Amarillo High gets District 3-5A started on right foot

Stellar pitching has gotten Amarillo High off to an unbeaten start in District 3-5A.

Behind the armes of Clayton Norrell and Taegen Tate, the Sandies posted two shutouts this past week blanking Palo Duro 11-0 then shutting out Lubbock Coronado 2-0 on Saturday.

During Saturday’s win, Tate was masterful handcuffing the Mustangs to two hits over six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. Norrell came in for the final two outs striking out both hitters he faced to get the save.

Against Palo Duro, Norrell worked all six innings for a complete game allowing one hit with nine strikeouts. As for the offense, Norrell was also 1-for-2 against the Dons that included a three-run triple.

Amarillo High (9-6-1) has started 3-5A at 2-0. Palo Duro wasn’t able to rebound falling to Lubbock-Cooper 11-0 on Saturday.

Tascosa earned its first district win beating Caprock 8-0 on Saturday.

The Rebels are now (7-4 overall) are off to a 1-1 start in district after suffering a 7-4 loss to Plainview on Thursday.

Aaron Picasso delivered a masterpiece on the mound for the Rebels scattering five hits through six scoreless innings while racking up four K’s. Tascosa spread out the offense with five different players driving in runs. Reese Cabe and James Naylor had RBI triples and David Gordon was 2-for-2 with an RBI.

Canyon uses big inning to get by rival Randall

A four-run fifth inning soared the Canyon Eagles to a clutch 7-3 win over arch-rival Randall during a District 4-4A showdown Saturday at Canyon’s Double Eagle Park.

Coming off a shocking 6-3 loss to Perryton on Thursday, Canyon (13-3) was able to salvage the week and start off league play at 1-1.

Randall led 3-1 until the Eagles bats woke up in the bottom of the fifth. Jacob Burris started the rally hitting a two-run double to left field tying the game 3-3. The Eagles then took the lead for good when Carson Allen plated Burris on a sacrifice fly. Canyon picked up a little insurance moments later when Colt Cruth added an RBI singe.

Burris was 2-for-4 on the day with that RBI double. Zabien Urteaga was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Ortega also got the start on the hill working four innings allowing three earned runs on only two hits. Bayler Schilling pitched the final three innings in relief to get the win racking up four K’s without allowing a run on two hits.

Randall (10-5-1) did open district with a win shutting down Dumas 10-0 on Thursday. Randall, which is 1-1 in district action, was led by Brekken Ireland go 2-for-3 with a homer and four RBIs in the win.

4-4A quick hits

Pampa had quite the week getting two come-from-behind wins to start off District 4-4A at 2-0. The dramatics started Thursday when the Harvesters erased a three-run deficit by scoring four unanswered runs to stun rival Borger 8-7. Isaiah Anguiano had a key RBI double, and Jarren Hill went 2-for-4 with a double with a pair of RBIs. Fastforward to Saturday, and Pampa showed that cardiac fight once again getting a walk-off 5-4 win against Hereford. The Harvesters trailed 4-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh. After tying the game, Max Neff delivered the game-winning hit down the third baseline Greyson Paronto. Pampa is off to a 2-0 start in district and 9-4-1 overall. Hereford is 0-2 to open league play.

West Plains is also undefeated to start District 4-4A. The Wolves handled Hereford 12-5 on Thursday and then took down Perryton 6-2 on Saturday. The Wolves are now 12-4-1 to the season and 2-0 in district. Against Hereford, Ethan Bentley went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. In the victory against Perryton, Reid Macon was 2-for-2 including a triple with a pair of RBIs. Macon also tossed four innings allowing two runs with six K’s.