Baseball

Festus JV Improves to 5-2, Tops Northwest and Central

The Festus Tigers Junior Varsity Baseball Team loses to Lutheran South, but picks up blowout wins over Northwest and Central to improve to 5-2. The Tigers take on the St. Louis Patriots on Monday, April 5th.

Caleb Riordan | Ameritime Sports Writer 

The Festus Tigers Junior Varsity Baseball played three game and although they lost to Lutheran South, they managed to pick up convincing wins over Park Hills Central and Northwest to move to 5-2. 

The first of the three games came against the Park Hills Central Rebels. Festus’ bats were hot coming into this game, and they stayed hot against the Rebels. It didn’t take long for the Tigers to assert their dominance. Brayden Montgomery started with an RBI single that brought Hayden Bates across the plate. Tyler Reece came around to score on the play as well. Cole Skaggs then hit an RBI single to make it 3-0. This was just the beginning of a whopping 12-run first inning. Reece, Will Reese, Bates and Eli Williams all also had RBIs in the inning. 

Festus did, however, yield three runs to the Rebels in the third inning, but it was far too little. The Tigers added two more runs over the course of the game and won 14-3. 

Reece led the team with three RBIs. He was 1-3 at the plate and also scored two runs. Montgomery was 2-2 with two RBIs and scored two runs. Gavin Williams went 2-3 and scored two runs as well. 

Eli Williams and Henry Roux shared time on the mound for the Tigers. Eli Williams started the game and pitched two and one-third innings. He allowed three runs on three hits and struck out two. Roux  pitched two and two-thirds unblemished innings. He allowed zero hits and struck out six batters. 

Next, the Tigers played the Lutheran South Lancers. Festus had won four in a row coming into this game, however, the Lancers provided a tougher challenge. 

It didn’t take long for Lutheran South’s bats to get rolling. They scored three runs in the first inning with the help of a two RBI-single, and they also capitalized on a Festus error. Bates scored for Festus on a wild pitch in their half of the first to cut the Lancers’ lead to 3-1. 

Festus was able to cut the lead to one run when Reece came around to score in the fifth. However, the Lancers scored three more runs in the top of the seventh to secure the 6-2 victory and end the Tigers’ win streak. 

“We’ve been swinging the bats pretty well,” Bates said. “But tonight was not our night.” 

Carter White led the team in hits and was 2-3 at the plate. Reese, Skaggs, Montgomery and Reece also recorded hits as well. 

Skaggs, Bates and White all made appearances on the mound. Skaggs threw 61 pitches through two and two-thirds innings. He allowed three runs and struck out six. Bates gave up three runs and struck out two. 

The Tigers got back on track in their game against the Northwest Lions. There was more first inning action in this one from both teams. Festus scored on a Montgomery RBI triple in the top of the first, but the Lions evened things at one in their half of the first. 

Northwest came alive in the third inning. Festus walked in a run which teed off a five-run rally from the Lions. The Tigers left the third trailing 6-1.

Festus cut the lead to one in the top of the fifth. Reece started with an RBI single that scored Skaggs, Bates followed with a double that brought in two runs, and then Montgomery hit a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 6-5. However, Northwest countered in their half of the fifth with three runs of their own and pushed their lead back to 9-5. 

Festus added another run in the sixth that led up to a dramatic seventh inning. The Tigers exploded for eight runs to take the lead. An RBI triple by Trenton Young started the rally. That was followed by RBIs from Montgomery and Skaggs that tied the game at nine. Soon after, the Tigers scored on four consecutive at-bats to cap off their eight-run inning. Northwest scored two in their half of the seventh, but came up short. Festus won 14-11 and improved to 5-2.

Bates had himself a night. He was 3-4 at the plate with three RBIs and scored three runs. Montgomery, Skaggs and Reece all had two hits. Montgomery and Reece also had three RBIs each. Young finished with two RBIs and scored a run. 

Gavin Williams, Michael Fox and Montgomery all split time on the mound. Gavin Williams allowed six runs on five hits. Fox allowed three runs on two hits. Montgomery allowed two runs as well. 

The Tigers now sit at 5-2 and continue to score runs at will. They have scored five or more runs in six of their seven games. If they continue to score at this pace, they will be a force to be reckoned with. Their next challenge is the St. Louis Patriots on Monday, April 5th.  Festus JV Improves to 5-2, Tops Northwest and Central

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