Russell Hedges
rhedges@bossierpress.com
The Airline Vikings and Benton Tigers opened Airline’s Jason Bland Memorial Tournament Thursday with victories.
Both won close games over Ruston at Airline. First, Benton downed the Bearcats 4-2. Then Airline won 3-2.
Elsewhere in the Bland event, which is not a bracket tournament, Haughton and Parkway both lost home games.
The Bucs dropped a 12-5 decision to Neville, and the Panthers fell to Iowa 17-2.
At Airline, Cameron Horton’s homer over the right field wall in the fifth broke a 2-2 tie. The Tigers (9-1) then added another run in the sixth.
Horton went 2-for-2. Jordan Shaffer went 2-for-3 with a double.
Aaron Henigan pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits and striking out four.
Airline’s Peyton Davis pitched a 5-hitter and struck out five in the Vikings’ win.
Will Goodwin and Cameron Kyle both went 2-for-3 for the Vikings (3-6).
Airline scored two runs in the bottom of the third to take the 3-2 lead.
Goodwin and Chase Rivers had back-to-back singles. Rivers’ scored Cameron Taylor. Goodwin scored on a fielder’s choice.
At Haughton, the Bucs (6-4) couldn’t overcome Neville’s 12 hits and their own six errors. John Tomb went 2-for-2 and also walked twice. Seth Ryan and Tanner Sharp both doubled.
At Parkway, the Panthers (5-4) hurt themselves with seven errors. Dylan Whaley went 2-for-4 with a double.
The Jason Bland tournament continues today with games at Airline, Parkway and Haughton.
Each team is scheduled to play two games Saturday, weather permitting.
In the Castor tournament, Zach McKnight had two hits and two RBIs in Bossier’s 8-6 loss to Lakeview.
Wednesday, Aaron Baker pitched six shutout innings while allowing just three hits to help Benton defeat Natchitoches Central 7-2 at Benton.
Josh Scherer went 3-for-3. Wade Grubbs had two hits, including a double. Shaffer also had a double.
Tuesday, Triston Carmack pitched a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts as Haughton pounded Northwood 9-1 at Northwood.
Matthew Sewell homered and singled. Tomb and Hunter Golden had two hits and a double each. Tomb drove in two runs. Sam Wallace had two hits and two RBIs. Tanner Sharp also had two hits.
