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(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Steers pitcher Tripp Mahaney awaits a pitch Tuesday, March 24 during the Steers’ 10-0 loss to Brock. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Cooper Corley makes a mad dash to first base during the Steers district opener against the Brock Eagles at home Tuesday, March 24. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Steers head coach Allen McGee speaks to his team during the Steers’ 10-0 home loss Tuesday, March 24. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Steers third baseman Colt Taylor makes a throw to first base Tuesday, March 24, against Brock. The Steers fell 10-0 in their district opener to the Eagles and looked to improve with a rematch against the Eagles on their home field Friday, March 24.
The Graham Steers opened district play hosting the Brock Eagles for the first of back-to-back games against their district foe.
A strong start Tuesday, March 24 by the Eagles with four runs scored in both the first and second innings, along with dominant pitching by Eagles starter and Arizona State commit Evan O’Conner, proved too much for the Steers, who fell 10-0.
Toby Boenish and Bryce Martin provided the lone hits for the Steers with a single in the bottom of the second inning by Boenish and a single by Martin to open the bottom of the sixth inning.
Steers head coach Allen McGee said his message to the team was to go out and compete and try to hold their own defensively. It’s been giving up walks, which have been a problem for the Steers, who are in a four-game losing streak.
“When we fill it up on the mound, we play pretty good defense behind (the pitcher),” McGee said. “What’s been hurting us lately has been the walks. Giving up free passes throughout the game.”
Tripp Mahaney, Martin and Tanner Hurford combined to give up nine hits, eight walks and 10 runs in a game that ended after six innings due to the Eagles’ 10-run lead. Defensively, the Steers committed three errors.
The loss dropped the Steers to 0-1 in district play and 6-9-1 on the season. The Steers traveled to Brock on Friday, March 27, with hopes of reversing the losing trend.
Following the two-game series with Brock, the Steers will play a two-game series against Brownwood, first at home on Tuesday and Thursday in Brownwood.
