By Caleb Adams

Leader Correspondent

 

BRIDGE CITY—The Bridge City Cardinals beat the Hamshire-Fannett Longhorns 1-0 in extra innings, walk off style from Jackson Tims in the District 22-4A opener for both teams at Chuck Young Field Tuesday night.

Peyton Havard started district off right, throwing a gem for the Cardinals (8-1-2, 1-0) in response to Jacob Garza having a good game himself for the Longhorns. Havard used the strikeout to his advantage to throw a complete-game one-hitter while Garza used his defense to create the outs. Both pitchers went the distance, going eight innings.

Havard had multiple innings with 10 pitches or less used. The Longhorns didn’t bring up more than three batters through six innings, having a fourth batter come up only in the seventh inning. He had 13 strikeouts, one hit with no runs allowed through eight innings while throwing just 90 pitches.

Jacob Garza would go eight innings allowing seven hits, one run and two walks given up while throwing the max amount of pitches, 110. Garza got out of multiple situations with runners in scoring positions with the middle of the Cardinals lineup at bat. His long curveball really aided him Tuesday night.

Bridge City threatened a couple times, including the bottom of the sixth with runners on the corners. A clutch strikeout by Garza brought it to the seventh tied at 0-0.

Neither team could score in the seventh inning, forcing extra innings and both teams hoping they could pull this one out late.

The Cardinals found a run finally in the eighth inning. Slade Foreman led off with a single to centerfield, advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third base to setup the game winning run. Logan Hamm and Sam Carpenter would get intentionally walked to bring up Tims. Tims would smack a single to deep right center field to drive in Foreman to win in a walk off fashion.

Bridge City was happy with the win, but maybe not as happy with how it happened. The Cardinals would finally convert with runners in scoring position but probably wish they did it more often Tuesday night.

Tims and Jaxon Bernard had two hits apiece for the Cardinals while Gage Stark singled in the seventh, barely beating out a throw at first.

The Cardinals will venture to the Jasper Tournament Thursday through Saturday.