Colts outlast Lions to claim 3A-3 District Championship

Manila and Rivercrest locked horns Monday afternoon in the finals of the 3A-3 District Championship at Rivercrest. It marked the third meeting between the two old rivals this season, with the Lions capturing the first two contests. Unfortunately for Manila, the third time proved to be the charm for the Colts, who jumped to a seven run lead after six and a half innings, before holding off a late Lion rally to post a 10-8 victory, securing the 3A-3 District Title.

With a strong, swirling wind blowing in from right field, both teams had difficulty judging fly balls during the afternoon. Rivercrest took advantage of a pair of misplayed pop-ups by the Lions to score a pair of runs in the first inning, grabbing a 2-0 lead.

Manila tied things up, scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the third, highlighted by a Shaun Scoggins double. The Colts threatened to blow the game open, scoring three runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings, before tacking on another run in the sixth to take what seemed to be a safe 9-2 lead.

Manila charged back in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs of their own. Dillon May's RBI double was the big blow in the inning. Zac Riley and Caleb Reinhart also provided key RBIs as the Lions sliced the Rivercrest lead to 9-6.

The wind played havoc in Monday afternoon's 3A-3 District Tournament title game between Manila and Rivercrest. A wind blown fly ball falls safely between Lion second baseman Dillon May (left), right fielder Jeremy Goff (laying horizontal) and centerfielder Kyle Joyner (background). The Colts edged the Lions 10-8 to capture the championship.

The Colts answered, scoring an unearned run in the top of the seventh to take a four run lead as the Lions came to bat for the last time. Riley began the Manila seventh with a leadoff walk. Jeremy Goff reached base after being plucked by a Dylan McLemore pitch to put runners at first and second with one out. A two-out RBI single off the bat of Brett Sweatman closed the Lion deficit to 10-8, but McLemore fanned the final Lion batter to end the game.

McLemore went the distance to pick up the win for the Colts, striking out 13 Lion batters while allowing seven hits on the day. Gavin Parker started for Manila and took the loss. Parker worked four innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. Scoggins pitched one inning, giving up three runs, one hit and three walks. Riley finished up for Manila, pitching two innings, allowing two runs, two hits with a strikeout and a pair of base on balls.

May went 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored while Reinhart also had a pair of hits with an RBI, a run scored and three stolen bases to pace the Lion offense. Scoggins doubled, scored a run and stole a base. Goff singled, scored once and stole one base while Sweatman had an RBI single and a run scored.

Manila Lions

Coy Chipman had two singles and a double and drove in three runs to lead the Colts. Austin Griffin singled and tripled while Ethan Brown and Alex Lloyd both drove in two runs apiece.