Tigers split most recent doubleheaders

Editor's Note: Due to connection issues with the internet at the Tribune Monday night, this story could not be placed on the website at that time. The Tribune regrets the delay

Grant Goldston (30) has just crossed the plate while Aj Smith (6) follows him home on Benjamin Labbe's fourth-inning triple during the first game of a doubleheader versus Paola at Dave Regan Stadium Monday afternoon. The Tigers won the opener 6-0 but lost the nightcap 5-2. (Scott Nuzum/Tribune)

Fort Scott High School's baseball team has split its last two doubleheaders, with Labette County at Altamont on Friday and with Paola at Dave Regan Stadium on Monday.

The Tigers lost the first game of Friday's Southeast Kansas League twinbill at Altamont, 4-3, as the Grizzlies rallied. They won the second game, 2-1, holding off an LCHS rally. Those results allowed Labette County to stay on top of the SEK at 5-1, 10-2 overall. The Tigers fell to 5-3 in the league, two games behind LCHS in the loss column.

The Tigers won Monday's opener versus Paola, 6-0, but fell in the nightcap 5-2. The Panthers came into the game ranked No. 3 in Class 4A-Division I in the latest Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches Poll while Fort Scott was No. 7. The Tigers now stand at 8-4 overall.

Friday: Labette County 4-1, Fort Scott 3-2.

Fort Scott scored all 3 of its runs in the first game in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-2 lead. Kaleb DeLaTorre's one-out single plated Alex Fink, who had doubled to left, and Jake Bradbury, who was on via fielder's choice. Chase Brown singled to center, then Mason Knopp walked. Carter Young then reached on an error by the center fielder, which allowed DeLaTorre to score.

In the bottom of the seventh, Labette County's Kyle O'Connor led off with a single to left. Sam Vratil reached on a fielder's choice in which the Tigers were unable to get anyone out. Pryce Anderson reached on an error, which allowed both O'Connor and Vratil to score, ending the game.

The Tigers' 7 hits were distributed among 7 batters. Knopp (2-1) allowed 2 earned runs on 5 hits and one walk while striking out 10.

Fort Scott scored both second-game runs in the top of the first inning -- both with 2 out -- and made them hold up. Chase Brown drew a 2-out walk then Knopp singled to center. Both runners came in on Young's double to left.

Labette County tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh. Parker Grant reached base on an error by the shortstop. Anderson hit a one-out single to center with Grant going to third. Grant scored on O'Connor's sacrifice fly.

Vratil singled to center but relief pitcher Jarrett Lyon struck out Dylan Wisdom to end the game.

Reehl and Bradbury each had 2 hits for the Tigers. Reehl (2-0) pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing no earned runs on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. Lyon picked up the first save of the season by a Tiger pitcher.

Monday: Fort Scott 6-2, Paola 0-5.

The Tigers got on the board quickly in game one as Bradbury led off and reached on an error then stole second. Brown singled to left with one out, getting Bradbury to third. Brown stole second ahead of Carter Young's 2-out hustle single that beat out the shortstop's throw. Both Bradbury and Brown scored on the play.

Benjamin Labbe's one-out triple in the fourth scored Grant Goldston and Aj Smith to make it 4-0. Knopp walked with two out in the fifth, stole second and scored on a 2-out error on Young's fly ball to center. The final run scored in the sixth as Smith hit a leadoff double to right and scored on DeLaTorre's sacrifice fly.

The Tigers had 5 hits, one each by five different players. On the mound, Young (2-1) allowed just one hit and one walk over the first 5 innings while striking out 6. Goldston pitched the seventh, allowing one walk and striking out one.

Paola used 2 Tiger errors in the top of the second inning to become the first visitor to score in Dave Regan Stadium. The Tigers had outscored their opponents 46-0 in the first five games staged in the brand-new facility.

The Panthers added another run in the top of the second to extend the lead to 3-0. Fort Scott got one of those back in the bottom of the third when Fink scored with 2 out on a bases-loaded walk to Knopp. However, the Tigers couldn't get another runner home.

Paola added single runs in the fifth and seventh. The Tigers got back-to-back hits in the bottom of the seventh by DeLaTorre and Brown to chase starting pitcher Garon Johnson off the hill. Brian Jensen came on but allowed another hit to Knopp, loading the bases. Young scored DeLaTorre with a sacrifice fly. But Jensen induced two groundouts to end the contest.

Johnson allowed 2 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks while striking out 2. The Tigers had to use three pitchers, who combined to allow 3 earned runs on 6 hits and 6 walks.

The Tigers stranded 11 runners in game two while Paola stranded 10. Fort Scott had 7 hits, again having multiple players with one each.

The Tigers return to league play on Thursday when Coffeyville makes its first visit to Dave Regan Stadium for a 4:30 SEK doubleheader.

Friday's Games

Labette Co........ 000 200 2 -- 4 5 2

None out when winning run scored

WP -- Anderson. LP -- Knopp (2-1).

HR -- None.

Game two

Labette Co........ 000 000 1 -- 1 3 0

WP -- Reehl (2-0). LP -- Mattox. Sv. -- Lyon (1).

HR -- None.

Monday's Games

Fort Scott.......... 200 211 x -- 6 5 0

WP -- Young (2-1). LP -- Ohlmeier.

HR -- None.

Game two

Fort Scott.......... 001 000 1 -- 2 7 2

WP -- Johnson. LP -- Pickert (L. 2-1). Sv. -- Jensen.

HR -- None.