Licking repeats as Frisco League Tournament Champs
Photo courtesy of Licking R-8 Schools
The Wildcats baseball team won first in a competitive Frisco League Tournament.
By Cole Roark
The Licking Wildcats brought home some hardware last week, as the number one seeded Wildcats won two close games to win the tournament and another conference tournament plaque.
Wednesday, September 10, saw Licking square off against number four seeded Dixon. Conway Adey threw a gem on the mound, going the distance for a complete game, with seven innings pitched, scattering five hits, striking out six and walking three. The junior earned his second win of the season with the performance.
Offensively, the Wildcats had a lot of baserunners, but could not find a way to score efficiently. A three-error second inning helped the Cats to score their first run, and the game remained tied until the fourth inning, when a safety squeeze bunt by Trent Wood helped to score Logan Buckner to take the lead. In the sixth inning, Licking added a couple of insurance runs after a two-run error was committed, allowing Logan Kuhn to drive in a pair of baserunners. Adey made the lead stand up, with the help of two double plays from his defense, including a 5-3 double play from Jason Ingram to Colin Kuhn to end the game. Licking advanced to the championship game with a score of 4-1.
Adey, Buckner, Wood and Stoops each collected a hit in the contest.
Friday night saw Licking match up in the championship game with number three seeded Crocker. In an intense game where runs were hard to come by, Licking persevered. Karson Walker opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first inning after reaching base on a hit by pitch. After stealing second, Karson was advanced to third by a one-out single from Conway Adey. With two outs, Adey broke early for second, a designed play that allowed Walker to score on the backside. The Lions answered back in the top of the second with a three-run inning, and Licking would play from behind for a while. The ’Cats scratched a run in the fourth on a Trent Wood single, and then again in the fifth on another aggressive baserunning play. Walker was hit by another pitch to lead off the inning and then stole second. Colin Kuhn laid down a sacrifice bunt as Walker stole on the same pitch, and he came all the way to score from second base, tying the game at 3-3.
Isaac Running Horse started on the mound for Licking and pitched five strong innings, striking out seven while allowing one earned run, five hits and one walk. He left the game after the fifth inning and turned it over to Trent Wood, who was dazzling in relief. Wood earned the win after two scoreless innings, allowing no hits, and striking out two.
With six-and-a-half innings completed, Licking came to bat in the bottom of the seventh. Colin Kuhn was walked to start the inning and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. With one out in the inning, Jason Ingram came up to the plate and smashed a ball over the left fielder’s head to walk the game off in dramatic fashion.
The win gave Licking their fifth tournament championship out of the last six years, and they have played for the title eight of the last ten years. Congratulations Wildcats!
