MURPHY, Ore – The Henley Hornets (15-1; 7-0) defeated the Hidden Valley Mustangs (10-4; 4-1) on Tuesday. A close game for most of the way through, but a Mustangs meltdown in the sixth allowed Henley to win 13-2.
The teams were scoreless heading into the third inning. Henley worked to manufacture the opening run when Connor Shively grounded out to score Luke Austin. Hidden Valley responded in the bottom half by manufacturing a run of their own. With runner at the corners, the Mustangs’ Wylei Mendez stole second base and Konnor Graham scored from third on an errant throw to cut him down.
The game was tied 1-1 in the top of the 5th where Henley plated two more runs. Shively added his second RBI when he knocked in Lane Frank on a fielders choice. Then Aiden Hayes blasted a double to right field which allowed Beau Pyle to score. Hidden Valley replied by notching a run of their own when Graham again scored on a double steal.
Henley lead 3-2 going to the sixth inning in a game which had been a pitchers dual to that point. Mustangs’ starter Ethan Carlile had thrown well and was working deep into the game, but the sixth inning is when the wheels came off for Hidden Valley.
Max Price scored off an error to improve the Henley lead to 4-2 then Beau Pyle singled with the bases empty. That would be the last base hit in an inning where the Hornets added five more runs. The next sequence of at bats would show walk, error, hit by pitch, hit by pitch, walk, walk, and walk.
That sequence deflated the Mustangs who would not score another run in the game. Henley added four more runs in the seventh. Two of those were off a Shively single giving him five total RBI on the day.
Beau Pyle earned the win to improve to 3-0 on the mound. Pyle worked 6.1 innings allowing six hits, one earned run, and struck out five batters. Mark Carpenter got the final two outs for Henley. Ethan Carlile was hung with the loss after throwing 5,2 innings with six hits, nine runs but only four earned. He walked three and struck out four.
These two teams rematch on Thursday at 5:00 p.m.
