Steers host home tournament

After a pair of road tournaments, the Graham Steers came back home to host a hometown tournament and gained valuable experience while also showing fight. 

Head coach Allen McGee spoke about how the offense was staying hot throughout the tournament and putting up quality production, but the real area he zoned in on that led to success during this tournament was the pitching staff’s ability to be sharp early in counts and getting the first batter of the innings out. 

“We have filled up the strike zone,” McGee said. “We’ve played very well. We have learned the importance of trying to get that first pitch strike and getting that first batter out of every inning. Our offense has been there, so we just have to keep stressing getting ahead in the count when we’re pitching.” 

After a loss against Jim Ned the team fought against Clyde leading to a 5-5 tie. The team also picked up a key victory against the Clyde Bulldogs by a final score of 5-2 on the final day of the tournament. 

For the Steers, the key in their matchup against Clyde was attacking the strike zone early on offense leading to key hits and runs driven in. 

In the bottom of the first, Tanner Hurford and Cooper Corley got on the basepaths right away with a pair of singles and Tripp Mahaney made solid contact by grounding out to short and brought Hurford around the basepaths to make it 1-0 Graham. 

Colt Taylor followed it up with a single to left to score Corley and Tyson Louder grounded out to score Taylor to make it 3-0. 

The Steers got going again in the bottom of the third with Toby Boenisch driving in a run on a sacrifice fly and Rowdy Bond ripping an RBI double into left field. 

Taylor and Louder were also effective on the pitchers mound only allowing two runs and striking out three batters. 

After this tournament, all eyes turn to district play for the Steers after Spring Break.