Steers participate in Bowie baseball tournament

The Steers experienced a little bit of everything last weekend at the Bowie tournament. Thursday's games included a pair of comebacks. A pair of pitchers gave their opponents troubles Friday and the Steers experienced struggles of their own in a Saturday morning blowout loss.

During their opening game against Henrietta, a two-run fifth inning erased a deficit en route to a 3-3 tie. In their Thursday afternoon game, the Steers gave up four runs in the bottom of the first inning and scored four runs in the top of the third inning to earn a 6-5 win over former district rivals Iowa Park. Tate Loesch held Grandview to three hits and one unearned run in four innings Friday morning. Mason Milton earned the win in three innings of relief by giving up no hits. The pair combined for nine strikeouts in the win. Saturday morning Parish Episcopal piled on the runs early with five in the first inning and two runs in the second, third and fourth innings in an 11-1 win over the Steers to close the weekend.

Steers 3, Henrietta 3

The Steers and Bearcats met for the second time this season. Playing this time in Henrietta, the Bearcats were looking to avenge the Steers’ 8-0 win on Feb. 23 in the Graham tournament. 

Nolan Casbeer put the Steers ahead early with a one-out solo home run over left field. Colter Johnson provided another opportunity to score with two outs. He reached second base on a double to center field and was left stranded.

The Bearcats responded to draw even in the bottom half of the inning. Nick Mills singled to open the bottom half of the inning and followed by a walk to MD Williams. Mills, who stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball to WIlliams, scored when Brady Lyde hit into a fielder’s choice. Williams was called out at second base. An error in the second inning allowed Ty Cantwell to give the Bearcats a 2-1 lead with one out. Cantwell scored again on a double steal during the bottom of the fourth inning.

Casbeer tied the game with one out in the top of the fifth inning. Noah Jilek hit a one-out double to right field. Casbeer followed with his second home run of the game, a two-run shot over left field.

The Steers had an opportunity to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning. The Steers had runners on second and third base with two outs. Johnson was intentionally walked to load the bases. Ryder Taylor struck out to leave all three runners stranded on base. 

Levi May entered the game to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning and retired the side in order with three straight ground outs.

Steers 6, Iowa Park 5

A pair of one-out runs gave the Steers an early lead Thursday afternoon against the Hawks. Casbeer walked and then stole second base during Jilek’s at-bat. Jilek singled to right field and advanced to third base on the Hawks’ throw home. Casbeer scored on the play. Jilek was brought home with an RBI single by Johnson.

The Hawks responded with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. CJ Miser brought home Hanson Bernard with a single to left field. Brynyn Britt, who reached base on a fielder’s choice, scored when Rody Williams hit into a fielder’s choice. Bryson Sullivan, who walked to reach first base, was called out at second base on the play. An error in left field allowed Bernard to give the Hawks a 3-2 lead. Williams scored on a ground out to Haidyn Cunningham for the fourth run of the inning. 

The Steers opened the top of the third inning with three straight hits. Casbeer singled on the first pitch to left field and advanced to third on a double by Jilek. Johnson brought home both runners with a two-RBI single to center field. Johnson scored as a result of a fielder’s choice to Ty Carter. Tripp Mahaney, running for Mason Milton scored the Steers’ sixth run on a single by Taylor.

The Hawks scored a fifth run with a sacrifice fly by Cunningham in the bottom of the third inning. Casbeer and Jilek each scored two runs to lead the Steers.

Steers 3, Grandview 1

It took a fifth-inning rally for the Steers to claim their second and final win of the Bowie tournament Thursday morning. 

The Zebras took advantage of an error with two outs in the top of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead over the Steers. 

Luke McCain opened the bottom of the fifth inning with a double on his first pitch to right field. Mahaney followed with a walk. Both runners advanced to the next base with a sacrifice bunt by Loesch. Casbeer gave the Steers the lead with an RBI double to left field, bringing home McCain. Johnson hit a two-out RBI double to bring home Casbeer. Carter had two hits for the Steers. Casbeer had one hit, one run and two RBIs.

Parish Episcopal 11, Steers 1

The Steers struggled early and often Saturday morning to close out their tournament schedule. Giving up five runs in the first inning, the Steers were held to two hits. Jilek singled with two outs in the first inning. McCain brought in the only Steers run with an RBI single to right field in the top of the fourth inning. 

A combination of three pitchers gave up eight hits and 11 runs. The Steers gave up four unearned runs on three errors.

Casbeer, Carter, Ty Thompson and Harrison Brockway drew walks. Brockway scored the Steers’ only run on McCain’s hit.

The Steers will look to bounce back from the blowout loss Wednesday when the team travels to Brownwood for a 7 p.m. game. The district schedule will resume Thursday when the Steers host Glen Rose at 7 p.m.