By Caleb Adams

Leader Correspondent

 

WEST ORANGE—The Bridge City Cardinals take care of the West Orange-Stark Mustangs 20-8 at  Anderson Field Friday night in District 22-4A play.

The Cardinals (13-6-2, 5-1) offense was really helped by the long ball, but not exclusively. Both Logan Hamm and Peyton Havard had home runs, Havard had a grand slam in a huge top of the fourth, a two-run shot in the top of the seventh and Hamm took one deep for a solo homer in the third inning. The entire offense took care of business but those two really stood out for the Cardinals.

As a whole, the Cardinals offense was as good as they could be, with 12 hits as a team and 20 runs that’s about as much as a coach could ask for. On the mound Havard got the start but a committee of Cardinals took care of the closing efforts.

Jalen Thompson took care of business at the plate this game for the Mustangs (3-14-1, 0-6), going 3 for 4 on the night with four RBI’s and two runs scored. Thompson’s big home run in the bottom of the sixth kept hopes alive for a comeback by the Mustangs.

The Mustangs kicked off the scoring with a big double in the bottom of the first. Jerron Terrell would pop a double over the outfielder’s head to drive in both Justin Veitch and Jalen Thompson from second and first base. The Mustangs would load the bases but would be stopped before they could score anymore as the Mustangs led 2-0 after the first inning.

Bridge City fired back in the top of the second inning. Ethan Oceguara connected with one down the left field line to score Tanner Wilson from second base, setting up the Cardinals with a runner on second and third base. That’s all they could get in the frame, but shrunk the Mustang lead to one heading to the bottom of the second.

Logan Hamm burst open the third inning with a leadoff solo shot to right center field. Hamm took the very first pitch he saw and sent it flying and would tie the game with it. The Cardinals would get a runner on after, but that’s all the run power they would find.

Bridge City would take the lead in the top of the fourth inning and Havard would make sure to give himself some room to breathe. The Cardinals would load the bases with two outs, needing to convert to take the lead. Cameron Yadon would knock in Jackson Tims from third base with a hard hit that was bobbled by the Mustangs. Sam Carpenter would walk and drive in Slade Foreman who sat on third base. Starting pitcher Havard would smack a grand slam over the left field fence to cushion the lead for himself in the best way possible. The Cardinals would leave the inning up 8-2 over the Mustangs after the top of the fourth.

The Mustangs wouldn’t go down quietly as Justin Veitch knocked in the first run since the first inning for the team. Veitch knocked a hard single to left field, driving in Will Robles from second base, after he advanced on a wild pitch and got walked. Thompson slapped another hit with a double and an RBI as he sent Veitch home from second base. That’s all the Mustangs would get, as the Cardinals still led after five complete 8-4.

Bridge City would continue to pile it on in the sixth inning. The Cardinals loaded the bases thanks to walks by the Mustangs. Tims hit into an error bringing in Carpenter from third base. Ryan Ellis hit a long sac fly to center to drive in Havard from third for the second run of the inning. Cace Skinner would do the same driving in Tanner Wilson for the third run. Jackson Tims swiped home on a wild pitch to clear the bases. Yadon kept the rally alive with an infield single that drove in Slade Foreman. That’s all the Cardinals would get, but they did score five in the inning. Bridge City went up 13-4 after the top of the sixth inning.

The Mustangs’ Thompson sent one over the fence to give the team a chance to comeback. Veitch would drive in a run with a single to start the rally for the Mustangs. Next up Thompson sent one flying over the left center field fence with two runners on base. The three run shot made it four runs in the inning for the Mustangs. That would be all for this inning, but a dent was made into the Cardinal’s lead at 13-8.

Bridge City would score insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. Foreman would knock in Tanner Wilson, who doubled, from third base to cushion the Cardinal’s lead. With the bases loaded Hamm knocked in three with a long double to right center field, scoring Foreman Skinner and Tims on the hit. Yadon drove in Hamm on the very next at bat to make it a ten-run game. Havard sent another one over the fence for a two run shot this time, bringing the score to 20 for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals will visit Hamshire-Fannett Tuesday while the Mustangs have a bye and will host H-F next Friday.