The Douglas High boys baseball team celebrates after Gabe Natividad's walk-off hit in the 12th inning against Spanish Springs in the Class 5A regional consolation round.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
In one of the longest games of the year, Douglas High baseball kept its season alive by the skin of its teeth. A 12-inning game originally went into extra innings tied at 6-all. In the top of the 12th, the Cougars scored the go-ahead run. However Spanish Springs’ lead was short lived as Gabe Natividad drove in the game-winning runs in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the frame. To start the inning, Jeffrey Peters was hit by a pitch and Owen Evans reached on an error. With those two on, Thomas Young singled into shallow left field and loaded the bases. A fielder’s choice on the next at-bat left the Tigers down to their final out. Natividad grounded the ball to short, scoring Evans. A throwing error by Spanish Springs allowed Young to come around from second to win the contest. Douglas will be back on its home field Friday for a 1 p.m. start against No. 3 Bishop Manogue. The winner of that contest will play Galena in the consolation finals at 4 p.m., for a spot in the state tournament. Reno blanked the Grizzlies, 10-0, Thursday in the regional semifinal.
(Gavin Davis makes a diving catch in the outfield in the Tigers' 7-6 win over 12 innings against Spanish Springs. Douglas will host Bishop Manogue tomorrow with the winner moving into the consolation finals. / Ron Harpin)
Around the statbook Ashton Davenport and Young had three-hit performances with Davenport getting credit for two RBIs. Natividad and Carson Hill both recorded multi-hit games as well. Tasked with the bulk of extra innings, James Hubbard threw 5.2 innings without allowing a hit and striking out nine. With the bases loaded in the top of the 12th, Natividad got the final out on a groundout to shortstop Carter Bleeker. Keegan Snooks had six strikeouts in six innings with four earned runs allowed on five hits and two walks.
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