Titans use the long ball early and often in win

The Carl Albert Titans started their 2011 baseball season with a trip to Squires Field, Thursday evening, without three contributors still playing basketball. Hard to imagine what they will be with a full squad this season.

The Titans, who are seeking their sixth straight state tournament appearance, needed just five innings to put together a 13-2 run rule against the home stand Jays. Carl Albert jumps out to a 1-0 start to the 2011 season, while the Jays fall to 0-2. The Titans strung out five home runs in five innings.

Sophomore pitcher Cody Reihs made his varsity debut on the mound against one of the best in 5A, and found himself in trouble by walking the lead off hitter, Alex Poston. As it is often said, walked batters come back to haunt pitchers and it did in the next at bat when Chevin Noone blasted a 2-run homer. Reihs walked the next batter, Taylor Hawkins, and Titan third baseman followed that with another 2-run blast to quickly give the visitors a 4-0 first inning lead.

After a 1-2-3 half inning, the Titans added a solo run in the second when Poston started the inning with a triple, who was later scored on a Hawkins sacrifice fly to push the lead up 5-0.

Guthrie picked up their first hit in the second inning with a single from junior catcher Landry Chappell, but a pop up and a double play erased the inning.

Carl Albert added two more runs in the third, but Guthrie responded with a run of their own to get on the board.

Jacob Chappell collected his first hit and RBI.

Junior second baseman Scott Pickle collected his second hit this season with a double to right center and was followed up by freshmen Jacob Chappell’s first varsity hit and single to make it a 7-1 game.

The Titans found the other side of the fence on back-to-back shots in the fourth and was followed up by a double to run Reihs from the mound. Sophomore Kasey Gates came in to retire the only hitter he saw and then continued in the fifth.

In the home half of the fourth, Guthrie loaded the bases after a Bryan Dutton single, Chappell walk, and Hayden Seifert hit by pitch, senior Hunter Gates hit into a fielder’s choice when the Titans could not turn the double play to score Dutton. Gates picked up his first RBI of the season, but the Jays still trailed 9-2.

Carl Albert added four more runs in the fifth on three hits highlighted by Gavin Lavalley’s second home run of the game and held the Jays in the fifth to end the game.

Guthrie will look for win number one on the road in El Reno on Monday. The first pitch is set for 4:30 and both teams will meet again on Tuesday afternoon, at 4:30, in Guthrie before ending the week with McGuinness.

Carl Albert Titans at Guthrie Bluejays Box Score