Atlanta falls to White Oak late to start best-of-3 series

GARY, Texas-White Oak left-hander Micah Gibson threw a 2-hitter, and the Roughnecks got to the Atlanta bullpen in the seventh inning to spoil a solid start by Atlanta's Hunter Allen.

Gibson needed 108 pitches to go the distance, stranding a runner at third to end the game as White Oak won Game 1 of the Region II-3A quarterfinal baseball series with a 6-1 victory Thursday at Gary's Bobcat Field.

Game 2 is scheduled for 5 p.m. today back at Gary High School. If Atlanta wins, a third game will be played after a brief intermission.

Gibson struck out 11, walked three-two in the seventh-and hit a batter. He gave up one earned run.

Allen threw 98 pitches in six innings of work. He allowed one earned run on three hits, struck out five, walked four and hit three batters, leaving the game when it was tied 1-1 and taking a no-decision.

After Graham Young was walked to start the seventh-the fourth time he led off a frame and never got out-Jacob Young doubled down the left field line. Dylan Carrell broke the knot with his line drive single to center, plating Graham for the go-ahead run.

A wild pitch scored Jacob Young, giving the Roughnecks a 3-1 advantage. Following a strikeout, a pair of walks loaded the bases. Gibson's sharply hit grounder went through the hole into right field for a two-run single, making it 5-1.

A fielder's choice pushed across the fifth run of the inning as White Oak batted all nine batters in the top of the seventh.

Jake Thompson laced a single into left to lead off the Rabbs' fourth, and after a fielder's choice, Max Ebarb moved to second on a wild pitch. Cade Rosser walked on five pitches with two outs, and Allen singled to shallow center to tie the game.

Gibson struck out the next batter to strand a pair of Atlanta runners in scoring position, keeping the score knotted at 1 after four innings.

White Oak threatened to take the lead right back in the fifth after Graham Young worked a walk, and Jacob Young was hit by a pitch to put two on with no outs.

Carrell's bunt to first went for a successful sacrifice, moving the runners into scoring position. Allen got a come-backer, holding the runner at third before throwing to first, and he struck out the next batter looking to thwart the threat.

The Roughnecks took advantage of a shaky start by Allen to grab the lead in the top of the first.

Graham Young was hit by a pitch three offerings into the game, and a walk to Jacob Young moved him to second. Graham Young swiped third to put runners at the corners, and a balk plated the White Oak leadoff man.

A one-out hit batsman put two on, but Allen got a come-backer to start a 1-4-3 double play to end the inning without any more damage.

Blake Barlow's sharply hit single in the second was saved from extra bases by Atlanta third baseman Cooper McClure, who made a diving stop but couldn't come up with the throw in time to get Barlow. He stole second but was stranded there to end the inning.

Graham Young beat out an infield hit to third to lead off the third inning for the Roughnecks. The next batter's slow roller to first resulted in a fielder's choice, as the ball was dropped on the tag at first but the runner was called out for leaving the base line.

Allen fanned the next batter and got a weak groundout to the catcher to end the threat.

Gibson hit the second Atlanta batter of the game, but he was stranded there on a foul out and strikeout. The Roughneck lefty struck out the side in the second and extended that streak to five consecutive strikeouts to start the third.

Atlanta's Jackson Warren reached on an error and advanced to second on the second out, a groundout to shortstop. A ground ball to first ended the third and kept White Oak ahead 1-0.

Collin Bower started the Roughneck fourth with a line drive hit to center, and a one-out walk put two on. After the second out was recorded, a wild pitch moved the pair into scoring position, but a groundout to short kept the score the same.

Ebarb absorbed the loss for the Rabbs, working 1-3 of an inning and being charged with five runs on three hits.

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Micah Gibson and Graham Young. Hunter Allen, Max Ebarb (7), Kade Wood (7) and Jackson Warren. WP-Gibson. LP-Ebarb.

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