By Caleb Adams

Leader Correspondent

 

LITTLE CYPRESS — Starting off the District 22-4A season on the right foot, the Little Cypress Mauriceville Bears took care of the West Orange-Stark Mustangs 9-2 in at Don Gibbens Field Tuesday night.

Truman Franklin, for the Bears (19-3, 1-0) had a solid outing, giving up one run on seven strikeouts and two walks during five innings. The hits that the Mustangs did have never lead to anything on the scoreboard, as Franklin was able to get out of a few tough situations.

Offense was the key for the Bears in this win, with four runs scored in two separate innings to seal away the game, with the whole lineup hitting well.

West Orange-Stark (9-8, 0-1) was able to get hits and runners on base, but wasn’t able to drive them in and score in key situations. The Mustangs and the Bears both had six hits on the night, but the Bears won by seven runs.

In the second Taylor Gilbert got the ball rolling with a single to drive in Anthony Bandiero for the game’s first run, putting the Bears up 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth inning.

The bottom of the fifth saw eight batters from the Bears, putting up four runs on three hits and two walks. Ty Shugart, who pinch ran for Slade Green, scored on a wild pitch to start the rally. Jordan Alexander would score on an error from the Mustangs, and another error scored Saperstein on the next batter. Franklin would have an RBI single to drive in Michael Lee for the inning’s last run as the Bears went up 5-0 after five.

The Mustangs were able to score in the top of the sixth inning thanks to an RBI sacrifice fly from Blake Robinson to drive in Justin Veitch for the Mustangs first run making it 5-1 after six innings.

In the bottom of the bottom of the sixth all nine batters saw the plate for the Bears, as LC-M scored four more runs to put the icing on the cake.

Green and John Beeson would both have doubles to score three runs combined, and Lee had a infield hit to bring in the fourth run of the inning. The Bears would take a 9-1 lead after the sixth inning, with a firm grasp on the game.

West Orange-Stark would rally to find another run in the top of the seventh thanks to a bases loaded walk by the Bears.

LCM would go on to win 9-2 and take their first district win of the season, on what they hope is a long season.

The two teams will battle once again Friday night when the Mustangs host the Bears.