Bushland’s Clayton Fisher slides home safely during a District 1-3A clash against Tulia at home on Monday. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
By Lee Passmore
The Randall Raiders have faced down the best competition in District 3-5A and haven’t blinked.
That’s why they’ve become the district’s first team to clinch a playoff spot.
Randall maintained its grip on the 3-5A lead hosting second-place Plainview on Tuesday. The Raiders answered a big inning by Plainview with four runs in the bottom of the fifth and held on for a 13-9 victory which earned them a ticket to the playoffs.
As was the case three days earlier against Amarillo High, Randall (17-7, 9-1 in district) fell victim to a big early inning by Plainview (12-13-1, 7-3), who scored five runs in the top of the third to take a 5-2 lead. But the Raiders took advantage of and error and a passed ball in the bottom of the inning to tie it 5-5.
In the bottom of the fourth, Randall’s Kole Dudding hit a three-run home run which helped lift the Raiders to a 9-5 lead. But Plainview came back with four in the top of the fifth to tie it 9-9.
As has been their custom, the Raiders rallied and took the lead in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by Caden Henry. Dudding capped the inning with his second homer, a two-run shot to provide the final margin.
Randall pounded out 14 hits, with six hitters collecting two hits apiece.
Amarillo High edges Caprock
Amarillo High held on to third place in district by scoring in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Caprock 8-7 at Sandie Field.
In a game which didn’t figure to be much of a contest due to the respective records of the teams, Amarillo High (13-8, 6-4) got all it could handle from Caprock (9-12, 2-8). In the top of the fifth, Caprock scored five runs on six hits to take a 7-4 lead.
But the Sandies answered back to tie it in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run rally. They pulled off the rare feat of back-to-back triples, as Braize Mitchell knocked in two with his three-bagger and Brock Wade knocked in another with his to make it 7-7.
Wade would be the hero in the bottom of the seventh with the game tied. With the bases loaded, Wade singled to center to drive home Cannon Davis with the winning run.
Tascosa routs Palo Duro
Tascosa jumped on Palo Duro with eight runs in the first two innings and put it away with seven in the third and cruised to a 16-1 five-inning, 10-run mercy rule win at Tascosa to keep a grip on the fourth and final playoff spot in the district.
The Rebels (10-12-1, 5-5) were helped by six errors by Palo Duro (4-15, 1-9) in taking an 8-0 lead in the second inning. They scored seven runs in the bottom of the third to ensure an early ending.
Josh Splawn led Tascosa at the plate with two hits and three RBIs. Brady Carroll, Javen Patrick and Brayden Keeter all had two hits apiece
Davis Yaws got the win on the mound for the Rebels, striking out eight, including five straight at one point.
District 4-4A
Canyon stays hot by run-ruling Perryton
The Canyon Eagles continued to run roughshod over the rest of the district, as they opened the second half of district play by routing Perryton 14-4 in five innings at home for their sixth straight run rule win to open district play.
Canyon (13-6, 6-0) set the tone early with eight runs in the bottom of the first. The Eagles ended it early with a run in the bottom of the fifth to attain the 10-run margin.
Markus Barker had two hits and drove in three runs for Canyon and Sam Johnson had two hits and two RBIs. Blade Beaty had three hits as Canyon collected 14 hits.
Perryton fell to 7-8-1 and 1-5.
District 1-3A
Bushland, River Road roll to wins
Bushland and River Road both closed the first half of district play with decisive wins to maintain the top two spots in the district standings.
The Bushland Falcons (14-2, 5-0) opened district with their fifth straight run rule win, routing Tulia 13-3. Westin Forbes led Bushland at the plate, gping 3-for-3 and driving in four runs while Cannon Melban had two hits and drove in two runs. Dawson Jaco gave up three hits and struck out eight, while also getting two hits and two RBIs.
River Road (10-8, 4-1) held on to second by closing the game with 10 unanswered runs to beat Dalhart 15-5. After Dalhart tied it 5-5 in the top of the fourth, the Wildcats scored five apiece in the fourth and fifth to invoke the run rule. Jason Quintanilla drove in three runs to lead River Road, who had five hitters with at least two hits.
District scores
District 4-4A
Hereford 7, Dumas 3
District 3-3A
Friona 12, Dimmitt 1
District 1-2A
WT High 6, Sunray 4
Sanford-Fritch 18, Follett 3
Gruver 10, Booker 3
District 2-2A
Clarendon 18, Shamrock 1
Wellington 8, Memphis 6
District 2-1A
Nazareth 9, Kress 0