Leon Scores 17 Runs, Defeats Rickards

By Rick Burnham

Leon High School collected double digit hits enroute to a 17-5 five-inning victory over visiting Rickards under threatening skies Monday at Leon.
A trio of Lions led the way with a pair of hits apiece, including leadoff hitter Eddie Castillo, who led off the game for his team with a bunt single and added another single in the third. Chase Davis singled in the second inning and tripled in the fourth, while Anthony Grant picked up a pair of hits.

The Raiders actually led the game early, scoring four times in the first inning. Jayden Jones’ single scored Jalen Wiggins, who had opened the game with a line drive double to left.

But the Lions came right back in their half of the first, scoring three times on two hits, including an RBI double by Landon Allen.

Leon then put the game away with seven runs in the second on five walks and three hits. Baker Safely’s RBI single scored both Grant and Silas Blanton to put the home team up 10-4.

Rickards scored a single run in the top of the third, but Phillip Garcia, in his first action on the mound all season, came in to strike out a Raider hitter with the bases loaded to end the threat.

Leon Head Coach Robbie Zimmerman said Garcia’s performance may have been the pivotal moment of the game.

“He really helped us out in that bases loaded situation,” he said. “He has been injured, and that is the first he has thrown all season. He is going to give a little jolt of confidence to our team.”

Garcia remained in the game in the fourth, and struck out the side to douse any hopes that Rickard may have had about coming from behind.

Leon got another three runs in the bottom of the third and four more in the bottom of the fourth to win going away. Davis’ two-run triple to the right field wall was the big hit, while Jay Campbell and Kieren Hemenway each drove in a run with a base hit.

Safely pitched a scoreless fifth inning for the winners, who improved to 9-4 on the season with the win. Rickards fell to 5-5 with the loss.