TC has won eight out of their last 10 games.
The Tornadoes routed the Hornets, 19-0 in the first game. TC survived a late seventh inning rally to win the second game, 8-4.
“We got a good win and we put together a complete day, TC head coach Will Ramos said. ”In the last inning they scored a few runs. We got some key players on the team some rest and we came out with the victory and that is always good. We have four games left in the season and next week we will be going to the tournament.”
TC pitcher Viso Gabriel earned the win. The sophomore struck out three batters, allowed five hits and zero runs in six innings of action of the mound.
“In his last three outings he has been struggling in the first inning,” Ramos said. “Today before the game we talked about trying to come out in the first inning without any runs and he did. He actually threw six shutout innings.”
After exploding for 19 runs in the first game, it took a while for the Tornadoes bats to get back going.
TC (28-19) scored their first run of the game in the fourth inning.
Lincoln native Kasey Ray walked with the bases loaded to bring in a run.
TC increased their lead to 4-0 in the fifth inning. Christopher Castillo doubled to get things started for the Tornadoes. He moved over to third base on an error on the shortstop on a Jose Sosa grounder. Castillo scored on a pass ball to give TC a 2-0 lead. Kameron Mizzell was hit by a pitch. He moves over to second base on a Nelson Pacheco single. Sylacauga native Jesse Sharbutt missed the last month with an elbow injury, came up with a double to score two runs to give the Tornadoes a 4-0 lead.
“We played small baseball,” Ramos said. “We got two people on base and moved the guys with a bunt. After that Jesse hit a double to score two and that’s when the bats woke up.”
Mizzell increased TC’s lead with a single that scored two runs to make it 6-0.
Sharbutt’s sac fly to centerfield was deep enough to score a run. Freshman Jamison Cook hit a RBI single to increase TC lead to 8-0.
The Hornets rallied to score four runs in the inning, but it wasn’t enough.
“If we had more time and opportunity it may have been a little bit more fun for the fans,” Concordia head coach Steven Washington said. “Fans usually don’t like close games like it was for four or five innings. They got their money’s worth the last two or three innings. We came up a little short, we have to give credit to Talladega they have a good squad. They have good character and that helps in those close situations. We have group of young guys, freshmen and sophomores, but mostly freshmen. Like I told them there are on short cuts, you have to go through this kind of stuff to get where you need to be. You cant go around or snap you fingers; it has to be a teaching moment every game and every pitch.”
In Game 1, the Tornadoes put the game away in the first inning by scoring 12 runs.
TC scored five runs in the second inning and two runs in the third inning.
James Rodriguez got the win for TC. He pitched five innings and struck out four batters.
Richard Cochran went 2-for-2 with a home run and four RBIs. Jorge Santiago and Ramon Cruz drove in three RBIs apiece. Pacheco drove in two runs.
Contact LaVonte Young at lyoung@dailyhome.com.
