Until last year, Hurley High school had never won a district baseball title.
Thursday afternoon in Ozark the Tigers made it two in a row as they rolled over the Billings Wildcats 7-2 to claim this year's Class 1 District 5 championship.
The Tigers rode the strong throwing arm of senior southpaw Justice Jones to the victory. Jones (7-3), gave up just two hits to the Wildcats, fanned nine and issued only one free pass in going the distance.
"Justice threw well today but we've had strong pitching all season long," Tiger head coach Page Jones said. "It's been our defense that has been our achilles heel. But today the kids made some big plays for us, behind Justice, to get us off the field. They also battled at the plate coming up with the big hits when we needed them."
Jones went into the game with basically one thing in mind.
"I just wanted to keep them off the bases. They're a good hitting ball club and I didn't want to give them anything today," the Tiger hurler said. "Defensively our team played really well behind me. We had a scare in the sixth inning but I really didn't worry about it too much. My guys stayed with me, we got through it, got the win and a district title."
Wildcat coach Beau Davis credited Jones for playing a pivotal role in the Tiger's victory.
"You have to take your hat off to Justice. We haven't been shut down like that all year long," Davis said. "He pitched a great game hitting his spots all afternoon to keep us off balance. He gave up only two hits to us today and it's hard to score runs with just two hits."
Sophomore shortstop William Pope got the Hurley bats going early in their district tussle with the Wildcats. Pope tripled to right field and then scored on a Billings wild pitch to put the Tigers out in front 1-0.
But the Wildcats came back in the second with one of their own to knot the game up at 1-1. Senior first baseman Kyle Kimberling drove the ball deep over the Tiger's center-fielder for a triple. He found his way home on a Nolan McCain fielder's choice.
With one out in the top of the third Tiger catcher Isaac Carlson layed down a bunt for a base hit. He was followed by Jones who singled to left field. They then moved up a base on a Justin Wilson fielder's choice. That sent up third baseman Dillon Gold to the plate. Gold drilled a base hit to left field to drive both Carlson and Jones in.
Hurley was now out in front 3-1. It would be a lead they wouldn't relinquish. The Tigers put up another score in the fifth and three more in the sixth to close out the Wildcats, who tallied one more time in the sixth, 7-2.
Jones carried the biggest stick for the Tigers picking up two hits in three trips to the plate. He was the only Cat to collect more than one hit.
Kimberling and Caleb Clinton accounted for the Wildcat's two hits, both collecting triples.
Saddled with the loss was Wildcat pitcher Nolan McCain. McCain, a senior who registered three strikeouts, gave up six runs on seven hits and one walk. He got relief help from Reed Harter in the sixth. Harter went one and two-thirds inning giving up one run on two hits and one walk. He struck out three.
As the district champion Hurley now moves on to meet Lockwood in sectional play on Monday.
"It's a great feeling knowing that, even after losing two key players to graduation last year, we could still come back and repeat as Class 1 District 5 champions," Tiger catcher Isacc Carlson said. "Now we move on to sectionals against a very good Lockwood team. We want to play, in the sectionals, with the same mentality we had at district. We want to play good defense and swing the bats the way we did today."
Hurley, who finished third at the 2015 state tournament, currently sits at 16-7 on the year. Billings closed out their 2016 baseball campaign at 14-12.
"We had a good season," Wildcat coach Davis said. "Our kids played well most all year and they won some big games along the way. Today just wasn't our day."
Box Score
Hurley 1 0 2 0 1 3 0 7
Billings 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2
Leading Hitters:
Hurley: Justice Jones 2-3, Issac Carlson 1-1, Chase Simpson 1-3, Justin Wilson 1-3 (3 RBI's), William Pope 1-4 (triple), Austin Jackson 1-4, Dillon Gold 1-4, Wyatt Pope 1-4.
Billings: Caleb Clinton 1-3 (triple), Kyle Kimberling 1-3 (triple).
