Broncos win Bi-district title

By Sandy Anderberg

Clarendon senior Harrison Howard took the mound in the Broncos’ Bi-District opener against West Texas in Amarillo at Palo Duro High last week and made easy work of the Comanches shutting them out 8-0.

Howard went wire to wire from the mound posting 16 strikeouts in the game. It took Howard 100 pitches in the seven innings which consisted of 63 pitches in the strike zone.

In their first at bat, Easton Frausto got on board first on a single to left field. Jared Musick grounded out before Levi Gates singled to left field and scored Howard. A quiet second inning led to one score and the Broncos were on top 3-0.

Another two runs were collected in the fourth when Howard slammed a triple that scored Mason Sims and Musick. The Broncos went wild in the fifth inning as they took advantage of several errors made by WT and left the inning with three more runs to get the win.

Along with his triple, Howard had one single, three RBIs, one run and a stolen base. Frausto had two singles, one RBI, one run, and one stolen base, while Levi Gates added a single, RBI, and one run. Bryce Williams and Mason Allred collected one run each and Allred had one RBI.

The big test came in the second game. With a game up in the best two out of three, the Broncos were in a good spot, but the Comanches were not finished and began the game full on. They were able to gain the early edge scoring two runs in the first inning on a double and a line drive single to center field. Musick got the call and was able to strike out the next two batters to end the inning.

A determined West Texas team went on to score two runs in the next inning, then proceeded to stop the Broncos after only four batters in the third.

It was the bottom of the fifth before the Broncos began to turn the game around in their favor. Allred, Williams, and Grant Haynes were hit by pitches to load the bases. Sims was able to slam a hit to the shortstop who turned a double play to pick off Williams at second. Allred was able to reach home plate to put another run on the board. With WT leading by five, things looked bleak for the Broncos. With a possible game three on their minds, the Broncos went to work to avoid a third game in the series.

In their next at bat, Gates’ single to right field advanced Musick and put a Frausto run on the board. With bases loaded, Haynes reached base on an error. With two outs and down to runs, the Broncos turned up the heat at the plate with a walk, a Shane Hagood single, and two more base on balls. Howard was able to send a hard-hit ground ball to left field that scored Hagood and Frausto to take the lead.

Gates then knocked down a single to center that scored Musick for the final run of the game. Frausto sealed the win from the mound with a WT ground-out, strike-out, a walk, and another ground out for the win.

The Broncos will play Sudan in the Area Round in Floydada Thursday, May 9, at 5 p.m. Game two will be held on Friday, May 10, with a game three immediately following if needed.