Minden 7
Lakeside 0
Minden pushed two runs across in the fourth to break a scoreless tie with Lakeside and never looked back on their way to a 7-0 victory.
Trace Francis pitched a gem for the Tide, going all seven innings, striking out eight batters and allowing just two hits in a shutout effort. Francis led the charge at the plate also, going 2-3 with a single double and three RBIs, but it was Justin McCready who sparked the Tide in the fourth, doubling to right center for the first run of the game.
Hunter Wilkes followed with an RBI single to left, scoring McCready. Wilkes finished 2-3 with two RBIs, Peyton Gray went 1-3 with an RBI single while Aubrey Dennis and Gunner Stephens each finished 2-3 with a two singles.
Jake Gray and Brayden Jones had Lakeside’s two hits and Tanner Page took the loss despite a solid effort from the senior right-hander.
Minden 9
Calvary 6
The Tide saw a three-run lead disappear in the top of the sixth inning, but answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to earn an impressive win over Calvary.
Minden used three pitchers in the game, led by starter Clint Ray who gave the Tide four solid innings, striking out three batters. Hunter Wilkes gave the Tide five outs and Austin Wall got the final four outs to be the winning pitcher.
The Tide were led offensively by junior Matt Eskew’s solo home run, his first of the season. Peyton Gray added a two-RBI single for the Tide. Senior Cade Coleman had an extra base-hit with a double, Trace Francis, Gunner Stephens and Hunter Wilkes singled for Minden and Gavin Smith and Wall each had RBIs.
Minden 8
Natchitoches Cent. 2
Minden made it a weekend sweep Saturday night, topping Natchitoches Central in the tournament’s last game.
Justin McCready was the winning pitcher, going three innings, striking out four batters and allowing two hits and two runs. Austin Wall (3IP) and Jordan Lyday (1IP) threw in relief.
Gavin Smith went 3-3 with three singles and an RBI to lead the way, followed by Cade Coleman going 1-2 with an RBI double. Trace Francis drove in one run with a single, as did Hunter Wilkes. Peyton Gray added a single and Justin McCready had two RBIs.
Minden’s overall record improved to 4-2. They will take on Lakeside at Griffith Stadium, Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Lakeside 6
Natchitoches Cent. 3
Brayden Jones tossed all seven innings, the bats got hot and Lakeside earned their first win of the season as a result, topping the Natchitoches Central Chiefs 6-3.
The Warriors got clutch hits from Jake Gray (3-3, two singles, double), Tanner Page (2-3, two singles, two RBI) and Cameron Gray (2-4, single, double, RBI). Dalton Crumpler added an RBI single.
Jones struck out four batters and allowed only two hits in limiting the Chiefs to three runs.