El Campo plays two in Ricebird tourney

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley Almost Got Him Taylor Graham tries to put the tag on a base runner. He hit a game-clinching home run against Columbus Saturday.

Rain changed up the Ricebirds' plans for El Campo's Varsity Baseball Tournament last week. The event, held Thursday through Saturday, was hit hard by weather and some games had to be canceled.

The Ricebirds lost to Sealy in their first tournament game, but followed that with a win over Columbus. A win in their second game would have placed them in a third match, but the 'Birds had to settle for a 1-1 tournament record.

EC vs. Sealy

The Tigers gave El Campo a strong game in the first round of the tournament. Sealy took an early lead and never fell behind for a 9-5 victory.

A pair of runs in the top of the second combined with three in the third inning put Sealy up 5-0 before El Campo made a score. The Ricebirds came through in the bottom of the third inning to cut the lead to 5-3.

Bryan Skow hit a lead-off single and Andrew Kinder claimed first on the next at-bat after he was hit by a wild pitch. Cullen Pickett made a pinch run for Kinder in order to give El Campo's starting pitcher some rest.

Landon Appling tried to advance El Campo's runners, but hit into a pop out to Sealy's shortstop.

Matthew Hamman followed with a two-RBI hit. He connected for a double and brought both base runners home.

Blake Korenek brought Hamman home in the next at-bat with a single to put the Ricebirds on the scoreboard with three runs.

The 'Birds tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with another strong inning.

With one out, Tyler Socha got the scoring started with a double. After the next batters struck out, Skow walked to put two runners on base.

Kinder hit a single and earned an RBI when Socha reached home plate.

Appling followed with a single for the second RBI of the inning. He was caught out in the next at-bat on a fielder's choice, but El Campo tied the game at 5-5.

With pressure on, the Tigers took the lead in the top of the fifth with two runs. Another run in the sixth and seventh inning put Sealy ahead 9-5 with one last attempt at tying the game for El Campo.

The Ricebirds gave a nice effort in the bottom of the seventh, but fell with the bases loaded to lose the game.

EC vs. Columbus

The Cardinals provided a great opportunity for the Ricebirds to take out their frustrations and El Campo did just that.

The 'Birds cruised to a 13-2 win over Columbus.

El Campo earned three runs in the bottom of the first.

With one out, Korenek connected for a triple. Skow and Hamman both followed with walks to load the bases.

The fifth at-bat of the inning was a run for the 'Birds the hard way. Appling was pegged by a wild pitch and claimed first base. With the bases loaded, Korenek came in for a run.

Skow and Hamman scored on passed balls to give El Campo a 3-0 lead before the inning ended.

The 'Birds earned another run in the second inning.

An error by Columbus' shortstop put Michael Van Gorp on first base. He later scored on another Cardinal error to put the 'Birds ahead 4-0.

El Campo's biggest inning came in the third.

Appling earned a lead-off walk and Kinder followed with a single.

Chris Raun hit into a pop out to advance the runners and Van Gorp followed with an RBI single.

Pickett walked to load the bases and Socha drew a walk to send Kinder home.

Korenek blasted a double for 2 RBIs when Van Gorp and Pickett reached home.

Three consecutive walks by Bryan Skow, Bryce Skow and Appling meant more runs for the Ricebirds. In total, El Campo scored seven runs that inning to take an 11-0 lead into the fourth.

Columbus managed two runs in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 11-2, but the Ricebirds were not finished yet. A pair of runs in the fifth inning grew El Camp's lead even further.

Bryan Skow was hit by a pitch and Matt Janke came in to pinch run for him. The next at-bat was a ground out just before a crushing blow.

Taylor Graham belted a home run over the outfield fence for 2 RBIs and extended El Campo's lead to 13-2 to end the game immediately by way of the 10-run rule.