After exploding for 24 runs on Wednesday, April 17 in a blowout win over Madras, Crook County hosted the White Buffalos on Thursday and came away with a hard-fought 9-5 victory.
“We hit the ball really well yesterday,” Crook County head coach Steele Bailey said. “We came out a little bit flat today, with no school, the routine was off a little bit, but we just stayed in it and kept battling and picking away. Madras is a young team and the more pressure you can put on them the better off you are.”
Crook County scored a run in the first inning when Tyis Yustat was hit by a pitch, stole second, went to third on a ground out by Clayton Dill, and scored on a wild pitch.
Crook County starting pitcher Cody Kurtz struggled with control in the second inning, walking the bases loaded before giving up a single to Jared Penaloza that scored a pair of runs. Kurtz then walked the bases loaded again, and walked in a third run before Zach Allen came in to relieve Kurtz. The first batter Allen faced hit a screaming line drive down the third base line, which was snagged by third baseman Tyson Martinez, who then stepped on his bad to double off the runner that was on third, to get the Cowboys out of the inning.
“It's a little stressful, coming in with the bases loaded and it's early in the game, so it's not looking good,” Allen said. “But you just have to lock up and do what's best for the team.”
Allen pitched the remainder of the game, giving up five hits and two runs, while striking out eight.
Crook County tied the game in the third inning on a bunt single from Yustat, a double up the middle from Hayden Forman, and a single by Austin Vaughan. Crook County could have scored a third run in the inning, but Vaughan was called out in a close play at home after a Tyson Martinez single.
The Cowboys retook the lead in the fourth inning on a single from Trenton Tucker and an infield single from Ethan Lamphere. A hustling Tucker went to third on the play and was awarded home when the umpire ruled that the Madras third baseman was guilty of obstruction.
However, the White Buffalos battled back, tying the game with a run in the fifth. Crook County regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning on a Hayden Forman triple and a single from Vaughan.
Once again, Madras tied the game up with a run in the sixth inning. However, Crook County put the game away with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Singles from Allen and Yustat followed by a double from Clayton Dill scored a pair of runs. Doubles from Forman and Vaughan scored two more runs. Following a walk by Tyson Martinez, the Cowboys executed a perfect double steal, putting runners on second and third with just one out. However, Madras starting pitcher Danny Jackson was able to pitch his way out of the jam, striking out Tucker before Lamphere popped out to the catcher.
With Allen in control on the mound, Madras was unable to score in the top of the seventh inning, ending the contest. With the victory Crook County improved to 6-0 in league and 12-3 overall, while Madras fell to 1-5 in league and 8-8 overall. The Cowboys have an important week ahead, hosting The Dalles, 6-0, 12-4, on Monday, then traveling to The Dalles Wednesday, in games that will go a long ways toward deciding the league championship.
“Monday's game is definitely going to mean a lot,” Allen said. “So, we have to be prepared and be in the right mindset.”
Bailey agreed.
“We just need to come out and play our game,” he said. “We need to be aggressive and put bats on the ball and just keep doing our thing.”
Crook County 9, Madras 5
at Crook County
Madras – 0 3 0 0 1 1 0 – 5 7 0
Crook County – 1 0 2 1 1 4 x – 9 15 0
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