<body><div>CAMERON— The A&amp;M Consolidated baseball team has made a living by putting pressure on defenses through timely hitting, which makes the opposition work for every out.The Tigers did it again in the opener of their Class 5A bi-district best-of-3 series by forcing five Killeen Chaparral errors with bunts, slow ground balls, sacrifice flies and aggressive base running. Between that and a complete game on the mound the Tigers claimed a 5-1 victory on Thursday night at the Yards of Cameron in a rapid-paced 80-minute game.“We've got some guys that can handle the bat pretty well, some guys that can run and so we try to do a good job of shaping our at-bats in our offense over what our strengths are as hitters and understanding what they are attacking,” Consol coach Ryan Lennerton said.The Tigers (21-5-1) scored three of their runs through either a forced error, fielder's choice or sacrifice fly.<h2>People are also reading…</h2>“I mean, it all starts in practice," Consol's Nathan Hodge said. "We do that stuff all the time. Every time we do situational, [it's about] hitting and moving people over and that shows in the game."<img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2Q4dSO_0smazjlP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Q4dSO_0smazjlP00" width="1280" height="720" >Hodge's contribution came via the long ball in the bottom of the first, a two-run home run over the left-field fence.“I just went out there looking for a good pitch to hit," Hodge said. "[I was] trying to hit it hard somewhere and it ended up going over.”District 21-5A champ Consol controlled play for much of the game, but the fourth-place finisher in 22-5A scored first. After a pair of strikeouts by A&amp;M Consolidated pitcher Michael Pozzi in the top of the first, Chaparral struck. Geno Ybarra reached on a hard-hit ball back to Pozzi. The Bobcats' Pablo Chu then drove a ball to deep right field. It bounced out of the fielder's glove, allowing Ybarra to score.Consol responded in the bottom half of the inning. The Tigers weren't through. Kai Hood walked and Hodge homered. Trey Walker and Dalton Cordray followed with singles. They pulled off a double steal and Bradley Boedeker's fielder's choice brought in a run to make it 3-1.“The runs in the first inning helped keep the energy going for us to be able to capitalize and win the game,” Pozzi said.Killeen Chaparral (12-19) put two runners on in the second, but Pozzi came up with a strikeout and catcher Walker picked off the trail runner to end the frame.Consol added to its lead in the second. Brandon Jennings reached on a bunt and a throwing error on the play moved him to second. Jennings reached third on Will Hargett's sacrifice bunt and Joaquin Costa's sacrifice fly made it 4-1.That was more than enough for Pozzi, who retired the side in order in the third and seventh innings. He ended with a four-hitter. “I think it took him a little bit to get settled in, maybe some nerves," Lennerton said. "I think Nathan’s home run helped him settle in there a little bit after he gave up one. He located his fastball well tonight, but had a little trouble with the breaking ball. We went to the change-up the second and third time through [the lineup] and some of the hitters that were a little more on time with him.” <img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2kjLZ1_0smazjlP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2kjLZ1_0smazjlP00" width="1280" height="720" >Pozzi’s change-up ran in on the hands of many hitters. That helped him have eight strikeouts. The run he allowed was unearned.Consol made good use of its six hits. Hargett had a double in the fourth and he advanced to third on a balk. Costa walked to put runners on the corners. Costa forced a rundown, which resulted in a Chaparral throwing error that scored Hargett with the final run.“Our energy wasn't as high as it usually was," Hodge said. "I think we expected it to be easy, but we'll be ready for the next game. We'll be more prepared."Game two of the series will be at 7 p.m. Friday in Cameron. Game three, if needed, will be played at noon Saturday.“I think we're gonna get everybody's best as a district winner, we should expect that,” Lennerton said. “They [Chaparral] have nothing to lose, so they might as well come out and play their hearts out and give it to us and they did that today and they'll do it, no doubt tomorrow.”A&amp;M Consolidated 5, Killeen Chaparral 1Killeen Chaparral;100;000;0—;1;4;5A&amp;M Consolidated;310;100;x—;5;6;1W — Michael Pozzi L — Geno YbarraLeading hitters — CONSOL— Nathan Hodge: 1-2, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 1 BB CHAPARRAL— Pablo Chu: 1-3, 1 1B, 1 RBI</div></body>

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Consol baseball team’s situational offense shines in bi-district win

CAMERON— The A&M Consolidated baseball team has made a living by putting pressure on defenses through timely hitting, which makes the opposition work for every out. The Tigers did it again in the opener of their Class 5A bi-district best-of-3 series by forcing five Killeen Chaparral errors with bunts, slow ground balls, sacrifice flies and aggressive base running. Between that and a complete game on the mound the Tigers claimed a 5-1 victory on Thursday night at the Yards of Cameron in a rapid-paced 80-minute game.

Consol baseball team’s situational offense shines in bi-district win

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