Gore is RCT runner-up; Webbers Falls 3rd, Gans 6th

PORUM — The Gore Pirates baseball team finished second at the 2024 Riverside Conference Tournament after losing 10-0 to host Porum in Friday evening’s tournament finals. The Pirates reached the title game with two home wins Thursday, beating Keota 13-0 and Webbers Falls 7-1.

The Warriors ended up third after beating McCurtain 8-0 in Friday afternoon’s third-place game in Porum. They opened the tournament with a 10-2 win over Arkoma in Thursday’s openinground game in Gore before falling to the host Pirates in the semifinals. The Gans Grizzlies came in sixth after losing 8-7 in eight innings to Keota in Friday afternoon’s consolation finals in Porum. The Grizzlies only had one other game in the tournament, losing 8-0 to Porum in Thursday’s opening-round game in Porum because they won their consolation semifinal game over Okay by forfeit as the Mustangs did not show up for Day 1 action in Porum.

In the championship game, the Pirates (10-12) were no-hit by Porum starting pitcher Isaiah Sallee, who struck out six batters in three innings.

James Brasuel (1-3) took the loss, despite fanning four batters in 2.1 innings.

In Gore’s opening-round win over Keota, the combination of Dayton Smith and James Brasuel threw a one-hitter. Smith (3-3) went the first 2.2 innings with six strikeouts, then Brasuel got the final out of the game on a strikeout.

The Pirates put away the game early with an eightrun first inning.

For the contest, Brasuel had a single and four runs batted in, Cruz Ward and Waylon Gilley each singled with an RBI and Kyler McGee singled and scored twice for Gore.

In Gore’s semifinal victory over Webbers Falls, Gore starting pitcher Tate Brooksher (4-3) threw a twohitter with 10 Ks.

The Pirates rallied from a 1-0 first-inning deficit with a three-run second inning and a four-run fifth inning.

For the game, Brooksher was 2-for-3, Hunter McGee was 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and three runs batted in, Brasuel was 2-for-3 with a run scored and Smith doubled and scored once for Gore.

In defeat, Maddux Shelby doubled and Braydan Robinson signed with an RBI for the Warriors (15-7).

Stryker Chappell (3-2) suffered the loss, despite striking out three batters but allowing seven runs, six of which were earned, on nine hits.

In the Webbers Falls’ opening-round win over Arkoma, after the Mustangs cut their deficit to 3-2 in the fourth inning, the Warriors erupted for seven runs in the fourth inning to put the game into run-rule status.

For the contest, Brutus Robinson was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, Shelby was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored and Braydan Robinson and Ethan Carey were each 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored for the Warriors.

Braydan Robinson (40) got the win, going all four innings with five strikeouts and throwing a one-hitter.

In the third-place game, Brutus Robinson (6-0) threw a no-hitter with seven strikeouts in four innings.

The Warriors scored three runs in each of the first two innings, then scored twice in the fourth inning to put the game into run-rule status.

For the contest, Braydan Robinson was 3-for-3 with a double, four RBIs and a run scored, Brutus Robinson was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Shelby doubled with two RBIs and three runs scored for Webbers Falls.

In the consolation finals, Keota’s Riggin Buchanan hit a two-out, walk-off RBI single in the eighth inning to break a 7-all tie after the Lions scored twice in the seventh inning to force extra innings.

In defeat, Josh Brunk was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Aiden Garcia doubled for the Grizzlies (4-6).

Nakota White took the loss in relief, going three innings with five strikeouts but allowed the game-winning run to reach base. Clay Martinez started and went the first 3.1 innings with seven Ks. Hunter Walters got the next two outs, one of which was by strikeout. Caleb Martin got the final two outs, but gave up Buchanan’s game-winning, walk-off RBI single in the eighth inning.

In Gans’ opening-round game, Pourm pitcher Gage Scarberry threw a four-inning no-hitter with nine Ks.

Martin took the loss for Gans, despite fanning four batters in three innings.