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Eathan Reece (8) delivers a pitch during the Lions' game against Detroit Thursday. Rees pitched a no-hitter in the Lions' 17-1 victory. Photo by DJ Spencer
Saltillo beats Detroit, falls to Bland
SALTILLO — The Saltillo Lions began their season this past week with two games, starting their first season under new head coach Parker McCrary. The Lions would win their first game, then narrowly lose their second.
For their first game, March 7, the Lions welcomed the Detroit Eagles to Saltillo High School. The Lions began their season with a 17-1 victory.
The Eagles would step up to the plate first, where they faced Eathan Rees on the mound. The game started with a ground out. After a walk, the Eagles scored soon after, taking a 1-0 lead.
Following a strikeout, the Eagles gained two more runners on a pair of walks. After that, a ground out ended their turn.
The bottom of the first inning began with Rees being walked. This was followed by Tobin Potter hitting an RBI double, bringing Rees home and tying the score at 1-1.
After Lucas Womack walked, Dylan Teel hit an RBI single, driving Potter home and giving the Lions a 2-1 lead. Womack scored next on a balk, raising the score to 3-1.
Kolbe Cooke and Draden Boyd walked on the next two at-bats, loading the bases. On the next atbat, Jordan Metcalf walked, bringing Teel home and making the score 4-1.
After Grayson Gurley struck out, Heston Peeples reached base on a dropped third strike, and both Cooke and Boyd scored, making the score 6-1. In the same sequence, Metcalf was tagged out advancing to third base.
Following Rees being walked, Potter would swat a 2-RBI single, driving Peeples and Reece home to make the score 8-1. This was followed by Womack being walked, and Potter scoring, bringing the score to 9-1 On the next at-bat, Teel hit an RBI double, bringing David Whitworth, who was pinch running for Womack, home to raise the score to 10-1. Teel would score later on to raise the score to 11-1.
The Lions’ turn finally ended when Cooke grounded out.
The second inning began with Rees recording consecutive strikeouts. After a walk, he struck out the next batter, ending the Eagles’ turn.
The bottom of the second inning began with Boyd hitting a single. Soon after, Metcalf brought Boyd home with an RBI single, increasing the score to 121.
This was followed by Gurley hitting an RBI single, bringing Metcalf home and extending the lead to 13-1. After this, Peeples was tagged out on a dropped third strike.
Rees then hit a double, and Gurley scored a run, bringing the score to 14-1. On the next at-bat, Potter hit a two-run inside-thepark home run, where Rees also scored, to extend the lead to 16-1.
After Kayden Van Rijn walked and Teel was hit by a pitch, Cooke blasted an RBI double, bringing Van Rijn home and extending the lead to 17-1.
After Boyd walked, the game was called off due to the sun setting, giving the Lions a 17-1 victory.
As a team, the Lions batted 11 for 13 (.846) from the plate. Potter led the way with three hits. Teel added two hits, while Boyd, Cooke, Gurley, Metcalf, Rees, and Van Rijn all recorded one hit each.
Potter and Rees were the leading scorers with three runs each. Boyd and Teel scored two runs each, while Cooke, Gurley, Metcalf, Peeples, Van Rijn, Whitworth, and Womack all scored one run each.
Rees pitched a no-hitter on the mound, notching five strikeouts and allowing just four walks.
Two days later, March 9, the Lions traveled to Bonham for a neutral game against the Bland Tigers. Unfortunately, the Lions would suffer a 10-9 loss in that game, losing on a walkoff run.
As a team, the Lions batted 4 for 28 (.143) from the plate. Boyd, Cooke, Rees, and Teel all recorded one hit each.
Teel finished as the leading scorer with two runs. Boyd, Cooke, Gurley, Metcalf, Peeples, Rees, and Mason Stillwagoner all scored one run each.
Rees started at pitcher. Across five innings, he struck out nine batters, allowing only three runs, one hit, and one walk.
Potter suffered the loss in his appearance, allowing four runs (one earned), two walks, and one hit, failing to record an out. Feel pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, surrendering four walks, three runs (one earned), and one hit.
With these results, the Lions are 1-1 to begin the season. They will be back in action March 19, when they travel to Fruitvale to face off against the Fruitvale Bobcats.