HOOKS 1 WOODVILLE 0 FINAL/GAME 1 IN 8 INNINGS

[whiplash]

Hey Coop. You gonna give updates on this game. i understand it is in Carthage.

[KFDM COOP]

Only if someone sends them to me.

[KFDM COOP]

Hooks takes game 1 1-0 in 8 Innings..

[KFDM COOP]

CARTHAGE - If Woodville is to advance to the state baseball tournament for the second time in three years, the Eagles will have to win two games on Saturday.

Brandon Choate's bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted Hooks to a 1-0 victory and one-game lead in the Hornets' best-of-three Class 2A Region III Final series against the Eagles at Jim Reeves Memorial Field.

The loss also snapped a 16-game winning streak for Woodville (23-10), which is making its third straight appearance in the regional finals. The Eagles were the Class 2A state champions in 2005.

Hooks (27-8) loaded the bases in the eighth against Woodville right-hander Brandon Riley, who had a no-hitter going through 5 2/3 innings. Tad Hill opened the inning with an infield single that glanced off the right hip of Riley. Matt Ridge followed with a walk and Jon Phillips reached on a fielder's choice as Eagle third baseman Taylor Thompson was unsuccessful in trying to get a force out of Hill.

With the Eagles' infield drawn in, Choate laced a base hit through the left side of the infield to bring home Phillips with the game-winner for the Hornets.

The Hooks' player poured out of the dugout to mob Phillips, then ran up the first base line to engulf Choate.

The game had been a pitchers' duel between Riley and the Hornets' Josh Stevens. Riley allowed just three hits while striking out 15. Stevens also surrendered three hits and recorded 14 strikeouts.

Hooks did not record a hit off Riley until Phillips doubled with two out in the sixth. The Hornets' only other base runner came on an error by the Eagles in the fifth inning and a dropped third strike in the first that resulted in a passed ball.

The Hornets did have the potential game-winner 90-feet from home plate in the sixth. After Phillips double with two outs, Choate was intentionally walked and Junior Willis loaded the bases on an infield fielding error. But Riley got out of the jam with his 14th strikeout of the game.

Woodville's only real scoring opportunity came in the top of the sixth when Brian MacGinnis singled with one out and Reese Winters walked with two outs.

However, Stevens got his counterpart Riley to ground out to first to end the threat.

No other Eagle runner got past first base. Paul Price walked to lead off the game, but he tagged out in a rundown. Winters was hit by a pitch in the fourth, but was left stranded, Trey Ford singled in the fifth and was thrown out attempting to steal second by Hooks' catcher Choate. MacGinnis then singled in the sixth and Jarvis Barlow was left stranded after strikeout in the seventh. Price also walked again in the eight, but the Eagles were stymied by Stevens.

The second game of the series is in Carthage at 3 p.m. Saturday. If a third is needed, it will follow 30 minutes later.

[Hupernikomen]

Hooks is way up there to be Region III.  Come on Eagles bounce back.