By Martin Edwards Staff Writer
The Collinsville Pirates baseball team weathered a storm in the area round of the playoffs, defeating the Windthorst Trojans two games to one in a best-of-three series May 9.
The Pirates lost a nail-biter in Game 1, 3-2, but were able to right the ship and take the final two games of the series, 9-4 and 14-13.
Collinsville leapt out in front in Game 1, taking a two-run lead in the top of the first after first baseman Cash Morgan grounded into a fielder’s choice, allowing baserunner Jaxon Jenkins to cross home plate.
Pirates’ pitcher Garrett Trevino followed up Morgan’s RBI with one of his own, driving in Collinsville’s second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly, putting the Pirates up 2-0.
The Trojans flipped the game on its head with a three-run burst in the bottom of the fourth inning and held on to take the win 3-2.
Windthorst used the momentum from the Game 1 run to race out to a two-run lead in the first inning of Game 2, but Collinsville answered with an RBI single from Morgan in the bottom of the first, making it a one-score game.
The Pirates tied the score at 2 all in the bottom of the fourth inning with a line drive single hit by designated hitter Brandon Cantu.
Windthorst would add another run in the fifth inning and move back in front, but Collinsville responded with a single from Trevino that brought in two runs, putting the Pirates up 4-3.
The Pirates closed out Game 2 with a 5-1 scoring run and tied the series at one game apiece.
Game 3 immediately followed Game 2, and Collinsville kept their scoring ways going, taking an early three-run lead in the first inning.
The Pirates pushed their lead to four, but the Trojans battled back, tying the score at 4 in the bottom of the second inning.
Windthorst took the lead, 6-4, in the fourth inning with a double to center that drove in two runs, but Collinsville answered in the fifth, tying the score at 6.
The Trojans broke the tie with a three-run burst, but the Pirates roared back in front behind a four-run burst of their own in the top of the sixth.
Shortstop Paxton Davidson started the rally with a triple to center field that drove in one run, followed by a ground ball single by Jenkins that drove in another run.
The Pirates added two more runs on errors, moving into the lead 10-9, but the two teams continued to trade runs and ended regulation with the score tied 13-13.
The tie continued until Trevino got home after a wild pitch got away from the Trojans’ catcher, breaking the tie and giving the Pirates the space they needed to sail away with the win, 14-13.
