Published: April 05, 2008 08:53 pm            

Burris, Wildcats hold off Westwood, 4-3

By SCOTT TYLER

H-P Sports Editor



Palestine senior Taylor Burris and the Wildcats held off Westwood 4-3 Friday night to finish off the first half of District 19-3A.

Burris stranded the tying run on third base in the seventh inning to help get the Wildcats to a 2-3 district record.

“This was a game we had to have if we wanted to stay in contention,” Palestine head coach Jason Broomas said.

Westwood (0-5 in district) scored two runs in the sixth inning to cut the lead to one run and then got the tying run on in the seventh inning when Burris walked Tyler Lindsey.

Lindsey moved over to second on an error and was sacrificed to third by Jess Huddleston. With one out, Zak Denison worked a walk to put runners on the corners but Burris got out of the jam with a pop up and a ground out to second baseman Zach Collins.

Burris finished with the complete-game win, allowing six hits and three walks and striking out four batters.

“Taylor battled out there tonight and showed a lot of heart,” Broomas said. “He got into some tough situations, but he hung in there and had a great pitching performance.”

Palestine managed only one hit off Westwood hurler Ryan Mackie, but patience at the plate and heads up base running proved to be the difference.

The Wildcats walked nine times and all four runs scored on base running plays.

“When you are not hitting the ball well, you have to be patient and have good base running,” Broomas said.

Westwood scored first in the top of the second inning as Luke Holder came around to score on an error. Burris minimized the damage when he picked a runner off first and then ended the inning with a strike out.

Palestine scored single runs in the next four innings to take a 4-1 lead.

The first run came in the second inning when Austin Daugherty walked, stole second and came around to score on two wild pitches.

In the third inning, Micah Roe, who had Palestine’s lone hit, stole second and third base before scoring on a wild pitch.

Palestine stole a run in the fourth inning with runners on the corners as Matt Baublet got in a rundown between first and second. While Westwood tried to get Baublet out, Orlando Estrada came in from third to score and Baublet ended up safe at first base.

In the fifth inning, Palestine got another break when, on a busted squeeze play, Daugherty got into a rundown between third and home plate, but a bobbled catch allowed Daugherty to score. Daugherty walked all three times he came to the plate and he scored two runs.

In the sixth inning, Westwood cut into the lead as Mackie and Gilkey had back-to-back singles. After a walk to Sam Dunnam to load the bases, Holder hit into a force play at second base to score Mackie.

Hardy followed with a ground ball to first base, but Hardy beat the play at the bag, allowing Gilkey to score.

Burris got out of the inning with a strikeout.

Palestine starts the second half of district at home against Groesbeck Tuesday night.

“We are not where we want to be but we got a win and hopefully that will give us momentum,” Broomas said. “Now we need to win the games we are supposed to win.”

Westwood will host Madisonville for the start of the second half of district.

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Scott Tyler may be contacted via e-mail at styler@palestineherald.com

        

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