The Central Tigers finished third in their own Central Tiger Shootout, which took place Thursday through Saturday, as they rallied in dramatic fashion to win the thirdplace game 9-7 over the Hulbert Riders.
The Tigers opened the tournament with a 10-2 win over Westville on Thursday, but lost 8-1 to Warner in Friday night’s championship semifinals.
The Tigers, who were sent to Warner for next week’s Class 2A District Tournament, had their home game against Howe on April 8 canceled due to the solar eclipse.
In Saturday’s thirdplace game, the Tigers (11-12) won the game in dramatic walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning as Aiden Sainer got the rally started with a lead-off solo home run over the left-field fence to tie the game at 7-all, then Connor Walters hit a game-winning, walk-off two-run homer right down the left-field line for the game-winning hit.
For the game, Walters was 3-for-4 with a double, two homers, three runs batted in and four runs scored, Bo Locust was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored and Sainer hit a solo, gametying homer for Central.
Walters (3-4) got the win in relief, going the final two innings with two strikeouts. Hardy Buzzard started and went the first five innings with two strikeouts.
In Central’s win over Westville, the Tigers, who led 1-0 after an inning, put away the game with a five-run third inning and a three-run fourth inning for a 9-0 lead. After the Yellowjackets scored twice in the top of the fifth inning, the Tigers scored once to put the game into run-rule status.
For the contest, Cade Tucker was 3-for-3 with a double and three runs scored, Walters was 2-for-4 with three runs scored, Buzzard was 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and two runs scored and Connor Green was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Tucker (3-0) got the complete-game win, throwing a one-hitter with nine strikeouts in three innings.
In Central’s loss to Warner, the Eagles scored once in the second and third innings, then added a pair of three-run innings in the fourth and fifth innings for an 8-0 lead. Central’s lone run scored on Walters’ sacrifice fly, scoring Sainer to make it 8-1 after five innings.
In defeat, Tucker doubled, Walters singled and hit a sacrifice fly, Sainer singled and scored and Ryker Miller and Waylen Campbell each singled for Central.
Locust (1-3) took the loss, going the first 3.1 innings with three strikeouts. Miller went the final 2.2 innings with a strikeout.
The Tigers were slated to entertain Colcord on Monday, then visit Panama on Tuesday before playing in this weekend’s Checotah Tournament, which will be Thursday through Saturday. Then, the Tigers will wrap up the regular-season with a 5 p.m. Monday home game against Inola.
