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Owl James Vanderpool connects with the ball during Elgin’s game with Carl Albert. HUGH SCOTT JR. | SOUTHWEST CHRONICLE -
Elgin baserunner Mason Thornton slides home during the season opener March 3 against Carl Albert. HUGH SCOTT JR. | SOUTHWEST CHRONICLE
ELGIN — What a difference a day makes.
That was the case for Elgin hitters Tuesday as they rocked Lawton Eisenhower pitchers for a dozen runs on 13 hits during a 12-2 victory and the second win in a row over the Eagles. On Monday, the Owls downed Ike 6-1, but the hits were few and far between.
“I was pleased with the win (on Monday) but that was about it. We didn’t hit very well. We swung at everything and popped up, but we did enough. On Tuesday, they answered my challenge, and we had 13 hits and four extra base hits including a home run.”
Elgin batters collected five hits with Damien Callagy knocking in two runs. Jake Thomas and James Vanderpool also had run-scoring hits.
Thomas was solid in his starting role on the mound pitching six innings while allowing the lone run on four hits and striking out four Ike hitters. Callagy pitched the final inning and gave up two hits and struck out two to earn the save.
Each team scored a run in the first inning, but the Owls tallied two in the second and added three more in the top of the seventh to secure their first win of the season.
On Tuesday, the bats were banging hits all over the field including Case Clemons’ two-run homer which sailed over the right field fence in the bottom of the sixth inning. Tres Lorah, Mason Thornton and Thomas each had doubles. Clemons was perfect at the plate going 3-for-3 and Lorah hit safely three times during four at-bats. Thornton knocked in two runs and scored once in the designated hitter’s role.
Elgin also showed its speed on the basepaths with seven stolen bases, including two by shortstop Grady Thomas.
Elgin’s starting pitcher Nacona Tahdooanippah allowed two runs in the first inning but settled down and threw a complete game allowing four hits while striking out eight Ike batters. Tahdooanippah allowed only two hits after the first inning.
Elgin took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the second inning while adding two more in the fourth, a single run in the fifth and then exploded for six more in the sixth to ice the win. Eisenhower committed seven errors which aided Elgin’s offensive production.
Elgin hosted Weatherford in a 5 p.m. game Thursday but the results were not available at press time. The Owls continue play during spring break at the Tuttle Festival. The festival begins Wednesday and continues through March 17.
Titans win season opener
Carl Albert clobbered Elgin pitchers for 11 runs and 14 hits last Friday as the Titans raced past the Owls 11-3 in the season opener for both teams.
The Titans tallied three runs in the first inning, four more in the second while adding three insurance runs in the third. Elgin made a brief comeback with a single run in the top of the fourth and added two more runs in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by freshman Ritson Meyer.
Garrett said the season opener will give the Owls “plenty to work on” for pitchers, hitters and defensively.
“They (Carl Albert) threw a really good guy against us. He’s probably their ace,” the coach said. “I did like how we came back in the fourth and fifth and we started to hit him after seeing him twice. They tested us defensively with their bunt game. That’s something we didn’t handle well. But the guys stuck their noses in there and kept going.”
Carl Albert tallied its final run in the bottom of the fifth which ended the shortened run-rule game.
Elgin plays at Lawton Ike Monday before hosting the same Eagles on Tuesday. Both games will start at 5 p.m.