Collins, Longhorns blast Sparta in game one

(Photo by Raycelia McIntyre) Brad Collins struck out five over five during a no-hitter for the win in game one Friday.
(Photo by Raycelia McIntyre)
Brad Collins struck out five over five during a no-hitter for the win in game one Friday.

LINDEN — Marengo Academy grabbed a decisive 17-0 win in game one of a first round playoff double-header against Sparta Friday.

The contest proved an exercise in patience for Longhorn hitters as they drew 10 walks in the five-inning game to go along with two hit batsmen. Those free passes combined with eight Longhorn hits were more than enough to make the eighth-grader Brad Collins’ no-hit effort on the mound stand up.

While Collins did plunk three batters in an erratic third inning, he issued no walks in the contest and struck out five for the win.

(Photo by Raycelia McIntyre)
(Photo by Raycelia McIntyre)

Wyatt Hale led off the home half of the first with a walk before coming around to score on a RBI single by Brant Lewis.

The Longhorns did most of their damage in the second when they sent 15 batters to plate and scored 11 runs in the frame.

Josh Holifield led off the inning with a single before scoring on a two-run homer by Wallace Tutt.

Tyler Barkley and Hayden Huckabee sandwiched walks around a Wyatt Hale hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Carson Huckabee absorbed a pitch to pick up an RBI the hard way and send Barkley home for the 4-0 lead.

Tait Sanford stroked a RBI single to score Hayden Huckabee before a two-run Hayden Hall single plated Carson Huckabee and Lewis for the 6-0 lead. Weldon Aydelott then scored on an error for the 7-0 lead. A dropped fly ball in center field allowed Sanford and Hall to score for the 9-0 lead. Hayden Huckabee’s second at-bat of the inning produced a two-RBI double that scored Barkley and Hale, who each reached on errors.

Lewis led off the third with a solo homerun before Sanford walked and Hall doubled. Things further unraveled for Sparta as Sanford, Hall and Barkley each scored on wild pitches in the inning. The lone RBI of the inning for the Longhorns came when Aydelott scored on a sacrifice fly by Hale.

The Longhorns’ final hit came in the fourth when Caleb Broadhead had a pinch-hit single.