THRALL — The Thrall Tigers varsity baseball team advanced to the regional finals after defeating Central Heights, 9-7, on Saturday, May 17. The Tigers overcame a 6-1 deficit with a seven-run fourth inning to complete the comeback win.
Thrall also won the first game of the best-of-three series, beating the Blue Devils, 10-3, on Thursday, May 16.
In Game 2, both teams were scoreless in the first inning before Central Heights broke through with a bases-clearing RBI double to take a 3-0 lead. The Tigers got a run back in the bottom of the second after loading the bases on a single by sophomore Bryce Brinkmeyer, a hit-bypitch and a walk. A second hit-by-pitch forced in a run to make it 3-1.
The Blue Devils added three more runs in the third, scoring on an RBI single and a fielding error that brought home two more, pushing the lead to 6-1. Thrall went down in order in the bottom of the third before its offense came alive in the fourth.
The Tigers loaded the bases with three straight walks to start the inning. Senior Hayden Heselmeyer drove in a run with an RBI single, and a hit-bypitch brought in another to cut the lead to 6-4. Heselmeyer finished with a team-high two RBIs.
Thrall tied the game on a bases-loaded walk and an RBI single from Jack Gustafson. The Tigers took an 8-6 lead after scoring on a sacrifice fly and another hit-by-pitch.
Central Heights went down in order in the fifth, and Thrall tacked on an insurance run in the bottom half on an RBI double by Weston Smiley to make it 9-6. The Blue Devils added a run in the top of the sixth, but a groundout ended the game, sealing the win for the Tigers.
Brinkmeyer started on the mound for Thrall, allowing six runs over 2.2 innings with seven walks. Gustafson earned the win in relief, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing one run with two strikeouts.
Thrall remains a perfect 6-0 in postseason play with the win. The Tigers now shift their focus to the regional finals, where they will face Anderson-Shiro, who advanced with a series win over Rogers.
Game 1 is scheduled for Thursday, May 22, at 1 p.m., followed by Game 2 on Friday, May 23, at 7 p.m. A decisive Game 3, if necessary, will be played Saturday, May 24, at 4 p.m., with all the games taking place at Mumford High School.
