Martin - 11  vs  Cedar Hill - 6

Game Summary
On a "perfect" night for baseball (temperature in the mid 50's and howling winds), the Martin Warriors moved into a tie for first place in District 7-5A with a 11-6 win over the Cedar Hill Longhorns in front of a good turnout on "Martin Cluster Teacher Appreciation Night".  This one wasn't as close as the score indicates, and the outcome was never in doubt.  Bryce Peterman set the tone for the night when he blasted a solo home run to left center in the bottom of the first to give the Warriors a quick lead.  Cedar Hill managed to even the score in the top of the third, but the Warriors put up a 4-spot in the bottom of the third to take a 5-1 lead.  Hot hitting Will Keiser led off the inning with a double to the gap in right center and scored on Shaun Garcia's single into center.  Garcia stole second, advanced to third on Peterman's fly out to right field, and scored when the Longhorn shortstop couldn't handle Nate Karn's grounder.  Jordan Imhoff followed with a double to deep right field, scoring Harrsion Law who was running for Karns.  Brian Fite's "rope" to the gap in left center plated Imhoff.   Martin continued to pour it on in the fourth.  After one out, Keiser reached on an infield single, and Garcia reached on an error when the Longhorn third baseman couldn't handle a wind-blown popup.  With two outs, Kyle Swearingen made the Longhorns pay for their error by hitting a 3-run shot over the centerfield fence to give the Warriors an 8-1 lead.  With the temperature dropping by the minute, Martin threatened to end things on the 10-run rule in the bottom of the fifth.  After Fite reached on an error, Regan Dixon doubled down the left field line to give the Warriors a 9-1 lead.  Drew Huneycutt's infield single put runners at first and second with no outs, then he and pinchrunner Blake Sanders pulled off a double steal to put both runners in scoring position.  Sanders scored on Garcia's grounder to second, but the Warriors couldn't manage to get the other run in.  The Longhorns prolonged the game in the sixth by scoring two runs to pull within seven.  Martin answered in the bottom half of the inning when pinch hitter Turner Thornton legged out an infield single.  Pinch runner Law advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved over to third on Fite's fly out to right field, and scored the Warriors final run of the night when the Longhorn pitcher was called for a balk.   The Longhorns rallied for three harmless runs in the top of the seventh before reliever Brian Nephew slammed the door.

With six games remaining, the District 7-5A race promises to be an exciting one over the next three weeks.  Martin and Duncanville sit atop the district with 6-2 records, and three teams (Lamar, Bowie, and Desoto) are hot on their heels with 5-3 district records.  Only the top three will advance to the playoffs.  Click here to see the current District 7-5A standings.

Go Warriors!

Box Score