MONTGOMERY — The Thrall Tigers varsity baseball team defeated Central Heights, 10-3, in Game 1 of their regional playoff series on Thursday, May 15, at Montgomery Lake Creek High School.
Sophomore Weston Smiley led the way for the Tigers, going 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs.
Thrall jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI double by Smiley and a Blue Devils error. Senior Maverick McAllister got the start on the mound and retired Central Heights in order in the bottom half of the inning.
The Tigers’ offense exploded in the second, scoring four runs on an error, an RBI single from Smiley and a two-run single by sophomore Jack Gustafson, extending the lead to 6-0. Gustafson finished with three RBIs.
Central Heights responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs on three straight singles to make it 6-2. Both teams were held scoreless over the next three innings.
Thrall broke the stalemate in the top of the sixth, plating four more runs. Smiley drove in another run with a single and later scored on an error. Sophomore Bryce Brinkmeyer capped the inning with a two-run single to push the lead to 10-2.
The Blue Devils added one more run in the bottom of the seventh, but senior Hayden Heselmeyer secured the final out on a pop-up to seal the win.
McAllister earned the win, pitching six innings while allowing three runs and striking out four. Senior Ty Bradford pitched in relief.
Thrall takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series and will look to punch its ticket to the region final round Saturday at 2 p.m. A third and deciding game will follow 30 minutes after Game 2, if necessary.
