Senior Cash Linder cruised, and the Tom Bean Tomcats sunk the state-champion Collinsville Pirates, 5-1. The win ended a 57-game district winning streak for Collinsville, who entered the contest ranked #1 in the state by the Texas High School Coaches Association. The win improves the Tomcats to 6-1, 3-0 on the season.
Linder struck out 10 Pirates and allowed 1 run on just 2 hits. The right-hander picks up his 3rd win and lowers his ERA to 1.24. Opponents are hitting just .132 against Linder, and he's allowed 7 hits in 17 innings pitched.
Keaton Reed led the charge on offense, going 3-4 with a double and driving in a run. Donnie Hooten hit a triple in the top of the first inning to score Brayden Bomar and give Tom Bean a 1-0 lead. Hooten finished 2-4 with an RBI and 2 runs scored.
Bomar and Dyson Farris collected 2 hits each, part of a 12-hit barrage by the Tomcats.
The two teams will match up again in Tom Bean on March 24th at 6:30 PM.
The Tomcats will play their home-opener against Tioga on Friday at 6:30 PM.