CLYDE – The May Tigers faced massive deficits in the first innings of both of their Region I-1A baseball semifinal playoff games at Hanner Sports Complex Thursday and were unable to recover as the Ira Bulldogs remained undefeated after victories of 10-0 and 18-2.
The Tigers concluded their season with a 10-5 record and reached the third round of the playoffs for the second year in a row despite battling injuries throughout the campaign. Meanwhile, Ira (21-0) advances to the regional championship round to face either Nazareth or Morton, and kept its unblemished record intact.
“I told the guys after that games were over that I never expected them to be here,” said May head coach Chad Dail. “I was shocked, but you scrapped together all year and figured out a way to get here. I was proud of their effort and how far they have come mentally. They did a good job and it was a good season for them.”
May fell behind 5-0 in the first inning of Game 1, and stared at a 12-1 deficit following the opening stanza of the nightcap.
“We got down early in both games and tried to battle back, but just couldn’t piece it together,” Dail said. “Whenever you get to the third round of the playoffs you can’t afford to get in that big of a hole so early.”
The first game ended without the Tigers tallying a hit as Jeren Pena tossed a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts. May’s Brody Stice reached on an error with one out in the bottom of the third inning to account for the Tigers’ only base runner.
For the Tigers, Hagan Hester and Hunter Seider combined to allow 11 hits with three strikeouts, five walks and a hit batter. May’s defense committed three errors behind them.
For Ira, CJ Collier went 2 for 4 with three RBIs, Kaden Castillo was 2 of 4 with a pair of RBIs, Raidon Hernandez and Kaden Foree both went was 2 for 4 with an RBI and Swayde Campbell finished 1 of 2 with a two RBIs. The Bulldogs left 10 base runners stranded despite the double-digit run total.
In the second game Thursday, May struck first as Cayson Dail led off with a single to right-center field – the Tigers’ lone base hit of the series – in the top of the first inning. Hester and Kaden Watkins later reached on errors to extend the inning, one of which also permitted Dail to score May’s first run.
Then in the top of the second, Jackson Lusk and Daegan Foster both walked against Ira pitcher Aedyn Claxton to start the frame. With two outs, Dail reached on a miscue at first base that allowed Foster to score May’s second run.
In between May’s first two trips to the plate, however, the Tigers surrendered a dozen runs in the bottom of the first inning. Six walks, four hit batters, three hits – including a three-RBI double by Christian Coy – and a three-base, three-run error against the May defense allowed Ira – which batted around twice in the frame – to put the game away early.
The Bulldogs scored in all four of their innings at-bat, adding one run in the second, three in the third and two more runs in the fourth inning.
Dail and Seider gave up a total of 12 base on balls and eight hits to Ira, while the Tigers defense committed four errors.
For Ira, Coy finished with three hits to go along with five RBIs to pace the offensive onslaught. Hernandez, Pena and Castillo contributed one hit and one RBI apiece as well.
