A Flare for the Fifth

The fifth inning was something to behold Tuesday night at the Liberal Baseball Complex. The Redskins led 4-3 after four in game two after a 12-1 Hugoton win in five innings in game one. The Eagles would score seven runs to lead 10-4. The Skins bounced back to the tune of an 11 run fifth to lead 15-10. That score would hold as the final for a split of the double header. An 18 run fifth inning highlighted a day of highs and lows for both teams who showed both promise and inexperience. Liberal head coach Eric Olmstead says he’s proud of the way his team battled back. "That was a lot of character right there," Olmstead of the comeback. "Things did not go well in the first game whatsoever and then to come back and bounce back, have a tight game and have it unravel in the middle innings and then come back and close it out like that, it shows we’re capable of good things. We just need to get it all together with confidence and mental approach and so on. I’m proud of the kids."

In game one, Hugoton was dominant. The Eagles won 12-1 thanks to table setter Cody Frederick going 3-3 with four runs, James Persinger slamming a home run over the left center field fence, and Cristian Camacho pitching Hugoton to the win and allowing just four hits. The Eagles jumped all over the Redskins with seven in the first. Liberal had six errors in the loss.

In game two, Lorenzo Pando led Liberal at the plate going 3-4. Juan Fraire slugged two doubles in the 11 run fifth. Jared Hall was 2-3 and Bryan Morris was 2-4. Tyson Deaton wacked a two out and two RBI single to center to tie the game at 10 in the fifth which was one of the most key hits in the game.

Hugoton head coach Clint Merritt says he liked what he saw from his team which played four freshmen. " I was very pleased with the way our kids played," he said. "We were very consistent on the mound and we got a lot of help with just one error. We were very agressive at the plate. I was very pleased in the first game with our effort."

The Redskins play at Ulysses Tuesday while the Eagles play 2010 state tournament team Sublette Tuesday.

In other high school baseball action, Guymon beat Dalhart 15-4. Walker Rainwater pitched the 5-1 Tigers to the win. Guymon hosts Clayton on Tuesday.