VERDEN – First-year coach Cody McHugh’s Tigers celebrated their home opener at Roy Edwards Field Friday with a pair of wins, including one big upset.

They rolled over Cyril 12-1 for a game one run-rule then fought back from a six-run deficit to upset ninth-ranked Lookeba-Sickles 13-8 in the nightcap.

Tyler Mitchell got the easy win against the over-matched Pirates, who were playing their first game following the basketball playoffs, with 13 strikeouts as the Tigers beat up on starter Dan Mehringer and Ray Pierce, who took over in the third inning.

Mehringer got in trouble early, walking the bases full then walking in a run and allowing three more on wild pitches before striking out freshman nine-hole Denver Blevins with the sacks re-loaded to end it.

Shortstop Colton Henricks’ opposite-field two-run homer and Mehringer’s fifth wild pitch spotted the Tigers another three runs before he struck Blevins out again with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Catcher Braden Henricks’ two run single extend the lead to 9-0 in the third then Blevins got some payback in the home fourth, stepping in for the third consecutive trip with the bases loaded, but he drilled a hard shot past third to score two runs then McComas drove in another with a double to the fence in right-center to get out to a dozen.

Buc center-fielder Eric Parks singled to start the fifth and got the only run of the game with a brazen steal of home before Mitchell got out one on a pickoff and finished it strong with two more strikeouts.

McHugh told his kids between games that Lookeba would be a whole different story and to play at their best level, win or lose, for the entire seven innings. They did.

John Molz got the start against the Panthers but got chased in the third inning after giving up six runs. Braden Henricks got Verden out of the jam but got nicked for two more runs.

But down 8-2, the Tigers exploded for eleven unanswered runs in the fifth and sixth then held Lookeba off in the top of the seventh for the comeback upset.

Molz, Craig Hannah, James Boyer and Colton Henricks finished with two RBIs each and Austin Adams had one.

Henricks got the win in 4.2 innings’ relief work, giving up two runs (one earned), striking out four and walking three.



ON DECK: The Tigers (3-2) will play Thursday and Friday at the Union City Festival. They’ll be at Minco HS Thursday for a 10 a.m. game with Konowa and a 4 p.m. matchup with Bowlegs. On Friday they’ll move over to El Reno HS to play Whitesboro at 10 a.m. then wrap up with the Dale JV at 4 p.m.