Wolves struggle in doubleheader at Sheridan
SHERIDAN — Lake Hamilton could not get things going Sunday as the Wolves dropped both games in a doubleheader in the wood bat tournament at Sheridan.
The Wolves (1-3) started off well in the first game but were unable to maintain their lead as Texarkana used a big third inning to take a lead it did not relinquish the rest of the afternoon.
After Conner Cheek hit a triple to lead off the inning for Lake Hamilton, he scored on a single by Dylan Horton for a 1-0 lead. Texarkana responded with four runs, after a pair of Lake Hamilton errors put runners in scoring position.
The Wolves turned things around in the bottom of the inning after Cade Payton and Matt Carmack were walked and Carson Harris hit by a pitch, leading to a two RBI double by Cheek. Joey Kilzer was hit by a pitch, but
Cheek was caught stealing third before Harris and Kilzer scored for a 5-4 lead after two innings.
Texarkana was off to the races in the top of the third as miscommunication and errors allowed the Razorbacks to work their way around the diamond, putting up five runs, only one earned. The Wolves were held scoreless over the bottom of the third and fourth with Texarkana adding three more runs in the fourth.
Lake Hamilton got back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth as Josh Parish was walked, moved to second on an error and was eventually sent home on an RBI single by Cheek, ending the team’s scoring.
Texarkana put up three more runs in the top of the seventh to set the final.
Christian Vicknair picked up the win for Texarkana with four hits, two walks and a hit batter against three strikeouts in three innings of work. Matthew Hall started the game, giving up five earned runs off three hits, three walks and two hit batters and one strikeout in one inning on the mound, and Caleb Lane finished out the game with one run allowed on one hit and two walks against three strikeouts.
Peyton Lewis led the Razorbacks at the plage, going 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs and Andrew Robertson was also 2 for 3 with one RBI. Vicknair was 2 for 4 with one RBI and two runs, and Daegan Covington was 2 for 5 with a pair of doubles. Tyler Less, Kade Garmany, Ethan Brooks, Roc Hawthorne and Lane also had hits.
Payton collected the loss for the Wolves with nine runs allowed, five earned, off eight hits, two walks and a hit batter while striking out one. Cheek finished out the game with six runs allowed, three earned, off five hits, three walks and two hit batters against a single strikeout in five
innings of work.
Cheek led the Wolves at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a double and a triple and three RBI, and Horton was also 3 for 4 with two RBI. Braden Qualls and Ryan
Fields were both 1 for 3.
The Wolves cleaned up many of the errors from their first game of the day, but they could not get their offense going in the second game against Russellville, falling behind 3-0 in the first inning. Russellville added another run in the bottom of the second.
The Wolves finally got on the board in the top of the third as Carson Harris hit a one-out double up the middle. An error by the third baseman allowed Cheek to reach, pushing Harris to third before Kilzer hit into a fielder’s choice that ousted Cheek and allowed Harris to score.
Russellville added another run in the bottom of the fourth to set the final.
Cole Hathcote got the win for the Pirates, giving up a single run off five hits and one walk while striking out two in six innings of work. Justus Newman finished out the game on the mound, giving up a single hit.
Blake Chambers led the Pirates at the plate, going 3 for 3 with one run scored. Kaleb Tramel went 2 for 3 with one run and one RBI, and Cole Dawson, Ty Hipps, Ty Toland and Brandon Bunton each recorded a hit. Dawson had a double, and Bunton hit a home run.
Gracie collected the loss for Lake Hamilton, giving up five runs off nine hits, while striking out five in a complete game.
Fields led the Wolves at the plate in the second game, going 2 for 3. Gracie, Carmack and Payton also got hits with Kilzer recording the team’s only RBI.
Lake Hamilton will travel to Sheridan on Friday for a doubleheader against the Yellowjackets starting at 6 p.m.
GAME 1
Texarkana 045 300 3-15 13 2
Lake Hamilton 140 010 0-6 8 8 Hall, Vicknair (2) and Lane (5). Payton and Cheek (3). W-Vicknair. L-Payton. 2B-TXK, Covington (2). LH, Cheek. 3B-LH, Cheek. SBTXK, Brooks (2), Parker, Lewis. LH, Kilzer, Horton, Parish.
GAME 2
Lake Hamilton 001 000 0-1 6 2
Russellville 310 100 x-5 9 2 Gracie. Hathcote, Newman (7). W-Hathcote. L-Gracie. 2B-LH, Harris. Russ, Dawson. HRRuss, Bunton. SB-Russ, Chambers, Hipps, Toland.