Eagles take down North Hopkins, 9-3

Eagles take down North Hopkins, 9-3 Image

• Senior Kevin Hernandez (20) catches a pitch during recent home action. In his Senior Day game, Hernandez batted 2/3, scored two runs, and recorded two RBIs in the Eagles' 9-3 win over North Hopkins, helping the Eagles clinch second place in District 18-2A. Photo by DJ Spencer

Dj Spencer Sports Editor Tue, 04/30/2024 - 19:19 Subhead

C-P clinches second place in district

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PARIS — The Como-Pickton Eagles clinched second place in District 18-2A Saturday by taking down the North Hopkins Panthers 9-3 at Chisum High School. Following a 3-3 tie through four and a half innings, a six-run rally propelled the Eagles to the win.

Prior to the game, the Eagles celebrated the careers of their three seniors — Kevin Hernandez, Joel Newsom, and Kobie Wright — as this was their Senior Day game.

The Eagles would take the early lead in the first inning when Tucker LeCroy scored a run, giving them a 1-0 lead. This was followed by a scoreless second inning.

The Eagles added a pair of runs in the third inning. LeCroy and Hernandez both scored, as the Eagles extended their lead to 3-0.

The Panthers finally got on the board in the fourth inning with a run, trimming the score to 3-1. North Hopkins then added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning, tying the score at 3-3. The Eagles pulled ahead again in the bottom of the fifth inning when LeCroy scored his third run of the game, as Como-Pickton now led 4-3.

In the sixth inning, the Eagles went on a fiverun rally. Payton Hunt, Newsom, Ben Brewer, Cade Childress, and Hernandez all scored, as the Eagles raised their lead to 9-3. After the Panthers were held scoreless in the seventh inning, the game ended, as the Eagles capped off a 9-3 win and earned second place in District 18-2A. As a team, the Eagles batted 6 for 25 (.240) from the plate. Childress and Hernandez led with two hits each, while Hunt and LeCroy added one hit each.

LeCroy was the leading scorer with three runs. Hernandez scored two runs, while Brewer, Childress, Hunt, and Newsom all scored one a piece.

LeCroy earned the victory on the mound. Across 5 2/3 innings, he tallied 11 strikeouts, allowing just five walks, three runs (one earned), and one hit. Dane Oud pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, recording three strikeouts.

With the win, the Eagles end the regular season at 5-3 in district and 11-12-1 overall. They will now focus on the upcoming playoffs.

The Eagles will take on the Maud Cardinals in the Bi-District round of the playoffs. Coverage of the Eagles’ playoff run will be published upcoming editions of the News-Telegram.