Marengo Academy splits with Cornerstone in playoff series

(Photo by Collin Sheffield)  Brant Lewis strokes a homer during game one Thursday.
(Photo by Collin Sheffield)
Brant Lewis strokes a homer during game one Thursday.
(Photo by Collin Sheffield)  Kyle Friday worked a complete game one-hitter in game one of Marengo Academy's second round playoff series Thursday.
(Photo by Collin Sheffield)
Kyle Friday worked a complete game one-hitter in game one of Marengo Academy’s second round playoff series Thursday.

LINDEN — Cornerstone Christian (18-11) mounted a four-run rally to keep its season alive Thursday as it overcame Marengo Academy (20-7-2) 5-4 in game two of the teams’ second round playoff series.

“Cornerstone just did a good job. You’ve got to tip your hat to them. They’re a scrappy little team,” Marengo coach Eddie Edwards said. “They just came out here and got it done.”

Kenny Humphrey walked to open the frame and came in to score on a Cole Ray RBI bases-loaded walk. Heath Garrett singled and scored on a RBI walk by Austin Andrews. Tim Warren singled and tied the game on a RBI single by Wesley Brown. Ray scored the game winner on a Jeffery Odgers RBI single.

Cornerstone got its first run in the bottom of the second when Ray singled and scored on a RBI hit by Brown.

Marengo opened the scoring in the top half of the first when Hayden Huckabee doubled and moved to third on a passed ball before making it home on a Hayden Hall RBI grounder.

Kyle Friday reached on an error and scored on a Weldon Aydelott RBI grounder. The Longhorns got two more runs in the third. Andrew Martin courtesy ran for Aydelott and scored on a Tyler Barkley RBI single. Alston Dinning pinch ran for Tait Sanford and scored on a Wyatt Hale RBI walk.

(Photo by Collin Sheffield)  Tait Sanford stretches to record an out at first Thursday.
(Photo by Collin Sheffield)
Tait Sanford stretches to record an out at first Thursday.

Over the final four innings, the Longhorns tallied six base runners, but failed to stretch their 4-1 lead.

“We just didn’t hit the ball when we needed to hit it,” Edwards said. “There was one inning there when we had runners on second and third and one big hit would have opened the game up. We sent two batters to the plate and they sat down. We just couldn’t get that hit.”

In game one, Friday issued a leadoff walk and followed it by surrendering an infield single before setting down 21 of the next 23 batters he faced for a complete game, one-hit shutout.

“It all starts on the mound. That’s where you’ve got to be good right there if you’re going to compete. Kyle is a competitor,” Edwards said. “He actually sat out last year on a transfer from another school. He has waited a long time. The last playoffs he was in was his ninth grade year. He said before the game that it had been a long time coming. And that kid, nobody outworks him.”

The Longhorns, who won the game 3-0, scored their first run in the third inning when Barkley singled and scored on a RBI double by Hall. In the sixth, Brant Lewis stroked a 2-run homer to plate himself and Kyle Friday.

“I’m not a bit surprised it was Brant Lewis. He has done it all year long,” Edwards said. “This kid, he is unconscious. He’s batting over .500.”

Marengo is set to host Cornerstone for game three at Scott Park Friday at 2 p.m.

(Photo by Collin Sheffield) Marengo Academy honored the senior quartet of Brant Lewis, Wyatt Hale, Cole Allen and Micah Agee prior to Thursday's double-header.
(Photo by Collin Sheffield)
Marengo Academy honored the senior quartet of Brant Lewis, Wyatt Hale, Cole Allen and Micah Agee prior to Thursday’s double-header.