Still perfect: Razorbacks rally in ninth to nip Broncos, stay unbeaten

 Texarkana Razobacks' Austin Cross throws against the East Texas Broncos on Friday, June 24, 2016 during the Brandon Warren Memorial Invitational at Joe Blagg Field in Ed Worrell Memorial Park.
Texarkana Razobacks' Austin Cross throws against the East Texas Broncos on Friday, June 24, 2016 during the Brandon Warren Memorial Invitational at Joe Blagg Field in Ed Worrell Memorial Park.

Good teams find a way to win, and that's what the Red River Federal Credit Union Texarkana Razorbacks did clawing from behind to post a 5-4 win over the East Texas Broncos at Joe Blagg Field Friday night.

Behind 3-0 and down to their last out, the Razorbacks got a bases-loaded double from Cole Boyd to tie the game in the seventh. A two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth gave them the win in the American Legion team's opening game of the Brandon Warren Memorial Razorback Invitational.

"We were more lucky than good," coach Dane Peavy said. "We battled. That's something we do well. We persevere. Cole Boyd came through with a big hit for us."

Until that moment, the breaks flowed the way for the Broncos, an American Legion team comprised of players from across northeast Texas. Atlanta, Texas, right-hander Cade Coulter was masterful for the Broncos, holding the hot-hitting Hogs scoreless on just two hits through the first six innings.

At the same time, the Razorbacks were generous hosts, giving the Broncos three runs on the strength of two errors and a balk.

Ryan Gibbons of Jefferson led off the third with a double, move to third on Nate Gibbons' sacrifice bunt and scored on a throwing error.

The visitors made it 2-0 in the fifth when Dalton Warrick of Pittsburg led off with a single, went to third on a throwing error and scored on a balk.

The Broncos increased their lead in the seventh when Tristen Swain drew a one-out walk, moved to second a sacrifice bunt by Warrick, to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error.

Boyd wiped all that out in the seventh with a line-drive double to the gap in right off reliever Phillip Sissons to bring in Austin Stubber, Logan Vidrine and Riley Orr and send the game into extra innings.

The Broncos regained the lead in the ninth when Ryan Gibbons slapped a single through the left side to bring in Levi Hagar, who had led off with a double.

In the bottom of the ninth, Beau Burson drew a one-out walk. Vidrine followed with a walk. Burson, who was in motion on the pitch moved to third when the catcher's throw down to second went into centerfield.

Orr laid down a textbook squeeze bunt to score Vidrine with the tying run. Boyd reached on an infield single to load the bases.

On a 2-2 pitch, Nick Myers hit a hard smash that bounded off the first baseman. By the time the Broncos could recover the ball, Burson had scored the game winner.

 

East Texas Broncos    001    010    001     -    4    4    2

Texarkana Razorbacks    000    003    002 -    5    3    7

One out when winning run scored.

Austin Cross, Tanner Vaught (7) and Cole Boyd; Cade Coulter, Jose Arredondo (7), Phillip Sissons (7) and Alex Bruce. WP-Vaught. LP-Sissons.

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