Lions off to reasonable start

The Teague Lions have started their 2024 campaign with a .400 winning percentage.
Teague (6-8-1, 1-2 in District 20-3A) began 0-3, but have since won six of its last 12. The Lions hosted Westwood on Tuesday, visit Franklin on Friday and host Elkhart next Tuesday.

TEAGUE 8, BUFFALO 5
Mario Cuevas went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a pair of doubles, while Barrett Maggard pitched a complete game in Teague's 8-5 victory at Buffalo last Thursday. The win was the Lions' first in league play.
Maggard struck out six batters and gave up just two hits in the outing. The Bison scored five runs, primarily off of four Teague errors.
The key to victory was staying in the lead. Cuevas hit a two-run double to put the Lions up, 2-0, in the top of the first.
Buffalo scored a run in the bottom of the first to make it 2-1, but Teague answered with four runs in the top of the third. Cam Gonzales scored on a wild pitch, Cuevas hit an RBI single, Bo Bowers hit an RBI groundout, and Cuevas scored on an error to increase the Lions' lead to 6-1.
Buffalo used a pair of singles, an error, a walk and a hit batsman to score two runs and load the bases with one out in the bottom of the third. But Maggard struck out two in a row to end the threat and leave the score at 6-3.
Teague added two more runs in the top of the fourth off of a Cuevas double and a bases-loaded walk issued to Zack Dawson. The Bison used another error to score two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to trim their deficit to 8-5, but they got no closer after that.
Buffalo used a pair of hit batsmen to put the tying run at the plate with one out in the bottom of the seventh. But Maggard managed to force a pop out and a ground out to end the threat and the game.
In addition to Cuevas, Maggard also did well at the plate (2-4). Bowers (1-4, RBI) and Dawson (1-3, BB, RBI) also contributed.

MEXIA 7, TEAGUE 1
A pitching showdown between Bowers and Mexia's Brett Swift went in Swift's favor as the Blackcats took advantage of eight Lions errors in a 7-1 victory on March 12 in Mexia. Swift struck out 11 and gave up just one run on one hit and two walks in a complete-game performance.
Bowers also went the distance. He gave up one earned run on five hits and struck out five.
Mexia used a pair of singles, a walk and an error to score four runs in the bottom of the first and take a 4-0 lead that would not be relinquished. The Blackcats added two more runs in bottom of the fourth off of a double, a walk and an error; and one more in the bottom of the fifth on an error and a single.
With two outs in the top of the sixth, Swift's bid for a no-hitter ended. Gonzales hit an RBI double to account for the only run and hit recorded on Swift.

TEAGUE 15, CAYUGA 0
Every player in the Lions lineup - Bowers, Cuevas, Dawson, Gonzales, Trip Egbert, Braden Gauntt, Kade Kormos, Barrett Maggard and Blake Maggard - recorded a hit in Teague's 15-0 rout of Cayuga on March 9, in the Leon Tournament. The game ended after four innings because of the 15-run rule.
Eight of the nine Lions also recorded an RBI with Bowers and Gauntt recording three each, and Cuevas and Egbert recording two each. Bowers and Barrett Maggard combined for a three-hit shutout.

TEAGUE 5, BVCHEA 5 (TIE)
Teague and the Brazos Valley Christian Home Educators Association (BVCHEA) battled to a 5-5 tie on March 7, in the Leon Tournament. Blake Maggard went the distance for the Lions on the mound.
After a scoreless first inning, the Mustangs used a double and a groundout to score the game's first run. Egbert hit a two-run single in the bottom of the second to give Teague a 2-1 lead.
BVCHEA used a trio of singles to tie the game in the top of the fourth before Gonzales hit a two-run double and Cuevas recorded an RBI single to give the Lions a 5-2 lead. The Mustangs used four singles, a walk and a hit batsman to score three runs and tie the game in the top of the fifth.
Teague was unable to score in the bottom of the fifth before the tournament's two-hour time limit expired. Gauntt (2-2, BB) led the Lions at the plate, while Cuevas (1-3, RBI), Egbert (1-2, BB, 2B, 2 RBI), Gonzales (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI) and Blake Maggard (1-4) also contributed.

TEAGUE 8, LEON 5
Teague used a pair of four-run at-bats to rally past tournament host Leon, 8-5, on March 7. The game was called after the fifth because the two-hour time limit expired.
The Cougars used a trio of errors to score twice in the bottom of the first before the Lions went to work in the top of the third to seize a 4-2 lead. Gauntt hit a two-run single, Cuevas scored on a double-steal and Brice Skinner drove in a run after he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Teague struck again in the top of the fourth. The Lions used two singles and a pair of errors to score four times in the frame to take an 8-2 lead.
Leon used a trio of singles, a walk and a sacrifice fly to score three runs in the bottom of the fourth, but it wasn't enough. Gauntt (2-3, 2 RBI) and Gonzales (2-2, BB) led the Lions at the plate.

GROESBECK 8, TEAGUE 3
Teague fell victim to nine errors in an 8-3 loss at Groesbeck on March 5, in the 20-3A opener for both teams. Neither Bowers, who pitched the first five innings, nor Barrett Maggard, who pitched in the bottom of the sixth, gave up an earned run in the loss.
The Lions scored three runs in the top of the first with Cuevas hitting a two-run single and Egbert following with an RBI single. The 3-0 lead was short-lived as the Goats used three errors and two singles to tie the game after one complete inning.
The two singles surrendered by Bowers in the bottom of the first were the only hits that he or Maggard gave up throughout the entire game. The score remained tied at 3 until Groesbeck used a pair of errors to take a 5-3 lead after five innings of play.
The Goats added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth off of two errors, a walk and a hit batsman. Maggard (2-4) led Teague at the plate.