Canyon’s Hunter Anderson hustles down the line to beat out a bunt against Borger during a District 4-4A game Monday at the Double Eagle Complex in Canyon on Monday. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
By Lee Passmore
Only one team has had the number of the Amarillo High Sandies the last two seasons in District 3-5A, and that was exposed again Wednesday afternoon.
Defending district champion Amarillo High jumped out to a big early lead at Plainview but it didn’t last. Plainview tied it with a big second inning and took the lead for good with a run in the bottom of the sixth to hand the Sandies a 9-8 loss. It assured that Amarillo High (11-6, 4-2 in district) would fall out of a tie for the district lead and the Sandies now sit alone in third pace.
In last season’s run to a district championship and a berth in the Class 5A state semifinals, Amarillo High’s only 3-5A loss came to Plainview (10-11-1, 5-1). This season, the Sandies opened district by losing at home to Plainview 5-3.
Amarillo High seemed destined to reverse that trend in the rematch at Plainview. The Sandies jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first. Cannon Davis capped the inning with a two-run single to make it 5-0.
However, the Bulldogs rallied with five runs in the bottom of the second to tie it 6-6. The teams traded runs but Plainview never led until it was 8-8 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
With one out in the sixth, Amarillo High reliever Sawyer Shipman issued a bases-loaded walk to bring home a Plainview run. Brock Wade led off the seventh with a single for Amarillo High, but the next three Sandies were retired in order to end the game.
The two teams will meet again Friday at 5 p.m. at Sandie Field.
Randall rolls over Palo Duro
Randall remained in a tie for the district lead, as the Raiders scored nine unanswered runs to close out the game for a 10-1 victory at Palo Duro as three Randall pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter in another dominant effort on the mound.
The Raiders (13-7, 5-1) are now tied with Plainview for the district lead.
Randall took a 1-0 lead in the second inning before Palo Duro (4-11, 1-5) tied it in the bottom of the inning. But the Raiders scored nine runs over the next four innings to take control of the game.
The Raiders again got a strong effort on the mound, as they haven’t given up more than three runs in any district game. A.J. Lucero pitched the first five innings and struck out five for the Raiders. Alex Massey and Duncan Bowles closed it out by each throwing a perfect inning.
Randall as just as dominant at the plate with 15 hits. Kole Dudding had three hits and drove in two runs and Lucero and Hagen Shedd both had two hits and drove in two runs.
Tascosa shuts out Caprock
Tascosa got back on the winning track after two straight losses, as Carson Smith threw a complete-game shutout to lead the Rebels to a 4-0 win over Caprock at home.
There was little offense in the game as the two teams had only five hits apiece. However, the Rebels (8-10-1, 3-3) made the most of theirs.
Tascosa scored two runs in the bottom of the second to give Smith all the support he needed. Anderson King singled with the bases loaded to bring home Brayden Keeter with the game’s first run and Levi Homen’s fielder’s choice grounder brought home another run.
Smith did the rest, giving up five singles while throwing only 92 pitches. There was only one extra base hit in the game, Javen Patrick’s double in the fifth which brought home a run for Tascosa.
Caprock (7-10, 0-6) lost despite a respectable starting pitching effort from Matthew Hulen, who gave up five hits in five innings.
District 4-4A
Canyon shuts out Borger
The Canyon Eagles maintained their early season superiority Monday in their home district opener, shutting out Borger 10-0 in a 10-run mercy rule win in six innings.
Ben Black was tough to hit on the mound scattering two hits over four innings without allowing a run, while racking up nine strikeouts. Leadoff hitter Hunter Anderson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Canyon (9-6, 2-0) has two run-rule wins to open district play. The Eagles opened with a 13-2 win at Perryton in five innings last Friday.
Borger is now 6-9 and 0-2.
H.S. District scores
District 4-4A
Dumas 11, Perryton 4
Pampa 6, Hereford 2
District 1-3A
Tulia 7, Friona 1
Dimmitt 9, Dalhart 3
River Road at Bushland, 4:30 p.m. Thursday
District 1-2A
Booker 10, Follett 0
Sunray 17, Sanford Fritch 8
WT High 30, Boys Ranch 0
District 2-2A
Clarendon 6, Wellington 5
Memphis 10, Shamrock 9
District 2-1A
Kress 13, Claude 3
Nazareth 15, Valley 0