The Freshmen Warhorses squandered a late 6-1 lead but bounced back to put up a six-run 7th inning to stage a comeback win over the Mavericks in Pearsall on Tuesday, March 7.
Devine led off the scoring in the top of the 3rd inning. Blaine Miller and Leonard Pompa drew back-to-back walks, and Dakota Wofford, Isaac Oropeza, and Darrin Lafferty followed with three consecutive singles for a 3-0 lead.
Pearsall scratched across a run in the bottom of the 3rd inning thanks to a walk, a single, and passed ball.
The Freshmen Warhorses tacked on two more runs in the top of the 5th inning. Pompa singled to shortstop and advanced to second, third, and scored on three passed balls. Wofford and Jesus Hernandez both walked, Clayton Brown singled to load the bases with two outs, and Kaleb Nira was hit by a pitch to force in Wofford for a 5-1 lead.
Devine scored again in the top of the 6th inning. Miller singled and scored thanks to consecutive walks by Pompa, Wofford, and Oropeza.
The Freshmen Mavericks rallied in the bottom of the 6th inning, scoring six runs to take the lead. Pearsall had two doubles and two singles, but also took advantage of two walks and two hit batters to go up 7-6.
Devine immediately staged their own rally in the top of the 7th inning to seize the advantage again. Brown was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Matthew Sumners drew a one-out walk. Miller singled to shortstop to drive in Brown, and Pompa followed with a single to centerfield to knock in Sumners. Miller and Pompa both scored on Wofford’s double, and Wofford later scored on an error. Oropeza reached base on a dropped third strike, stole both second and third base, and scored on Lafferty’s groundout to second for a 12-7 lead.
The Freshmen Warhorses held Pearsall scoreless in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.
Devine had 11 hits and played error-free ball, limiting Pearsall to six hits and inducing three errors.
Batting: Miller 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 SB; Pompa 2-3, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB; Wofford 3-3, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 4 SB; Oropeza 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 4 SB; Lafferty 1-5, 2 RBI; Hernandez 0-4, 1 BB; 2 SB; Brown 2-3, 1 BB, 1 SB; Nira 0-1; Richard Ramirez 0-1; Sumners 0-2, 2 BB, 1 SB.
Pitching: Oropeza 3.0 IP, 2 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts; Miller 2.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 hits, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts; Lafferty 1.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 hits, 1 walk; Pompa 1.0 IP, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts.
Upcoming games
The Freshmen Warhorses will be in action again Thursday, March 16 at 11:00 am against Pearsall, followed by a matchup against Bandera on Monday, March 20 at 6:00 pm. Both games are at Warhorse Field.
By Marly Davis
Staff Writer