The No. 18 seed Haughton Bucs advanced to the second round of the non-select Division I playoffs with a 7-6 victory over No. 15 Southside Saturday in Youngsville.
It was the Bucs’ second one-run victory in as many days in the best-of-3 series. Haughton won Game 1 3-2 in nine innings Friday.
Haughton (22-14) will travel to Moss Bluff to take on No. 2 seed and defending state champion Sam Houston (26-8), which received a first-round bye, next week. Game 1 is set for Friday at 6. Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. Game 3, if necessary, is scheduled for 30 minutes after the completion of Game 2.
The Bucs led 6-2 after three innings. Southside (20-14) cut the lead to one with three runs in the top of the fourth. Haughton, the designated home team, answered with one in the bottom of the inning.
The Sharks scored one in the top of the sixth. Southside put runners at first and second with two outs in the seventh. Isaiah Medina singled to center field. Haughton’s Seth Jorstad fired the ball to catcher Drake Cooper who tagged out the runner trying to tie the game.
Haughton’s Maddox Williams went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Troy Fielding went 2-for-4.
After the Sharks scored one in the top of the first, the Bucs scored three in the bottom of the inning.
Leadoff hitter Seth Breen drew a walk and Williams reached on an error. Jorstad then laced a triple to center, giving the Bucs a 2-1 lead. Jorstad scored the final run on a wild pitch.
Southside scored one in the second. Haughton answered again in the bottom of the inning.
Fielding led off with a single and Aubrey Ramsey walked. Cooper advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Fielding scored on a groundout by Breen. Williams followed with his double, scoring Ramsey and giving the Bucs a 5-2 lead.
Haughton made it 6-2 with a run in the third. Leadoff hitter CT Woodard and Russ Barrett drew back-to-back walks. Carson Plant’s bunt single loaded the bases. Ramsey walked with one out.
Haughton scored its final run in the fourth after Southside cut the lead to one. Williams led off with a single and advanced to second on a groundout by Woodard. Barrett brought him home with a single.
Haughton Head Coach Glenn Maynor used five pitchers. Starter Brady Bockhaus went 3 1/3 innings and got the win. Ashton Neighbors, Brody Beach, Ramsey and Bryce Benoit also pitched.