Lockney's Nathan Ceniceros hits a grand slam home run during Lockney's final home game of the season on April 26, 2022. (Cervantes Photography/Used with Permission)
AMARILLO – Six was the lucky number for the Lockney Longhorns in winning Game 1 of their Area
playoff series with an 8-6 win over the Gruver Greyhounds at Caprock’s Longhorn Field on Thursday.
The Longhorns (18-7) utilized a six run explosion in the second inning, and then broke a 6-6 tie in
the sixth frame by scoring two runs to take a hard fought 8-6 win to go up 1-0 in the best-of-three baseball series. Game 2 will be at Caprock on Friday at 3:30pm, with Game 3 to immediately follow if needed.
The Longhorns got a two RBI homerun from Josh Jimenez and a two run double by Nathan Cineceros to highlight the second inning. Lockney took advantage of a couple of Greyhound errors and a
passed ball for Cineceros and Autstin Rodriguez to score the winning runs in the sixth frame.
Gruver (12-5) tied the game 6-6 by scoring four runs in the third inning and two more in the fifth
frame. The Greyhounds attack was highlighted by Colton Millsap going 2-3 including a double for two
RBI. Gruver had two more extra base hits with Mason Gibson hustling out a triple, and Jefferson
Weaver slapped a double.
The two teams had seven hits apiece. Rodriguez picked up the win on the mound of pitching
2.2-innings of relief of starter Josh Jimenez. Rodriguez allowed two hits and three three strikeouts, while Jimenez gave up six runs on five hits and fire 7-K’s.
Lockney should be in good shape for pitchers on Friday with Dyllan Thiebaud (7-2) and Pablo
Morales (3-2) available as potential starters, plus Rodriguez still has innings to use in a relief situation.
GRUVER – 0 0 4 0 2 0 0 – 6 7 4
LOCKNEY – 0 6 0 0 0 2 x – 8 7 3
WP – Austin Rodriguez (4-0), LP – Jefferson Weaver
records: Lockney (18-7), Gruver (12-5)
HR – (Lock) Josh Jimenez
Triple (Gruv) Mason Gibson
Doubles – (Lock) Nathan Cineceros, (Gruv) Weaver, Colton Millsap
OTHER DIST 3-2A results:
(Wed) New Deal wins series over Wellington by winning two games 8-5, 2-1.
Lions (19-4) advance to Region Quarterfinals to play the New Home Leopards (25-2).
New Home took two straight from the Sunray Bobcats 12-2, 14-2 on Thursday at Hodgetown in Amarillo. New Deal is the 3-2A Champion, while New Home is the winner of 4-2A.
(Fri) Ralls Jackrabbits (18-9) start their best-of-three Area series with the Clarendon Broncos (17-4) at Bulldog Park in Plainview.
