MURPHY, Ore – The Henley Hornets (16-1; 8-0) trailed by as many as four runs, but rallied to beat Hidden Valley (10-5; 4-2) 7-4 on Thursday. With the win, Henley has recorded 11 straight victories.
Hidden Valley scored two runs in the first inning as Caden Kuhnert hit an RBI single and Brock Lewis knocked in another run on an error by Henley third baseman Max Price. In the third inning Alijah Zauher would score on a wild pitch to improve the Mustangs lead to 3-0. Hidden Valley added one more in the fourth off an RBI single from Wylei Mendez.
Hidden Valley starting pitcher Jack Matthew silenced a Henley lineup who has scored the most runs (181) in the 4A classification. In total Matthew worked 5.0 innings allowing four hits, two runs, walked six, and struck out six. But just like Tuesday, a good start went astray in the top of the sixth inning when the Hornets scored six runs to claim the lead. Matthew only saw two batters in the disastrous sixth and allowed two walks to Lane Frank and Beau Pyle.
Matthew was relieved by Zauher who delivered a wild pitch to Luke Austin allowing Frank and Pyle to move into scoring position. Austin hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Henley’s first run. Wild pitches continued to plague the Mustangs as there would be four more in the inning allowing Hornet’s baserunners to move into scoring position. Connor Shively blasted a two RBI double and would eventually score on a wild pitch. Two Henley walks later and with the game tied at 4-4, Max Price hit a two RBI double to put the Hornets in front.
Mark Carpenter started on the mound for Henley and after looking shaky in the first few innings, the junior found his groove working a complete game allowing seven hits, two earned runs, and two walks. Carpenter struck out seven of the final nine batters he faced and totaled 13 K’s in the contest.
Shively, Austin, Harper, Carpenter, and Price each collected one hit for Henley. Price and Shively contributed two RBI’s on two doubles. Aiden Hayes also knocked in a run. For Hidden Valley, Caden Kuhnert went 2-3 with an RBI. He was the only Mustang with multiple hits.
Henley has this weekend off before hosting Phoenix on Tuesday.
