Dragons topple Bucks
JUNCTION CITY - On a day where their bats were kept in check, Junction City’s Keelan Hodge delivered another superb postseason performance, as the Dragons knocked off Smackover 4-1 to win the 8-3A District Tournament Saturday afternoon.
The Dragons (25-7) will be the No. 1 seed from the 8-3A and take on Prescott in the opening round of next week’s 4-3A Regional Tournament at Horatio.
The Bucks (14-15) are the No. 2 seed and will face Fouke in a rematch from last year’s regional tournament.
In picking up his third win over Smackover this season, Hodge went the distance with a three-hitter to outduel Noah Wilson, who tossed a seven-hitter for the Bucks.
The Dragons were methodical in pulling away from the Bucks, scoring single runs in the first and third innings before getting a little breathing room with two runs in the sixth.
In the opening inning, Hodge singled and scored on an RBI double by Brock McGoogan.
Junction City added to their lead in the third, as Bryce Ware doubled and scored on a base hit by Clay Jolley to make it 2-0.
The Dragons loaded the bases in the sixth after Hodge was hit by a pitch and McGoogan and Charles Hoof singled.
A balk forced in a run to make it 3-0, and McGoogan scored on a sacrifice fly by Jack Smith to close the scoring in the sixth.
The Bucks scored their lone run of the game in the seventh on an RBI single by Wilson.
Alex Burris and Cade Schibler also had singles for the Bucks.
In addition to his sacrifice fly, Smith added a single for the Dragons.
BUCKS WIN THRILLER
In reaching the finals of the district tournament, Smackover stunned Fordyce by rallying from a 6-1 deficit with two runs in the sixth and four in the seventh to come away with a 7-6 win.
In the seventh, Jacob Eubanks led off with a single and took second on a throwing error on the play.
An infield single by Wilson put runners at the corners, and Tucker Evans followed with an RBI double to pull the Bucks within 6-4.
Two outs later, it
appeared the Bucks’ comeback hopes were on the verge of being extinguished, but Nick Impson delivered an RBI single to pull Smackover a run closer.
With runners again the corners, Impson stole second to put the tying and winning runs in scoring position.
With a base open, Baylor Brumley was intentionally walked to load the bases.
However, the move backfired, as Burris walked to force in the tying run.
Schibler then gave the Bucks a literal walk-off win by drawing another free pass to end the game.
Before their uprising in the seventh, the Bucks
scored two runs in the sixth.
Cody Smith walked, and one out later, he scored on a base hit by Brumley that was coupled with a two-base error.
Matt Impson then came off the bench and drove in Brumley with a ground out.
Wilson was 2-for-2 with a walk, while Brumley and Eubanks were both 2-for-3 for the Bucks.
Schibler went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, and he was also the winning pitcher in relief of Evans.
Schibler went 3 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and one run. He didn’t issue any walks, hit one batter and struck out three.
Evans allowed five runs with four being earned over 3 1/3 innings. He walked three, hit one batter and struck out six.