by Malcolm Butler
Blake Wade drove in three runs and Ladd Thompson pitched a complete game to lead Cedar Creek to a 5-4 road win over Winnfield Tuesday night.
The Cougars (4-2) scored two in the second, one in the fifth and two more in the sixth to pick up an impressive win over the 3A Tigers and their ace hurler.
“Our scouting report on Hemphill was that he worked quickly on the mound and that he had a good curve ball that that he would spin when ahead in the count,” said head coach Chad Yates. “Our plan at the plate was to put together tough at bats and get his pitch count up so we could get into their bullpen which we eventually would in the fifth inning.”
Creek took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning as Connor Yates reached on an HBP and two outs later Kaleb Negrotto walked to put runners on the corners. Wade then followed with a line drive single to left field that plated both runners to give the Cougars the advantage.
“Those are the tough at bats that we preach,” said Yates in reference to Negrotto’s plate appearance that saw him fall behind 1-2 before fouling off pitch after pitch to eventually draw the two-out walk.
Winnfield plated a run in the second and two more in the third to take a 3-2 lead.
In the top of the fifth freshman Kade Luker doubled down the first base line, moved to third on a ground out by Thompson and then scored on a passed ball that tied the game at 3-3.
The Cougars added two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Yates walked and Max Brister reached on an infield single that was thrown away allowing runners to move to second and third with one out. Brett Bell then laid down a squeeze bunt that plated Luker to make it 4-3. With two outs, Wade singled up the middle to score an insurance run, giving Creek a 5-3 lead.
“These are those situations late in the game where you need a big hit to grab another insurance run and that’s just what Wade did,” said Yates.
The Tigers closed the deficit too 5-4 with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, setting the stage for the seventh.
With the top of the order due up for Winnfield, Thompson returned to the mound for the Cougars and promptly retired the Tigers in order to finish the complete game performance.
“Before the inning I had sent Max over to warmup in case we needed him in relief,” said Yates. “I spoke with Ladd to see how he felt. His pitch count was up and he had done what we asked of him, but without hesitation he said he was finishing this game.”
Thompson allowed four runs (only one earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out six in 7.0 innings of action.
Wade and Luker each registered two hits for the Cougars while Brister and Bell each had one.
Creek begins the Trey Altick Classic at home today at 4:30 p.m. against Springfield (click on link below for full schedule for the TAC).
