After coasting to a pair of 10-run victories over Mineral Wells (6-13, 0-5) in their first two meetings – including 13-3 this past Tuesday – the Lions (16-5, 5-1) labored in the series finale, yet managed to remain atop the 6-4A standings with the win.
Following two scoreless innings, Mineral Wells struck for a pair of runs in the top of the third. Blake Blue led off with a single, then came home on an error in the outfield. Adrian Holifield then placed a ball into the right-center field gap the Lions couldn’t corral to advance all the way to third base, where he scored on a two-out wild pitch.
The Lions wasted little time in erasing the Rams’ advantage as Antonio Ybarra and Case Markham walked in succession with one out ahead of an RBI single by Owen Huntsinger. David Turner followed with a bloop RBI single that brought home Markham with the tying run. With one down, Gavin Brandstetter’s RBI sacrifice fly scored Huntsinger with the go-ahead run, and the Lions never trailed again.
Brownwood tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth as Campbell Gilmore singled but was erased on a Logan Posey fielder’s choice. Ybarra followed with an RBI infield single that allowed Justin Valdez – running for Posey – to cross the plate. Later, Huntsinger delivered an RBI single into the right field that brought home Ybarra for a 5-2 Lions’ cushion.
Mineral Wells closed the gap to 5-4 in the top of the sixth inning as three straight one-out singles by Rylan Wells, Owen Gadd and Blue loaded the bases. Following a Luke Gray strikeout for the second out, Holifield drilled a two-RBI double to left-center field, but the Rams did no further damage.
Brownwood got a run back in the bottom of the sixth as Gilmore, Posey and Ybarra all walked and Markham came through with an RBI sacrifice fly.
Leading 6-4, Brandstetter then took the mound in the top of the seventh for the Lions and struck out the Mineral Wells side in order to secure the save.
Gray pitched four innings of relief and yielded four runs – two earned – on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Aidan Howard started on the mound and tossed two scoreless innings with one hit allowed and three strikeouts.
Brownwood chalked up six hits – two by Huntsinger and one each from Markham, Turner, Gilmore and Ybarra.
The Lions visit Godley at 1 p.m. Saturday in non-district action, then resume 6-4A competition at 7 p.m. Tuesday when Graham (9-10-1, 2-4) comes calling.
