BASEBALL: Trinity bats stay busy in high-scoring tangle with Tallulah Falls

Trinity played another non-region contest prior to the state playoffs with their final home game against Talluah Falls over the weekend.  

The Crusaders’ hot offensive streak continued as they built a pair of solid leads, but ultimately had to hold on for a 12-10 win.

The visiting Indians got on the board first, putting two runners on with a single and a double, then scoring on a squeeze bunt to go up 1-0.

Trinity wasted no time answering as Asher Evans led off the bottom of the first with a double. Kolbi Grooms followed with a bunt single. The late throw got away from the first baseman, allowing Evans to score and Grooms to go to third and make it 1-1. Grooms would later score on an error to make it 2-1.

Asher Evans singled again with one out in the second and Grooms would follow with a walk. Carter Lee, who had a huge day at the plate, came up next with an RBI double to make it 3-1. Tayt Evans then continued his torrid stretch with another double to drive in a pair and make it 5-1 Crusaders.

Talluah Falls would get back into the game in the third by plating five runs. A bases-loaded walk would make the score 5-2. A single scored another run, then a two-run double tied the game at 5-5 and knocked Grooms out of the contest. A wild pitch later in the frame would give the Indians a 6-5 advantage.

The lead was short-lived at Trinity went right back to work in the home half of the third. Blake Sims led off with a single. Following an out, Luke Williams, who was making his first varsity start, worked a walk.  Asher Evans came up next with an RBI single to tie the game back up at 6-6.

Grooms followed with a single to load the bases for Lee. The all-state performer came up huge with a grand slam to left to put Trinity back on top 10-6.

Lee doubled to lead off the fifth. He then advanced to third on a ground out, and scored when the throw got away to make it 11-6.  Brayden Underwood followed with a solo homer, his second in as many games, to put Trinity up 12-6.

That score held until the seventh, when Talluah Falls tried to mount a rally. 

A leadoff double followed by a pair of hit batters with one out loaded the bases. A fielder’s choice plated a run to make it 12-7. After a walk, the Crusaders extended the game with a costly error to make it 12-8.  Back-to-back singles would score two more and get the Indians to within 12-10, but a strikeout sealed the win.

Lee and Asher Evans had three hits each to lead the 14-hit attack. Grooms, Underwood and Tayt Evans had a pair apiece, while Sims and Jake Johnson also hit safely. Lee drove in six. 

Asher Evans got the win on the mound in relief as he worked four scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, no walks and no runs, while striking out four.

Trinity (14-6 and No. 3 in the state power rankings) will close out its regular season this weekend with a road trip to visit Piedmont on Friday, and then play a rematch at Talluah Falls on Saturday.