After being “one hit away” from a series sweep against the Chisholm Longhorns one week ago, the Hennessey Eagles baseball squad found themselves just “one pitch away” from a double-header District sweep of the Alva Goldbugs Monday night at Hatfield Park in Alva.
2nd Baseman Westyn Hopkins, the Eagles’ leading hitter with a .414 batting average, knocked in the tying run and scored the go-ahead run via a bases-loaded walk by Jarrett Smith in the top of the 6th inning, and held that 9-8 lead into the bottom of the 7th, when Alva tied the game 9-9 with a 2-out double to center field, sending the game to extra innings.
The Eagles took the lead again in the 9th when Senior Center Fielder Seth Simunek stole home with 2 outs – 1 of 4 stolen bases for Simunek in the game.
Once again with the lead, and needing 3 outs for victory, the first two Goldbug batters walked, and with one out in the bottom of the 9th, Alva’s shortstop Burgin delivered his first base hit of the game, a 2 RBI double to center, giving the home team the come from behind 11-10 walk-off win in extras.
Simunek went 1 for 2 from the plate, walking once and getting hit by pitches 3 times, scoring 3 runs. Hopkins finished the game with 2 hits, 1 sacrifice bunt, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI. Sophomore Left Fielder Kevin Trillo scored 3 runs on 2 hits, and 1 walk. Jarrett Smith (2-2) took the loss on the mound in relief. The Eagles defense committed 6 errors while the offense left 11 runners on in the loss.
Game #2 of the District 3A-1 DH saw the Eagles bats come alive, pounding out 4 runs in the 1st, 2 in the 3rd, and finishing the Goldbugs off in run-rule style with a 6-run 4th, giving the Eagles a 12-1 win and a series split in the nightcap.
Seniors Langston Smith and Sebastian Gonzalez led the way with 2 hits and 2 RBI each, with Smith scoring twice and Gonzalez scoring 3. Sophomore Catcher Hunter Weber went 2 for 3, scoring 1, and knocking in 3 RBI. The Eagles stole 4 bases, including Seth Simunek’s team-leading 14th of the season. Simunek also got on via 1 hit by pitch, his team-leading 9th HBP so far. Gonzalez (1-0) got the win on the mound, pitching all 5 innings, giving up only 1 run on 4 hits, striking out 7 ‘bugs.
The Eagles (5-5, 2-2) now turn their focus to the upcoming 39th Annual Hennessey Baseball Tournament this coming Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at Jack Funderburg Field in Hennessey.
39th Annual Hennessey Baseball Tournament
The 39th Annual Hennessey Baseball Tournament gets underway this coming Thursday, March 30th, at Jack Funderburg Field at the Hennessey Schools Athletic Complex in Hennessey.
Teams from Cashion, Oklahoma Bible Academy, Fairview, Stillwater, Alva, Chisholm, and Crescent will join the Hennessey Baseball Eagles in the 3-day double-elimination tournament beginning with the first pitch at 12:00 pm on Thursday as the Eagles host the Cashion Wildcats in Game #1.
