TLCA Hangs on to Win District Opener Against Grape Creek, Extend Winning Streak

SAN ANGELO, TX-- The TLCA Eagles came from behind and held off a rally by the Grape Creek Eagles to win 5-4 in their District 4-3A opener on Tuesday.

Grape Creek opened the scoring with a two-run first inning off TLCA starting pitcher Thomas Laney. TLCA would match that in the bottom of the second thanks to a two-run double from Adrian Ybarra, tying the game at two.

Each team would hang zeros in the run column during the third inning before TLCA took the lead with a two-out, three-run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Cody Zapata gave TLCA the lead with a two-run double to left field before Ybarra drove Zapata in with a single to left field, making it 5-2 TLCA.

Grape Creek would plate two more in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to one run. But that was all that Laney would allow.

TLCA's starter went six-and-two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on four hits with 12 strikeouts in the win.

Nathan Tapia came on for one out in the bottom of the seventh to close out the game.

TLCA improves their win streak to six games and their record to 10-6 overall and 1-0 in district play. Grape Creek falls to 1-6 overall and 0-1 in district.

TLCA travels to Sonora (3-4, 1-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. while Grape Creek will host Reagan County (12-4, 0-1) at 4 p.m. on Friday.