TEXARKANA, Texas -- Texas High watched its 9-5 lead evaporate in the seventh inning against No. 4 Whitehouse as the Wildcats mounted a four-run rally to knot the score at 9-9 going into the Tigers' last half of the inning.
Now it was gut-check time for Texas High coach John McClure and his streaking Tigers, who are playing the best baseball they have all season long.
Leadoff batter Kam Wrightner, who had slugged a run-scoring double two innings before as the hosts went up 8-5, started the seventh with a line-drive single to right.
With first base open, Whitehouse elected to pitch to Knox Pilgreen instead of issuing him an intentional pass to first. The Tiger third baseman whacked a fastball that bounced deep into left field, and Wrightner got the green flag to try to score the winning run.
"It was a fastball, maybe a little outside, but it was hittable," Pilgreen said. "I tagged it pretty good and I knew with Kam's speed that hopefully he could score from second."
The speedy Wrightner was going full speed when McClure, his third-base coach, waved him in, his right arm resembling a propeller spinning in circles. McClure looked like he was signalling in an airliner to go full throttle and take off.
"There was no way I was going to halt Kam on that play," McClure said with a chuckle. "I knew he was wide open and he's very fast on the base paths. Very fast."
Wrightner slid into home plate, but there was no real tag on the runner who gave the Tigers the 10-9 walk-off win.
"Coach was waving me around when I was about halfway to third, so I knew I had to give it all I could," Wrightner said. "I knew it was in my hands when coach waved me to keep going."
The jubilant players erupted from the Texas High dugout and mobbed Wrightner at home plate and Pilgreen at first, celebrating the crucial win over Whitehouse.
"We gave our fans their money's worth," McClure said. "We showed a lot of grit and determination tonight against a state-ranked team. We could have easily quit when we fell behind 4-0, but we didn't. We battled back and showed we can rally against a good team."
Wrightner's run gave the Tigers their second win over No. 4 ranked Whitehouse before a wet crowd that saw light rain, sprinkling and mist cover Tiger Field.
The Tigers moved to 13-8 overall and 7-4 in District 15-5A with the triumph. Texas High, which started off league play 0-3 with three road losses, has won 7 of its last 8 games. The win also snapped Whitehouse's seven-game winning streak.
The Tigers had a dozen hits while holding the Wildcats to six. Jacob High, Wrightner and Yowell had two hits each, and Wrightner and High zapping doubles. Tanner Ross and Rafe Ross also had a double apiece.
Wrightner, Yowell, Pilgreen, Lane Smith, Austin Treadway and both Rosses drove in runs. Wrightner, Brendan Allred and Smith scored two runs each.
"We got several timely hits when we needed them and we had several key bunts that helped us score runs, too," McClure said. "We were aggressive at the plate when we needed to be."
Three Texas High pitchers kept the hosts in the hard-fought game. Starter Worth McMillen gave up five runs on four hits in 3 1/3 innings, but he walked six and struck out one. Hayden Phelps was touched for three earned runs on only one hit in three innings. He walked 2 and hit a batter.
Chandler Williamson got the pitching win despite throwing only 2/3 of an inning. He allowed one run on one hit and fanned one.
"I thought Phelps did a good job of keeping us in the game in the middle innings," McClure said. "We pitched good enough to win and we did."
Garrett Hayes and losing pitcher Michael Morton had two hits and two RBIs each for Whitehouse and center fielder Michael Dudolski, who is headed for Texas A&M, had a run-scoring double.
Dudolski, the Whitehouse ace, is expected to pitch Friday against Hallsville.
The Tigers can solidify their third-place position with a win over Mount Pleasant (16-8, 7-4) at 7 p.m. Friday in Texas High's final home game of the regular season. Texas High's final two league games are on the road at Pine Tree and Tyler.
With the loss, Whitehouse (21-6) drops into a first-place tie with Hallsville (18-7), both sporting 9-2 district marks. Whitehouse edged Hallsville, 2-0, in the first meeting. Whitehouse plays at Hallsville on Friday in the game that may determine the district champion. The Bobcats edged the Wildcats, 13-1 to 12-2, in last year's district race.
Marshall and Longview shared fifth place at 5-6, with Pine Tree 2-9 and Tyler (0-11) bringing up the rear. The last-place Lions have been run-ruled in every district game this season.