The Central Tigers baseball team ended last week by winning the consolation championship at the 40th annual Dewar Invitational Joe Fowler Gumbo Classic as they defeated the Henryetta Black Knights 4-1 in Saturday’s consolation finals.
On Thursday, the Tigers defeated Davenport 12-0 on Thursday before falling in the championship quarterfinals 10-3 to Tushka, then reached the consolation finals with a 10-9 win over Asher in Friday’s consolation semifinals.
The week started with a 6-1 home victory over Warner on April 2.
In the consolation finals, the Tigers (8-11) broke a scoreless tie with a two-run second inning and a single run in the third inning for a 3-0 lead. After the Black Knights cut the deficit to 3-1 in the sixth inning, Central got that run back in the home half of the frame for a 4-1 lead after six innings.
For the game, Connor Walters hit a solo home run, which was the fourth homer for the Tiger lead-off batter for the three-day tournament, as Walters was named the Silver Slugger Award winner for the tournament. Aiden Sainer singled with a run batted in and a run scored, Cade Tucker and Hardy Buzzard each singled and Bo Locust and Connor Green each scored once for Central.
Tucker (2-0) got the complete-game victory, fanning eight batters in seven innings and throwing a one-hitter.
In the victory over Davenport, Locust (12) pitched a three-inning no-hitter with four strikeouts.
The Tigers got all the runs Locust needed with a three-run first inning. A four-run second inning and five-run third inning put the game into run-rule status.
For the contest, Waylen Campbell doubled and scored once, while Buzzard hit a two-run homer and had three RBIs for Central.
In the loss to Tushka, the Tigers put away the game early with an eight-run first inning.
In defeat, Walters was 2-for-2 with a homer with two RBIs, while Locust was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI for Central.
Walters (2-4) took the loss, only lasting onethird of the opening inning. Campbell went the final four innings with a strikeout.
In the win over Asher, Locust’s one-out, walkoff RBI single in the seventh inning broke a 9-all tie to send the Tigers to the consolation finals.
For the game, Walters was 3-for-4 with two homers and four runs scored, Buzzard was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored and Tucker doubled with two RBIs and a run scored for Central.
Walters got the win in relief, pitching the top of the seventh inning. Buzzard started and went the first six innings with two strikeouts.
In the victory over Warner, after the Eagles took a 1-0 lead after an inning, the Tigers took the lead for good with a two-run third inning, then put away the game with a four-run fifth inning.
For the contest, Tucker was 2-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored and a run batted in, Campbell was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, Green doubled with two RBIs and Walters doubled with an RBI and a run scored for Central.
Tucker got his first win of the season, going the first four innings with three strikeouts. Hardy Buzzard got the save, finishing the final three innings with four Ks.
After playing a home game against Howe on Monday, the Tigers will put on their annual three-day Central Tiger Shootout beginning Thursday. Next week, the Tigers will entertain Colcord at 5:30 p.m. Monday and play a road game at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Panama.
