VERSAILLES, Mo. - The California Pintos jumped out to a quick lead against the Versailles Tigers on April 17 and held on for a close 8-6 win.
The Pintos (11-5) had a 2-1 lead after the first inning and added another three runs in the top of the second to take a 5-1 lead. Versailles would answer with two runs in the bottom of the second to make it a 5-3 game. California would make it a 6-3 game in the top of the third.
In the bottom of the third inning, Versailles got a leadoff single, but Pintos pitcher Carson Ash forced three straight outs to end the inning.
In the top of the fourth inning, Hayden Green started the inning with a single for California, but he was thrown out trying to steal second during the next at bat. Gabe Bailey reached first base after an error by Versailles, and Lucas Ash scored Bailey with an RBI single to make it a 7-3 game.
The Pintos forced a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth, but California could not expand its lead in the fifth inning, going down in order.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Versailles quickly loaded the bases with no outs thanks to a single, a hit by a pitch and an error, making it a 7-4 game. A strikeout and a groundout left Versailles with two runners on and two outs in the inning. They would score one more run in the inning to make it a 7-5 game.
California made it a three-run game in the top of the sixth inning. Colton Warren got a base hit and then stole second base. Warren eventually scored when Lucas Ash hit a two out RBI single to make it a 8-5 game.
Head coach Steven Stock said the team competes and battles throughout every inning.
Hayden Green pitched in the bottom of the sixth inning for the Pintos, and Versailles found themselves with a chance to tie the game as they had the bases loaded with one out. Green struck out Brayden Morrison for the second out of the inning and then walked Andy Clemens to make it a 8-6 game. Green struck out Colbey Boicourt with the bases loaded for the final out of the inning.
There was a delay in the game as the umpires met to discuss if the final pitch hit the ground and to discuss if Biocourt had fouled the ball off. Eventually the call was made that it was strike three, and the inning was over.
"When you get out of innings giving up only one run, it allows you to stay in the game and feel confident with the lead," Stock said.
At the top of the seventh inning, the Pintos would get one hit thanks to Braedan Birdsong, but the Pintos would not be able to score.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Green walked one batter before ending the game on three straight strikeouts.
The Pintos scored eight runs on 14 hits and had two errors on defense. Versailles scored six runs on eight hits and had five errors on defense.
Lucas Ash led California with four hits, Hayden Green had three hits, and Gabe Bailey had two hits. Bailey led the team with three RBIs while Green and Ash each had two RBIs in the game.
Carson Ash pitched five innings for California and struck out five batters. Green pitched two innings for California and also struck out five batters.