Lufkin Hudson downs Bears to win Gibbens Tournament
Van Wade
The Orange Leader
LITTLE CYPRESS — The Lufkin Hudson Hornets picked up two 4-3 victories Saturday to walk away with the championship trophy at the Don Gibbens Tournament at Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School.
The Hornets scored a late run to down the Crosby Cougars in their first game and did the same thing against the host Bears in the title tilt.
The Bears (4-3) took down the Hamshire-Fannett Longhorns 11-1 in the first matchup of the day to get to the title tilt.
In the title tilt, Hudson struck first in the top of the second when Jake Wood reached on an error and eventually scored on a Josh Smith RBI single to center.
The Hornets went up 3-0 in the third.
Zach Allen singled to right and scored with one out after a single to shallow leftfield by Hunter McMillon. Alberto Sanabria, who reached earlier after being hit by a pitch and eventually reached third on a walk to Wood, scored on a fielder’s choice by Wesley Waggoner.
Tim Barry drew the Bears to within 3-1 when he blasted a solo home run over dead-centerfield in the bottom of the frame.
LC-M drew even in the bottom of the fourth off Hudson starter Josh Tindall, who worked six innings and scattered six hits while striking out five and walking two.
Matt Johnson had a leadoff double to right and with one out Dallas Brown drew a walk. Shane Waddell promptly ripped a deep single to right that scored courtesy runner Joey Tutt and Brown would come in to score after a bad relay throw by the Hornets.
Stefan Cloeren, Johnson and Taylor Thompson all pitched for the Bears.
Cloeren worked two innings, allowing two hits while walking one and fanning onje. Johnson worked 2 2/3 innings, allowing three hits while striking out two and walking two. Thompson hurled 1 2 2/3 innings, allowing a hit while striking out three and walking one.
Hudson got the winning run in the top of the fifth.
Wood drew a walk and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Johnny New and went to third after a single by McMillon. Wood then raced home after a wild pitch to give the Hornets the 4-3 edge.
Tindall and reliever Nick Baker shut down the Bears in the final two frames, not allowing a baserunner.
The Bears had no problem getting past the Longhorns in the earlier affair.
Brown hurled all five innings for the Bears, allowing just one hit while fanning seven and walking three. He was also 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and three runs scored.
Waddell went 2-for-3 and had two RBI while Brandon Landry tallied two runs.