Melissa McClendon
Locust Grove recorded its fifth win of the season Monday when the Pirates defeated county rival Salina 14-5. The visiting Wildcats came from behind to take the lead in the third but three Pirate home runs in two innings led to the Locust Grove victory.
Salina was first on the board when Dalton Daniels scored on a fielder’s choice. In the bottom of the first, Locust Grove answered back scoring two runs to take the 2-1 lead. Houser got on with a fielder’s choice and Cody Jenkins walked. Justin Bailey followed with an RBI to score Houser and Anthony Taylor knocked in Jenkins with a fielder’s choice.
Later in the bottom of the second, the Pirates scored again. Jenkins scored on a Taylor RBI sacrifice to give the Pirates a 3-1 lead. Jace Squirrel busted a three run homer scoring Lucien Littledave and Daniels in the third giving Salina a 4-1 lead. A fielder’s choice by Stanglin scored Bailey in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 4-4.
Salina scored one last run in the top of the fourth when Jake Brickey scored Brent Bluebird to give the Wildcats the lead. That was the last time a Wildcat crossed the plate.
In the bottom of the fourth, Locust Grove’s bats came alive. Knott led with a single followed by an Adrian Houser home run to put the Pirates up by one. Jenkins reached first after taking one for the team and Bailey walked on. Both Jenkins and Bailey scored when Stanglin hit his first of two home runs in the game. Stanglin’s hit put the Pirates up 9-5.
Locust Grove added a little salt to the wound in the sixth with five more runs. Robert Shelly led with a single, Knott walked on and Houser got a hit to load the bases. A three RBI double by Jenkins put Locust Grove up 12-5. Stanglin wrapped up the Pirates scoring with another home run to score Jenkins and give Locust Grove a 14-5 win over Salina and a record of 5-1.
“We actually started hitting the ball,” Locust Grove coach Rick Condit said. “We hit the ball tonight like we should have been hitting it all along.”
Locust Grove struggled at the plate in a 15-6 loss to Jay Saturday. It was the Pirates first loss of the season. On Tuesday, March 9, Locust Grove recorded a 5-4 win over Wagoner.
Locust Grove will face Noah a Tulsa home school team today while Salina will travel to the Ketchum tournament at the end of the week.
Locust Grove 14, Salina 5
S - 103 100 0 - 5 5 1
L - 211 055 x - 14 11 3
WP - Cody Jenkins. HR - L Houser, Stanglin (2). S - Squirrel.
