Eleven-Run Third Inning Fuels Waskom’s 17-7 Win at Tatum

TATUM -- Freshman Dylan Harkrider had a perfect night at the plate and Waskom scored 17 runs in a two-inning span to beat Tatum 17-7 in five innings Friday at Eagle Field.

Harkrider, who started at second base for the Wildcats, went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. He was the only player in the game with more than one hit.

Waskom (8-6, 1-2) fell behind 2-0 after an inning, but scored six second-inning runs and 11 third-inning runs to blow the game open with a 17-2 advantage through 2 1/2 frames. The Wildcats' eighth win of the season already matches last season's win total.

Harkrider also pitched the game's final 1 2/3 innings, allowing three runs -- none earned -- on three hits. Tyler Kotowicz got the win after striking out six and walking two in 3 1/3 innings. He allowed three earned runs on five hits. Waskom committed four errors to Tatum's six.

"(Kotowicz) threw for us on Friday and threw a lot of pitches. Pitched a real good game Friday night. The kid I wanted to throw got hit by a pitch Friday night and his arm was real tight and he couldn't throw, so we were kinda scrambling around a little bit," said Waskom coach Jeremy Kubiak. "Tyler came up to us before the game and said, 'Coach, I'm good. I'm ready to throw.' First inning, he was a little tight, but he loosened up as the game went on. I thought he competed and did a great job."

Eight consecutive Waskom batters reached base in the second inning, starting with Harkrider's one-out single. Justin Spurlin loaded the bases with a well-executed drag bunt to third base before two errors on the same play plated three Waskom runs for a 3-2 lead. Andrew Bruce hit an RBI single two batters later before Trace Carter plated two more runs with a base hit for a 6-2 advantage.

After Kotowicz struck out the side in the bottom of the second, Waskom's first seven batters in the third reached base. Three Tatum errors and six walks fueled Waskom's big inning. Harkrider ripped a two-run single, Brandon Edel hit an RBI single, and Spurlin drew two bases-loaded walks during the 11-run third, which also featured a bases-loaded Kotowicz walk.

"In the second inning, Spurlin lays a great drag bunt down and puts a lot of pressure on them. They helped us out by making some errors there," Kubiak said. "We put some pressure on, got some guys on base, and had the best offensive game we've had in a long time."

Waskom's Matt Norris walked three times and scored three times. Kotowicz and John Lumpkin each walked twice and scored twice. Waskom accumulated 10 walks.

Tatum (3-7-1, 0-3) had eight players with one hit apiece. Brett Roberts had a first-inning two-run double for the Eagles' early lead. Kedrick Boyd had a two-run single during Tatum's three-run fifth. Devon Boyd added a fifth-inning RBI single.

Dusty Richardson, who pitched three innings in relief of starter Sam Toon, had a second-inning double. Justin Danzer and Chastin Brooks each had a single and two runs.

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District 17-2A
Baseball Game

Waskom 17, Tatum 7

Eagle Field, Tatum

Waskom -- 06(11) 00 -- 17 8 4
Tatum -- 202 03 -- 7 8 6

Waskom (8-6, 1-2) -- Tyler Kotowicz, Dylan Harkrider (4th) and Gage Meshell
Tatum (3-7-1, 0-3) -- Sam Toon, Dusty Richardson (3rd) and Justin Danzer

WP -- Tyler Kotowicz
LP -- Sam Toon

2B -- T: Brett Roberts, Dusty Richardson