Eagles in distirct in second place

The Ropes Eagles fell 11-3 to the New Home Leopards in a UIL District 4-2A High School Baseball seeding game at Plainview High School on Saturday.

Ropes finishes the regular season in second place in district and will start the bi-district round on Friday at Lubbock Christian High School when they face the Lockney Longhorns in a doubleheader.

Game one for the series starts at 5 p.m.

Mason Marmolejo started on the mound for Ropes. He lasted only one inning, giving up five runs on five hits with two strikeouts.

Bode Franklin went five innings in relief, giving up eight runs on six hits with six strikeouts and four walks.

Ropes were the visitors and were therefore up to bat first.

Logan Addison walked Marmolejo in four pitches to open the game, but then needed only 13 pitches to put the next three batters away.

Marmolejo’s first inning was much the same, with only 15 pitches to retire the side 1-2-3.

Ropes threatened in the second. Addison issued a one out walk to Hayden Torres, then hit Stetson Wims with a pitch. Addison got out of the inning by picking off Torres at second, then striking out Branson Beck for the third out.

The Leopards had Ropes’ number in the second inning. A lead-off double from Mason Turnbow followed by a single from Brody Emert put runners on first and third with no outs.

Ryder Watkins was up next and hit a line drive double to center field that brought Turnbow home and Emert to third base.

Brendan Beckham hit a two RBI triple next, followed by a home run from Ryder Starkey. The bases were cleared but New Home led 5-0 with no outs. That’s when Ropes Coach Blake Jackson decided to make a pitching change.

Marmolejo went to short and Bode Franklin came to the mound. Franklin got Hunter Watkins to a 3-2 count before Watkins hit a double to left field. Jackson Raines was up next and reached on an error that allowed Watkins to come home for a 6-0 New Home lead.

Franklin faced five more batters in the inning, with a strikeout, then two walks and finishing with two strikeouts, but the damage was done.

Ropes put one run up in the top of the third. Marmolejo hit a one out triple, then Garret Gilliam walked.

Braxxin Partington went down swinging, bringing Logan Delgado to the plate. Delgado also went down swinging, but not before Marmolejo scored on a passed ball.

New Home added two runs to the lead in the bottom of the third when Addison singled on a short fly to right field with two outs and bases loaded, bringing Raines and Hunter Watkins home for an 8-1 lead.

The fourth and fifth innings saw both teams go down in order. The Eagles’ last two runs came . in the top of the sixth inning, Gilliam and Partington both took a base after being hit by a pitch, then Delgado hit a double that brought Gilliam home and Partington to third base.

Kade Franklin struck out, then Hunter Torres hit into a fielder’s choice, second base to first base, but Partington came home and Delgado went to third base.

Sims walked to put runners on first and third with two outs, but Beck grounded out to first base to end the inning.

New Home scored two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Emert opened with a walk, then Ryder Watkins struck out and Beckham hit a fly foul that was caught by Logan Delgado.

That brought Ryder Starky up with a runner on first and two outs. Starkey hit a deep triple that brought Emert home.

Hunter Watkins hit a single that brought Starkey home. Raines struck out to end the game.

Marmolejo had a run and a hit as did Gilliam. Partington had a run. Delgado had a hit and an RBI and Torres had one RBI.