlight a three-run seventh, as Junction City rallied to top Warren 7-5 in their Class 3A-4A District 12 opener on Tuesday.

The Dragons (6-2, 1-0) trailed 4-1 in the sixth, but fought back to tie the game on Cody Lee's RBI single.

The Lumberjacks scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to retake the lead, but the Dragons answered in their final at-bat.

Keelan Hodge and Brock McGoogan singled, setting the stage for Hoof, who gave the Dragons the lead with one swing of the bat.

Tanner McLelland then gave the Dragons some extra cushion with an RBI single.

The Lumberjacks had runners at first and second with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Bryce Ware, who had started the game and went the first five innings, returned to the mound and got a game-ending double play to seal the victory.

McGoogan had three hits in the win, tallying two singles and a double with an RBI to lead Junction City's attack.

Hoof added a single to finish with two hits.

McLelland had two singles with two RBIs, and Jack Smith was the fourth Junction City player to have a multi-hit game, finishing with two singles and an RBI.

Clay Jolley, Hodge and Lee each had one hit with Lee's single proving critical in the Dragons' rally in the sixth.

Jolley picked up the win in relief, working one scoreless inning with two hit batsmen.

Ware got the save.

As the Dragons' starter, Ware worked five innings, allowing four runs and three hits. He walked one and struck out four.

Ty Disotell started the sixth, working 1/3 of an inning. He allowed one run and walked two.

Jolley then got the final two outs of the sixth before departing with one out in the seventh.

Junction City will be idle until Friday when they host Hamburg.

STAR CITY 11, SMACKOVER 1

STAR CITY - Poor defense proved to be the Bucks' undoing in losing their fifth straight game.

The Bucks (3-6) committed nine errors with their offense being held to just four hits.

Josh Saulsbury and Cody Smith each had a

double, while Noah Wilson and Alex Burris had a single apiece.

Smackover scored their lone run in the fifth.

After Smith doubled, he stole third and scored as the result of a throwing error on the play.

Cade Schibler allowed eight runs and seven hits over 3 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out four.

Of the eight runs Schibler allowed, only four were earned.

Saulsbury worked 1 2/3 innings in relief, allowing three hits and three runs.

He walked two and struck out two.

Only one of the three runs Saulsbury allowed was earned.

Smackover will host Camden Fairview on Thursday.