Woodland loses early lead; Excel topped by King's Ridge

King’s Ridge scored multiple runs in each of the first four innings on their way to a 13-1 win over Excel Christian Academy Monday night at LakePoint in Emerson.

The visiting Tigers scored five runs in the first inning, two in the second, four in the third, and two more in the fourth inning.

ECA scored in third inning when Michael Hogan scored on a bases loaded walk to Wyatt Karlovich. Hogan singled to center field to open the frame, then moved to second on a groundout by Jordan Wilkie. One of two hits on the night by Trace Still loaded the bases.

Michael Wein and Austin Bridges combined for six hits and five RBI to lead the Tigers, who pounded out 16 hits by eleven different players.

Carter Buchanan (5 IP, 1ER, 3H, 3BB, 7K) pitched a complete, shortened game to pick up the win for King’s Ridge. Excel utilized four pitchers. Marco Haro (2 IP, 5ER, 9H, 1BB, 2K), Aaron Pumphrey (0.1 IP, 3ER, 2H, 1BB), Karlovich (0.2 IP, 1ER, 1H, 0BB, 1K), and Still (2 IP, 2R, 0ER, 4H, 1BB, 2K) shared the mound duties.

King’s Ridge improved to 11-2 with the win, 8-1 in Region 6-A. The loss was the sixth straight for the Eagles (1-9, 0-9).

Excel plays Pinecrest Academy Tuesday (March 22) and Mount Pisgah Christian Thursday (March 24). Both games are at LakePoint in Emerson and are scheduled for 5:30pm starts.

CREEKVIEW 5, WOODLAND 3

Woodland pushed three runs across in the bottom of the first to take a 3-0 lead, but the visiting Grizzlies managed three runs in the third single runs in the fifth and seventh to defeat the Wildcats Monday night, 5-3.

Creekview pitcher Michael Patterson (7 IP, 3R, 2ER, 8H, 0BB, 7K) earned the win with a complete game.

Woodland hurler Cauey Williams (4.1 IP, 4R, 1ER, 6H, 1BB, 2K) was dealt the pitching loss. Rodolpho Romo (2.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 0BB, 1K) worked in relief for the Cats.

The Wildcats scored three times in the first inning on five hits and an infield error. Brandon Allen’s two-run double followed singles by Jacob Frye, Hunter Reaid, and Trent Harrison. Allen later scored on an error by the Grizzlies shortstop. Noah Ludy also singled in the inning.

Frye was the only Wildcat with two hits. Garrett Cornett and Romo added one hit each for Woodland.

Creekview improved to 5-9 overall and 4-6 in Sub-Region 7-AAAAA-A.

Woodland (2-11, 1-9) travels to Creekview Wednesday and hosts the third game of the sub-region series Friday. Both games are 5:55pm starts.