RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
There are two schools of thought in baseball about what wins games. The first says you won't win unless you score runs. The other is the idea that pitching alone will often create victories.
Last week, the Randolph Rebels American Legion baseball team was able to combine both elements to defeat the Marion Bulldogs 9-3 in what was the final regular season meeting between the two teams.
Rebels starting pitcher Zach Williams was outstanding over the first four frames, not allowing a single hit and striking out nine Marion batters.
In the third inning, Williams issued one walk that led to his only run allowed. He balked that run home but was otherwise stellar with his work.
Randolph used those early innings to build a 5-1 lead, scoring three in the bottom of the first and twice in the bottom of the second.
Leading the way for the Rebels was second baseman Cory Thurchak, who singled in the top of the first and stole two bases. Thurchak scored after a hard shot to shortstop by catcher Brandon Mackin.
Williams helped his cause in the second by getting on base, then came home on an RBI by Thurchak. Later, Mackin singled up the middle to drive Thurchak home to make the score 5-1 as Randolph positioned for the victory.
Nic Walters was adequate and efficient when he came to the mound for Randolph in the fifth. Walters struck out six batters and allowed six hits, with two runs but did his best work with runners aboard. He quieted rallies in the sixth and eighth innings with key strikeouts and was aided by key defensive plays from the Rebel infield.
Other notable performances offensively for Randolph were by Tyler Pumphrey, who went 2-for-5 with one run scored and Brad Thomas, who went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, two stolen bases and a run batted in.
Tyler Hastings came on to pitch and closed the game quickly, needing only six pitches to ice the victory.
Randolph still has six homes games on its schedule up to July 10. The squad is docketed to play in the state tournament at Laredo beginning July 12. Remaining home games at Grater Field during these next two weeks have 7 p.m. start times.