BACK TO BASEBALL: Jackets top Big Spring, Decatur on opening day

Same opponents up next on Saturday

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Trevor Easter, shown sliding into third base in a game last season, had two hits during a 6-3 Stephenville win against Decatur Friday. || Flash media library

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(February 23, 2018) — Stephenville scored just three runs in two pre-season performances, but some of the questions concerning its offenses were answered when the Yellow Jackets combined to score 15 runs in wins over Big Spring and Decatur, who they turn around and face again in reverse order on Saturday.

Sephenville visits Mineral Wells on Tuesday. The first home game is no until March 13 when Venus visits to begin play in District 8-4A.

Stephenville does not have its full arsenal available. Easton Jones is out as planned following football season. Ones underwent a regenerative procedure as opposed to Tommy John surgery and it paid off, allowing him to play his senior season at quarter. The reigning District 8-4A Pitcher of the Year allowed less than one earned run per seven innings in 2017, posting a final ERA of 0.88 with 89 strikeouts.

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Jones is also a steady bat for the Yellow Jackets. In fact, he belted the only home run of the season for the 2017 Region I-4A quarterfinalists.

There are also players stil competing in basketball as Stephenville challenges No. 7 Wichita Falls Hirschi at 2 p.m. today at Jacksboro High School. This includes catcher and outfielder Kody Storrs, the leading hitter from 2017.

STEPHENVLLE 9, BIG SPRING 6

Zane Smith was near perfect in three innings of relief work with a walk accounting for the only baserunner he was responsible. It was an economical performance with only 38 total pitches to 10 hiters faced. Three of them he sat down on strikes.

Patience was the word of the game for a Yellow Jacket lineup that drew eight walks from Big Spring pitchers. That and two errors mean Stpehenville needed just five his to accumulate RBI ono six runs while three were unearned.

Designated hiiter and later first baseman Gabe Moore was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI, and varsity newcomer Daniel Luna didn’t have a hit but brought in runs on a bases loaded walk and a sacrifice.

The Yellow Jackets appeared in control with four runs in the top of the first. But four Stephenville errors spoiled he efforts of pitcher Caleb Smit, who allowed six runs – four earned – in the opening three innings. Big Spring, which had eight hits in that stretch, scored once in he bottom of the first and twice in the second before takinig a 6-5 lead with a three-run fourth.

That’s when Zane Smith took over and go Jacket defenders out of a bind so they could pick up the sticks and win with four runs in the sixth.

The remaining Stephenville hits were by leadoff-hitting center fielder Gage Graham right fielder Kade Averhoff and second baseman Tyeler Reed.

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STEPHENVILLE 6, DECATUR 3

Stephenville came from behind a second time Friday, overcoming an early 2-1 deficit a run in the bottom of the second and three in the fourth on its way to a 6-3 win over Decatur.

The yellow Jackets had doubles from Jones, who played DH and was 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Moore, the first baseman drove in arun. Gage Graham had a single, was hit by a pitch and pushed two runs across the plate. Second baseman Cade Dunavant singled twice, drove in a run and scored one.

Stephenville was aggressive once on the bases with five steals after swiping three bags against Big Spring.

Luna pitched 4.2 innings with Trent Morrison going the final 2.1. Niether allowed an unearned run, but the Jackets aided Decatur’s efforts by committing four errors for the second straight game.

Morrison did not allow a hit and issued just one walk during his seven-out relief performance. Luna struck out six gave up three hits and issued two walks.

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