COPPERHEADS RECLAIM LEAD IN SPEAKER DIVISION
COLLEYVILLE 4, WICHITA FALLS 3 (GAME 1)
Zak Presley's infield single in the bottom of the 10th inning propelled the Colleyville LoneStars past the Wichita Falls Roughnecks, 4-3, in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader. Presley topped the ball between the plate and pitchers mound allowing Scott Lawson to race home with the winning run. Roughneck pitcher Berto Gutierrez, realized there was no chance to beat the speedy Presley to first and made a desperation throw to catcher Brian Groth, but to no avail. Lawson had doubled to start the inning and advanced on an infield single by Tyler Weber before Presley came to the plate. Gutierrez took the loss in the scheduled seven-inning game, while LoneStar reliever Trevor Hurley got the win after perfect innings in the 9th and 10th.
WICHITA FALLS 1, COLLEYVILLE 0 (GAME 2)
Blake Booher, who started the season with the Colleyville LoneStars, returned to the TCL in Wednesday's nightcap to dominate his former teammates with a brilliant 1-0 victory for the Wichita Falls Roughnecks. Booher, a sophomore at UT-Tyler, pitched in two games for the LoneStars early in the summer on a 10-day contract, but struggled as he allowed five earned runs in just 2-1/3 innings. He made his first appearance Wednesday for the Roughnecks, and took advantage of the opportunity. The LoneStars managed just two hits in the seven-inning contest, and advanced just one runner past second base. Kyle Hardman drew a one-out walk in the seventh inning, and stole second before giving way to pinch-runner Scott Livingstone. Livingstone moved to third on a ground out, but Booher induced a soft flyball from Tim Hartland to end the game. Booher finished the night with four strikeouts, two walks and a hit batter in notching the first shutout by Wichita Falls this season. Chris McGuire hit a leadoff home run in the second inning, his second of the night, for the only run of the game and the only flaw in an otherwise outstanding night by Colleyville starting pitcher Evan Bronson (2-2). Bronson struck out 8 batters (a team high) in five innings of work. Sam Murphy pitched the final two innings, adding three strikeouts, just short of the team high of 12, which came in a 12-inning win on opening night. The performance gives Bronson 29 strikeouts in 34-2/3 innings, with a single base on balls.
COPPELL 8, BRAZOS VALLEY 1
The Copperheads scored three early runs, then broke the game open late to take an 8-1 decision from the Bombers at Brazos Valley Bank Ballpark. The loss drops the B’s to second place in the Speaker Division, just a half-game behind the Copperheads for the division lead. The top two teams in each division advance to the TCL playoffs. The Bombers opened the game with confidence, sending their ace, Casey Whitmer, to the hill. Wednesday was not Whitmer’s night, though, as he struggled with command and went deep into counts early. The Copperheads posted an unearned run in the first inning, then a run each in the second and the third. Trying to overcome an early deficit, the B’s put runners on base, but they were unable to convert them into runs. The Bombers left ten runners on base for the game and managed just one run. That lone run came in the home half of the eighth, when catcher Chris Wallace registered a two-out single, stole second, then scored on a Blake Walker single to right.By that time, though, the Copperheads had already hung another four runs on the board to make the score 7-1. Newcomer Garrett Duff, a relief pitcher who joined the Bombers Wednesday, was rudely welcomed by Coppell, giving up four hits and three runs in an inning of work. Will Currier, making a rare relief appearance, and Tyler Davis each pitched one inning and surrendered a run. At the plate, the Bombers posted nine hits, led by Will Basom’s 2-for-2 outing. Basom roped a pair of doubles, giving him 11 on the season and moving into a tie for the league lead. Ryan Weber went 2-for-4 on the night as well.
WEATHERFORD 5, DUNCANVILLE 4
The Weatherford Wranglers hosted the Duncanville Deputies Wednesday night at Roger Williams Ballpark, and needed a walk off RBI double from Matt Whatley to get the win 5-4. The Deputies tied the game at 4 in the top of the 9th on a pinch hit 2 RBI single by former Wrangler, Kendall Horner. Then with 2 out in the bottom of the ninth Wrangler third baseman Trey Crain singled to center with one out. Then Matt Whatley stepped to the plate and drilled a double in the right-center gap and Crain scored easily from first base. Somewhat lost in the drama was the dominating performance by Wranglers starter, Gary Poynter. Poynter struck out ten Deputies in his five plus innings of work while only allowing two hits and walking four. Dusty Coleman finished the ninth to pick up his first win on the season. The Wranglers are again at home tomorrow night against this same Duncanville team.
DENTON 3, MINERAL WELLS 2
The Denton Outlaws beat the Mineral Wells Steam by a score of 3-2 tonight at Falcon Field on the strength of another strong start. Steven Maxwell allowed his first two runs of the year in the first inning, haulting his streak of 24 scoreless innings this year. Maxwell, however, got to start a new streak as we went the next seven frames posting goose eggs. Steam starter Brandon Moore was almost as effective. The big right hander went seven innings without allowing an earned run. But the Steam defense committed four errors in the first four innings, which resulted in three unearned Outlaws runs. Denton left fielder, Jose Hernandez, stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded in the third and ripped a single down the left field line, scoring two.
