THRALL — Maverick McAllister allowed three hits and struck out 12, and Jack Gustafson hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to lead the Thrall Tigers (9-5-1 overall, 2-0 district) to a 5-0 shutout of the Thorndale Bulldogs (111-1, 1-1 district).
The Bulldogs threatened to score first in the top of the first inning, picking up a pair of hits and a walk-off McAllister. However, the first strikeout of the game for McAllister ended the threat.
Thrall, meanwhile, put a run on the board in its half of the first. Weston Smiley walked to lead off the inning, but it appeared the Bulldogs had worked their way out of a jam with consecutive ground outs. But, Smiley was able to move to third on that grounder. Hayden Heselmeyer followed with a hard grounder back to the mound in what could have been a routine out, but Thorndale starting pitcher Jaxson Eschberger mishandled the ball, allowing Tiger pinch-runner Carson Ball to score.
The Tigers upped the lead to 2-0 with a run in the third. Smiley hit a double to center and scored on McAllister’s sacrifice fly to center.
The score remained 2-0 until the fifth inning. Eschberger struggled in the bottom of the fifth, walking Smiley and McAllister. With two outs, Gustafson took a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence for a 3-run homer.
McAllister (1-1) shut down the Dogs over the final two innings, allowing one hit and one walk, to record the win.
The Tigers made the most of their four hits but also took advantage of four walks by Eschberger.
Thrall will be back in action on Friday when they host Granger. They will also play home versus Rosebud-Lott on Saturday.
