PORUM — The Gans Grizzlies baseball team finished sixth in last weekend’ 2024 Riverside Conference Tournament, which took place Thursday and Friday.
The Grizzlies lost Friday afternoon’s consolation finals 8-7 in eight innings to Keota after losing their tournament opener 8-0 to the host Panthers on Thursday.
The Lions’ win over the Grizzlies avenged the April 8 road loss to the Grizzlies, which Gans prevailed 1311. The Grizzlies’ home game against Oaks on April 9 was rained out.
In the consolation finals, Keota’s Riggin Buchanan hit a two-out, walkoff RBI single in the eighth inning to break a 7-all tie after the Lions scored twice in the seventh inning to force extra innings.
In defeat, Josh Brunk was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Aiden Garcia doubled for the Grizzlies (4-6).
Nakota White took the loss in relief, going three innings with five strikeouts but allowed the game-winning run to reach base. Clay Martinez started and went the first 3.1 innings with seven Ks. Hunter Walters got the next two outs, one of which was by strikeout. Caleb Martin got the final two outs, but gave up Buchanan’s game-winning, walk-off RBI single in the eighth inning.
In Gans’ opening-round game, Pourm pitcher Gage Scarberry threw a four-inning no-hitter with nine Ks.
Martin took the loss for Gans, despite fanning four batters in three innings.
In the home victory over Keota, a nine-run first inning put the Grizzlies ahead for good at 9-5 after an inning, but the Lions made things interesting with a four-run, seventh-inning rally that came up short.
For the game, White was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two runs batted in, Jarrett Frazier was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, Walters was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored and Brenden Strickland was 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored for Gans.
Walters got the win in relief, going 4.1 innings with seven strikeouts. Martinez started but only went twothirds of the opening inning with a strikeout. White went the final two innings with two strikeouts.
The Grizzlies were slated to play Monday at Leflore and Tuesday at Webbers Falls before hitting the playoffs as they will be in the Class A District Tournament at Porum today, where they will open with a 1 p.m. game against Arkoma and a 5 p.m. game against the host Panthers. The district championship is slated for 1 p.m. Thursday, with the if-game at 3 p.m. If Gans wins the district tournament, the Grizzlies will advance to next week’s Class A Regional Tournament at a site and time yet to be determined.
Editor’s Note: The Gans Lady Grizzlies had their home game against Porum and Thursday’s road game against McCurtain rained out, while Friday’s home game against Cave Springs was canceled. On Monday, they were slated to entertain Webbers Falls before welcoming Keota to town on Tuesday, then they will begin postseason play in the Class 2A District Tournament at Strother High School near Seminole today when they will meet Stonewall at 11 a.m., then face host Strother after that. If the Lady Grizzlies win the Class 2A Tournament, then they will play in next week’s regional tournament at a site and time yet to be determined.
