The Rockdale Tigers have yet to scratch the win column in District 20-3A play as hard luck losers, dropping all fi ve league games by a total of only 11 runs.
It shows they have a lot of fi ght, no matter what the outcome.
Rockdale, 4-8 overall, got off to another rocky start Friday hosting Cameron, but were able to recover before succumbing in the fi nal inning 6-4.
Once again, errors plagued the Tigers as they committed seven miscues in the contest, including four in the third inning.
Rockdale actually jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with some solid hitting, when Josh Springer opened the second inning with a single to right and was brought home on Zac Young’s double to centerfi eld.
After dodging a bases loaded situation in the top of the fi rst, four errors in the third cost the Tigers dearly as the Yoemen used just two singles to cross the plate three times.
Leadoff man Bryce Brashear opened the inning with a single up the middle and after moving to second base on a wild pitch, Rockdale committed two throwing errors on Jason Llanas’ infi eld hit to score Brashear.
Zach Andress’ bunt single was next and after Tiger pitcher Tyler Caldwell got Alex Alonso to fl y out and then struck out Anthony Layne and the Tigers were set up to exit the inning with minimal damage.
But an error on Garrett Roeder’s fl y ball and a throwing error on the same play allowed Llanas and Andress to scamper home for a 3-1 lead.
However, the Tigers fought right back, scoring three runs in their half of the third inning, all with two outs.
Hitting out of the nine-spot, Landon Towns smacked a double to right fi eld but was in danger of being left stranded after Caldwell lined out to third base and Devon Whitsel was caught looking.
Jackson Perry saved the inning by slapping a double to right fi eld to plate Towns and Springer followed up with a single to score Perry and then Young went opposite fi eld with a double of his own to send Springer home and Rockdale regained the lead 4-3 after its disastrous third.
The Tigers could muster up just one more hit—another Perry double in the fi fth—the rest of the way.
Cameron tied the game at 4-all in the fi fth on another Rockdale error and in the seventh, after back-to-back walks, Rick Fuentes singled to left to score Alonso and Anthony Layne for a 6-4 fi nal.
Cameron pitcher Alonso was a workhorse for the Yoemen in his complete game performance, striking out nine batters and allowing seven hits on 107 pitches. The righthander walked just one batter.
Ryker Zinn (0-2) absorbed the loss in relief of starter Caldwell and allowed just two hits. Cameron had only fi ve hits on the evening—all singles.
At the plate, Young’s two timely doubles and two runs batted in paced the Tigers. Perry also clubbed two doubles, while Springer added two singles and an RBI.
Perry is putting together another outstanding year as the junior catcher is leading the Tigers with a .353 average, eight extra base hits and 12 runs batted in.
In the 6-4 loss to Rogers Monday night on the road, the Tigers (4-8 overall) fought back from a 6-1 defi cit, posting three runs in the seventh, but came up short.
Again, Rockdale leapt out to an early 1-0 lead in the second, but Rogers countered with runs in the bottom of the third to grab the lead.
Perry banged out a single and two runs batted in for the Tigers in the comeback seventh, while Colby Monroe clubbed an RBI double and Whitsel chipped in a single and RBI.
Davis took the loss in three innings of work, allowing just three hits and fanning four before giving way to J.J. Moreno.
The Tigers get back to work Thursday with a game in Jarrell.
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