Foster rallies late, overcomes EC's lead
By KRIS BAGLEY sports@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley Close Call Bryan Skow makes a nice save on this throw and tries to tag the runner in El Campo's game with Terry. If Skow did not make this jump, the ball would have sailed into the outfield and scored at least one run on this play.

The Ricebirds gave a great effort Tuesday in taking out the Falcons in a home game, but Foster finished the night strong to give El Campo a 7-4 loss.

The first inning was a great outing for El Campo. Pitcher Matthew Hamman gave a great showing against the Falcons. After the first hitter sent a double to right field, Hamman came on strong.

He struck out two batters and caused a ground ball for three straight outs.

With two outs in the bottom of the first, Landon Appling was hit by a wild pitch and became El Campo's first base runner.

Bryan Skow came up to the plate next and worked through a long atbat. Appling stole second base during Skow's plate appearance and set up the game's first score.

Skow blasted a double off the leftcenter field wall and scored Appling.

Hamman followed with a single to right-center field and scored Skow to put the 'Birds up 2-0 at the end of the inning.

Hamman continued his mastery of the Falcons through three innings while the defense backed him up with solid play. El Campo's bats struck again in the third inning.

Tyler Socha drew a lead-off walk and set up a costly play.

Blake Korenek came up to give a sacrifice bunt and put Socha in scoring position, but Foster's defense was slow to react. Korenek's speed came through and he took first base with a bunt single.

In for the RBI, much like the first inning, was Skow with a big shot. He crushed a pitch off of the right-field wall for a double and brought in Socha for a score.

Two at-bats later, Chase Bullard hit a chopper to third base. Skow dodged the tag at third with a slide and Korenek scored the second run of the inning.

El Campo had a 4-0 lead moving into the top of the fourth.

The Ricebirds lead was erased in one quick attack by the Falcons.

Foster rallied for five runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-4 advantage over El Campo.

After they took the lead, the Falcon defense and pitching took charge of the game. Foster took care of the Ricebirds with three up and three down for the fourth, fifth and sixth innings while scoring two more runs in the fifth.

By holding El Campo scoreless and hitless, Foster took a 7-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh, when the Ricebirds gave the game one last shot.

Taylor Graham and Chris Quinn both struck out to start the inning.

Holden Whitley followed with a long at-bat and ended up taking first when Foster's pitcher hit him. Cullen Pickett came in for a pinch run.

The final at-bat was a great attempt by Socha. He lasted through several pitches while trying to find the perfect one to move Pickett around the bases. Socha finally went down on a called strike to end the night.

It was a good effort by the 'Birds, but Foster finished with a 7-4 win.

El Campo finished its series with Foster Friday at Richmond The Ricebirds will travel to Katy Tuesday for a match with Seven Lakes before returning to El Campo for back-to-back home games.

The 'Birds will host Seven Lakes April 18 and Lamar Consolidated April 22 for the final home games of the season. April 25 will be the last regular season game for the Ricebirds at Rosenberg against Lamar Consolidated.