Baseball
Airline scored four runs in the final two innings to record a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Cedar Creek on Monday.
Trailing 2-0 entering the top of the sixth, the Vikings plated three in the frame and then added one more in the seventh to pick up the win.
“Airline came in with playoff hopes on the line,” said head coach Chad Yates. “They played Downsville and won before coming over to us. Our guys competed their rear ends off. We hit a lot of balls hard right at them.”
The Cougars (12-13) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning when Kaleb Negrotto recorded an RBI single with the bases loaded to plate Kade Luker for an early 1-0 lead.
Creek added a run in the second inning when Ryan Coleman blasted a solo home run over the left field wall. It was one of two hits on the night for Coleman.
The score remained 2-0 through five innings as Luker held the Vikings scoreless until the sixth. That’s when Airline loaded the bases with one out on a walk, hit by pitch and single. A bases clearing double to left field emptied the bases as Airline took a 3-2 advantage.
“It’s unfortunate for Luker,” said Yates. “He’s pitched his tail off the last month for us and just doesn’t have anything to show for it. The 6th inning proved big for Airline. Luker found the barrel of Airlines 6-hole hitter who hit a bases clearing double just staying fair inside the left field line. That’s a couple of tough losses in the past couple of days for sure.”
The Vikings plated an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single.
Luker allowed four urns on eight hits and three walks while striking out six in the complete-game effort.
“I told our guys if we can compete like that heading into the playoffs then I like our chances,” said Yates. “We’ll find out tomorrow morning where we our headed for our first round game.”
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Softball
Peyton Wall and Mallory Smith each registered three hits to lead the Lady Cougars (16-9) to an 8-1 win over Evangel Christian Academy on Monday.
It’s the fifth straight win for the Lady Cougars.
Hydi Boyd and Kendall Ramsey also recorded two hits apiece as part of a 12-hit night for the Lady Cougars.
Creek scored three runs in the first and then added one in the third, and two each in the fifth and seventh to pick up the road victory.
The Lady Cougars capitalized on six walks and two errors while Wall, Smith, Boyd, Anna Claire Fitzgerald and Molly Boyd each registered RBIs.
Ava Lantrip picked up the win in the circle, allowing just one run on four hits and one walk with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings of action. Ramsey pitched a scoreless 3.0 innings in relief, allowing only one run and one walk.
Creek will travel to face Caddo Magnet today at 6 p.m.
