Johnny McMahan
Woodward News
Woodward, Okla. —
Both Woodward Travelers baseball teams concluded successful weekend tournaments on Sunday.
The Minors pushed Mustang to the limit before finishing second in the Western Oklahoma AABC State Tournament in Enid while the Majors went 4-1 in the Wichita State University Tournament, losing in the quarterfinals.
After games on Monday (Minors at Southwest Shockers and Majors at Wichita Sluggers), the Traveler teams play on the road against the Oklahoma Baseball Academy tonight.
The Minors are 38-24 this year and the Majors are 43-19.
Minors at Enid
The Minors dropped a 5-0 game to Mustang in the championship game of the AABC or Connie Mack Tournament at David Allen Memorial Ballpark.
Earlier in the day, the Minors beat Mustang 4-2 to force an extra game.
The final game was 1-0 through 5 innings and the Travelers appeared ready to make something happen in the top of the sixth when a pair of controversial calls went against them.
With one out and Jake Gilreath on first base as the result of a single, Tyler Mannering hit a tough grounder to third base and appeared to beat the throw to first. He was called out, though, prompting an argument from the Traveler coaches.
Then Connor Ross drilled a grounder off the third baseman that went directly to the shortstop, whose throw to first apparently beat Ross, who again looked safe, prompting an even longer argument from the Traveler coaching staff.
Mustang then scored 4 runs in the bottom of the sixth to break the game open.
The Broncos loaded the bases with a walk, fielder’s choice and another walk. One run scored on a wild pitch, another on a bases loaded walk and 2 more on a double by Zach Bieber.
Bryce Clemons worked into the seventh inning and took the loss. Zach Friesen relieved during the sixth.
Clemons and the Minors had worked out of bases-loaded jams twice earlier in the game, allowing only one run and that on a passed ball.
Woodward had only 3 hits against Mustang’s Nate Henthorn.
In Sunday’s first game, Jason Johnson went the distance as the Travelers posted a 4-2 victory. Johnson scattered 4 hits but the only damage was a 2-run homer by Bieber in the third inning.
Woodward scored in the first on an RBI single by Francisco Alvarez and added a pair of runs in the second frame as Friesen walked, Jake Gilreath was hit by a pitch and both scored on a single by Mannering.
In the fourth, Alvarez singled and scored on an error to make it 4-0.
Over the final 4 innings, Mustang had chances in the sixth and seventh, but a strikeout and fly ball ended those threats.
The Minors had baserunners in all 4 innings and Bo Kent reached third base in the seventh before the inning ended.
Woodward advanced to the championship round by beating the Enid Minors 3-1 on Saturday night.
Mannering singled and scored on a Brandon Corr sacrifice fly in the first, but Enid countered as Jeremy Smith tripled and scored in the bottom of the inning.
Woodward took a 2-1 lead in the fifth as Friesen walked and Ross delivered a sacrifice fly. In the seventh, Woodward added and insurance run on singles by Gilreath and Mannering and an error..
Clayton Stoup went the distance for the win.
Majors at Wichita
The Majors dropped a 10-9 game to the KC Diamond Masters in the quarterfinals of the Wichita State Tournament..
Kevin Hajny, the third Traveler pitcher, took the loss. Emory Weatherton started and Austin Beisel relieved in the fifth.
Ryan Wilson, Ryan Ainsworth and Trevor Julian all drove in 2 runs for the Travelers, who had 8 hits in the game. Codey McElroy and Julian scored twice.
Wilson and Jacoby Smith had doubles.
On Saturday, the Travelers pounded the SW Missouri Thunder 10-4, pounding 8 extra base hits.
Chris Faulkner homered and drove in 3 runs for Woodward.
Julian had a pair of doubles and Wilson, McElroy, Cole Freeman and Braden Todd all went for extra bases.
Julian and Smith drove in 2 runs each.
Shawn Hunter went 5 innings for the victory, giving up 2 earned runs. Shane Martin worked 2 scoreless innings in relief.
Later Saturday, the Travelers hammered OKC Sandlot 12-5 as Faulkner singled, doubled twice, homered and drove in 6 runs. Tanner Ward had a triple and 2 RBI. Todd had 3 hits and Smith 2. McElroy scored 3 runs and Julian twice.
Landon Warren got his first win of the season as the Travelers used 4 pitchers. Coleton Whitewater and Colton Henricks worked in relief and Faulkner pitched the final inning.
