Published: May 19, 2008 11:22 am         

Trenton rallies past Santo in regional quarterfinals

By Craig Holamon
sports@mineralwellsindex.com

DENTON — The Trenton Tigers scored 10 first-inning runs and took a 16-0 win over the Santo Wildcats in regional quarterfinals title play on Friday at Denton’s Guyer High School.

The Tigers sent 14 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning of a game that ended after five innings via the 10-run rule.

Trenton climbed to 24-7 on the season and advanced to the Class 1A Region II semifinals.

The loss left Santo with a 16-8 record and ended a Mineral Wells area high school sports year that began during the first week of August.

While Santo head baseball coach Randy Thornton credited Trenton with a solid performance, it was easy to see he was extremely proud of the kind of season his team had.

“We had a great season. We struggled early but the kids persevered and worked hard and got better,” Thornton said. “We ended up having a good year. I’m proud of them, they’re the reason we’re standing out here today. We didn’t play our best game today. Trenton really has a good team.”

Kevin Jones started on the mound and suffered the loss.

Nick Riggs, Bradley Thornton, John Baker and J.

T. Edwards each saw duty on the hill for the Wildcats.

Trenton southpaw Pate Hubbard, who took the win on the mound, and relief pitcher Michael Foreman threw a combined one-hitter.

Hubbard, who picked up the win on the mound, gave up a first-inning single to Santo’s leadoff hitter Colt Price and issued two walks in four innings. The lefty from Trenton piled up six strikeouts and issued two walks during the first four innings.

Foreman took over for Hubbard and struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth.

Trenton’s Chris Pallard belted a three-run home run in the first inning and added a double while Ryan McCarley four hits and had four runs batted in.

The Wildcats won a district championship and took an area title before ending the season with the loss in the quarterfinals.



Class 1A Region II Quarterfinals

Trenton 16, Santo 0

Trenton (10)02 40 — 16 15 0

Santo 000 00 — 0 1 3

Pitchers/catchers: Trenton Pate Hubbard, Michael Foreman (5) and Brock Murphy; Santo Kevin Jones (LP), Nick Riggs (1), Bradley Thornton (3), John Baker (4), J.T. Edwards (5) and John Baker, Ethan Chesnut (4), John Baker (5). 2B Trenton Pate Hubbard, Chris Pallard. HR Trenton Pate Hubbard. Trenton record 24-7. Santo record 16-8.