HUGHSON,CA -- Hughson battles its way to a 13-11 victory over Modesto Christian on Wednesday afternoon, in a back-and-forth slugfest which saw the Huskies rally from a four-run deficit and then hold off a late charge from the Crusaders.
Hughson started out the scoring in the bottom of the first, loading up the bases before a Colin Miller hit to right brought in Derek Avila to put his team up 1-0.
Modesto Christian, however, responded three runs in the top of the second inning, beginning with Ben Laffoon's single to left field, bringing in Dillon Johnson to knot up the game. Cody Brockman later hit a deep shot to right field, bringing in Laffoon to put his team up by one. Modesto Christian's momentum only continued with Cameron Butler driving in Brockmann to close out the top of the second for a 3-1 Modesto Christian lead.
Hughson matched Modesto Christian's three runs in the bottom of the second, regaining a 4-3 advantage. With the bases loaded, Jeremiah Langan brought in Spencer Giffen after getting hit by a pitch. Wyatt Kee later hit a deep one to left field to bring in Avila and Joe Runyan, closing the second inning up by one run.
“We stayed positive throughout the game, especially in situations we didn’t like being in,” Avila said. “We play Modesto Christian again tomorrow and we are going to be ready for another long battle."
Modesto Christian responded with three more runs in the top of the third and a pair in the top of fourth, highlighted by Johnson's two-run hit in the fourth, which left the Crusaders up 8-4 at that point.
Hughson needed a handful of runs to catch back up. Langen hit one deep to center field to bring Avila home to begin the comeback effort. Kee kept the momentum going hitting one out to right field, bringing in Langen. Davis then hit a long shot to left field, bringing in Kee. Cooper Ulrich then hit a grounder out to shortstop, bringing in Davis to knot the game up, and Runyan closed out the inning launching one out to left field, bringing in Runyan to give Hughson a one-run lead at 9-8, having scored five times in the bottom of the fourth.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Brockman tied up the game in the top of the fifth.
Hughson struck its decisive blows in the bottom of the sixth. Langen hit one out to right field bringing in Giffen to give Hughson the lead. Hughson's momentum only continued after Kee’s hit out to center field brought in Runyan. Mendes closed the bottom of the sixth out with a big hit to left field, bringing in Langen and Kee. Modesto Christian attempted to catch up to Hughson at the top of the seventh but it was all too late, only bringing in Rory Hansen and Brockman after a Jovon Watkin hit to left field.
“It was a battle throughout the game inning to inning,” Hughson head coach Charlie Garza said. “The guys played great today we play Modesto Christian again tomorrow and we are going to be ready to battle it out again."
“It was a back and forth game,” Modesto Christian head coach Mark Butler said. “Going into tomorrow we definitely need to improve on defense."
Modesto Christian and Hughson will finish out their two-game series on March 29th at Modesto Christian High, with first pitch set for 6:30 pm.
