The formula the North Forney Falcons used in winning 23 of their first 27 baseball games was pretty simple. Good pitching, timely hitting, and not compounding mistakes in the field had led the Falcons to 23-3-1 overall, and an 8-0 start in District 13-5A play. That record was good enough to place North Forney one game ahead of the 7-1 Highland Park Scots and earn them a top-ten state ranking.
However, the Falcons got a dose of their own medicine at Highland Park on Tuesday, 4/13, as they could not take advantage of three HP errors in a 4-1 loss to open the two-game series between district leaders. The result left them tied at 8-1, with one game left to play against HP (a home game scheduled for Monday, 4/19, following Friday’s rain out), and five total games left in the district season.
Having scored in the first inning five times in their previous eight district games, the Falcons saw the Scots turn the tables, using a long double to left field off the bat of leadoff hitter Harrison Dugger, a wild pitch to get Dugger to third, and a sacrifice bunt by Braden Jirovec to push a run across in the bottom of the first inning.
Sophomore pitcher Preston Crow (6 IP, 4 ER, 7H, 4 K, 1 BB), who came into the game with a 4-0 district record, never looked comfortable against HP as he gave up district season highs in both runs and hits.
After giving up the early run, Crow found himself in trouble again in the first as he hit catcher Josh Bowers with a pitch and a gave up a single to shortstop Preston Gamster. Gamster’s routine fly ball to short centerfield was lost above the ceiling created by the Scotland Yard lights, landing 30 feet from the closest fielder, allowing both runners to take an extra base. Crow was able to avoid more damage when he got Hunter Kraus to fly out to center.
Trailing by one, the Falcons quickly tied the game in the top of the second inning when first baseman Jaden Gonzalez sent Calvin Williams’ first pitch over the centerfield fence. Gonzalez had two of the four Falcons’ hits off Williams (7 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 4 K, 0 BB), and the only extra base hit for North.
Four of Highland Park’s seven hits came in the bottom of the third inning as they extended their lead to 3-1. Dugger (2-4, 2 R) opened the inning with a single to right field before Crow set down Patrick Turner on strikes. The strikeout was followed by consecutive singles to Jirovec, Bowers and Gamster, giving the Scots the two-run advantage.
The Falcons had a chance to get back into the game in the top of the fifth when a throwing error by Gamster allowed right fielder JJ Humes to reach second. However, Humes was picked off for the first out of the inning. Following a fly ball out by shortstop Cole Lancaster, designated hitter Cole Cather slapped a hard groundball deep behind third base, giving the Falcons their second baserunner of the inning. Cather was stranded at first when Williams got Falcons’ third baseman Garrett Williams on strikes for the third out.
The Scots’ final run came in the bottom of the fifth inning. After getting two quick outs, Crow walked Gamster. Kraus then drove a 1-1 pitch into right center field. Centerfielder Nick Gray quickly got to the ball, but his throw split the infielders, ending up in foul territory between third base and home, allowing Gamster to come around to score.
Friday’s home game against the Scots was rained out and rescheduled to Monday, 4/19. In addition, the Falcons play their second-to-last series of the season, against Crandall, on Tuesday and Friday of this week, with Friday’s final home game of the season being Senior Night.
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