March 30, 2018. Center Roughriders Ballpark –
The Center Roughriders’ Varsity Baseball Team won their sixth straight game by beating the visiting Henderson Lions, by a 12-4 score, on Friday. The game was originally scheduled for Thursday but was rescheduled because of heavy rains. Center is now atop of the District 16 Class 4A leader board with a 6-0 record. Their season record stands at 12 wins and 4 losses. Carthage is currently in second position with a 4-1 conference mark.
Neither Henderson nor Center was able to reach base in the first inning. Henderson saw Dalton Modisette reach base on a walk, and Collin Everitt get on base with a single to centerfield, in the top of the second inning. The Roughriders however ended the inning before Henderson was able to score with help from ‘Riders starting pitcher Clay Snider’s two strike outs.
Center rallied in the bottom of the second inning and scored three runs on five hits and two errors. Juan Gonzalez started out the rally with a double down the leftfield line and he alertly advanced to third base on a throwing error. Teammate Alejandro Flores scored him with an RBI single to centerfield. Flores and Tyler Fountain later scored to give CHS the 3-0 lead.
Center added three more runs in another rally in the bottom of the third inning and they led 6-0 going into the fourth frame.
Henderson drew three straight walks to begin the fourth inning and rallied to cut Center’s to 6-4. The Lions set Center down on a strike out and two grounders in the bottom half of the fourth inning and the game went into the fifth inning with Center still leading by two runs.
Roughrider relief pitcher Logan Mitchell struggled early, giving up two base hits to start the fifth inning, but the team rallied to get the three outs needed to keep their 6-4 run advantage.
Center loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth frame with a base hit from Flores, an infield hit from Tyler Fountain, and a walk to Mitchell. Jayden Hicks drove two ‘Riders runs in with a single up the middle which gave CHS a 8-4 run advantage. Christian Lee drove home another Center run with a sacrifice fly. Center scored another run to lead 10-4 by the end of the fifth inning before Henderson could end the inning with a strikeout and a tag on a runner who got caught in a rundown.
Jaxon Covington and Juan Gonzalez got base hits in the bottom of the sixth inning and reached home on a sacrifice fly and a Peyton Proffitt single to score what ended up being the game’s final two scores.
Center led Henderson in hits with a 12-7 hit advantage. CHS gave up five walks while walking twice themselves. Center only struck out twice. ‘Rider pitchers teamed up for seven strike outs of Lions’ batters.
The Roughriders will travel to Carthage for their next district contest on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at 6 p.m.
