L-K comes up short in opener

Contributing Writer

WHITEHOUSE, Texas—If Linden-Kildare is to advance in the state playoffs and meet district foe James Bowie, it has to win two games here today.

Woden (21-7), ranked 10th in Class 2A, defeated LindenKildare, 7-2, Thursday evening in a Region II-2A semifinal at Wildcats Field at the Whitehouse Sports Complex.

James Bowie has already punched its ticket to the regional final, having swept Shelbyville at Marshall on Thursday evening.

The best-of-three series is at 4 p.m. back at Whitehouse High School, and a Game 3, if needed, will be played after a 30 minute intermission.

Woden righthander Reid Taylor was too much for the Tigers to handle as he struck out 15 batters and allowed just six hits in six innings of work.

It was a close game with Woden clinging to a one-run lead, 3-2, after four innings

Woden erupted for four runs on three hits against Trent Wert in the fifth inning to take a commanding 7-2 advantage.

Jaden Amidon led off the frame by drawing a walk and Taylor followed with a single. Luke Alvis drove home both runners with a triple to left-center.

Caleb Graves reached on an error, but Alvis remained at third. After an out, Gage Griffin tripled to right-center to drive in two more runs and a 7-2 lead. Caleb Cunningham then came on in relief and retired the next two batters on strikeouts.

After Woden scored in the the top of the first inning, L-K tied game in bottom half after a single by Dalton Alford, a walk to Jacob Owen, and Mason Johnson reaching on an error.

The Tigers (14-7) other run came in the third inning on two hits.

Johnson hit a two-out triple to left-center and scored on a single by Cunningham.

Alford paced the Tigers’ six-hit attack with two singles.

Winning pitcher Taylor also had a big evening at bat with three singles.