By Sandy Anderberg
The Clarendon Broncos put their winning record on the line against a good New Deal team last weekend in the Area round. Despite suffering one loss of the best-two-out-of-three series, the Broncos grabbed two wins to stay alive in post-season play. They are currently at 22-1-1 for the season.
In their first game, which was held in Clarendon last Thursday, the Broncos came from behind late in the game when senior Clay Koetting hit a bases loaded triple. That triple turned in to an in-the-park grand slam when the Lions mishandled the ball and committed a throwing error. The four-run at bat gave the Broncos a boost and cut the New Deal lead to only one run at 6-7.
“We were down 0-7 going into the bottom of the sixth, when our offense exploded,” coach Brad Elam said.
After the Koetting slam, Josh Cobb was hit by a pitch and then Nick Shadle blasted a two-run homerun to take the lead. Kade Hunsaker was on the mound and according to Elam, was able to shut down New Deal in the seventh for the 8-7 win.
The Broncos then made the trip to Hermleigh, Texas, to face off in the second game of the series. The game went nine innings and the Broncos fell short 10-11 to record their first loss of the season.
“(It was a) back and forth game that went nine innings,” Elam said. “We jumped out to a five-run lead early, but were unable to finish it.”
The game and score seesawed for nine innings until New Deal bested the Broncos to send the series into game three. Nick Shadle recorded three doubles and scored two runs in the game, and Chance Lockhart had three hits and scored four runs.
The Broncos were able to turn things around in the third game and earned a 3-2 win.
“(This was) another game that went back and forth,” Elam said. “We got behind early at 0-2, but clawed our way back.”
Koetting singled home Payton Havens in the fourth to cut the Lion’s lead and in the fifth inning, Hunsaker singled in Josh Cobb and Andy Davis singled Hunsaker to take the lead.
“Cobb pitched a great game for 5 2/3 innings, striking out six,” Elam said. “Davis came in to close the game and struck out the last hitter with the tying run on third.”
The Broncos began playing at 7:00 that evening and game two ended at 1:00 a.m.
“(The) most intense series I have ever been a part of,” Elam said. “Games two and three were neck and neck back and fourth every inning. There was no relaxing. The kids fought hard for six innings. Very proud of them.”
The Broncos will take on West Texas High in the Regional Quarterfinal round. It will be another best of three series and will begin Friday, May 19, at 5:00 p.m. at Amarillo High baseball field in Amarillo. Game two will be Saturday, May 20, at 1:00 p.m. and if game three is needed, it will be 30 minutes after game two.
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