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Staff Reports

Nolan Hable got the final out on a strikeout with the tying run at third as the Tyler Legacy Red Raiders defeated the defending district champion Rockwall-Heath Hawks, 3-2, on Tuesday at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Mike Carter Field.

The Red Raiders improved to 8-7 on the season as Hable picked up his second consecutive save after Legacy defeated Port Neches-Groves on Friday in Lufkin. The Hawks fall to 9-5. Rockwall-Heath went through district last year unbeaten. Legacy snapped a nine-game losing skid to the Hawks, dating back to a 3-2 win on March 12, 2019.

Hable came into the game in the seventh to record the final three outs. After a leadoff walk, Hable came into the game to relieve Calvin Rippy, who pitched two innings (0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts).

Braxton Gordon walked to open the inning. After Hable came in, Riley Ward ran for Gordon and moved to second on Alex Cooley’s sacrifice bunt. Hable struck out the next batter, but Ward moved up to third as Brady LaDusau reached on an infield single. Hable then struck out the final hitter for the win.

Rockwall-Heath took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Cooley reached on a single and moved to second on a pickoff attempt and to third on a wild pitch. He scored on Hunter Bulin’s sacrifice fly.

The Red Raiders tied the game in the bottom of the first as Garner McKinney doubled and scored on Cale Zips’ double off the wall.

In the third inning, Legacy plated two runs to take a 3-1 lead. After an out, Payne Hotman worked a walk and moved to second with two outs as Zips was hit by a pitch.

Simeon Garner’s double knocked in two runs as the ball fell between the Hawks’ two outfielders and their second baseman in shallow right field. It was Garner’s 14th and 15th RBIs of the season.

Rockwall-Heath pulled within 3-2 in the fourth.

Mick Randle, who had walked and moved to second on a balk, scored on Gordon’s RBI.

Zips pitched the first three innings, plus one batter in the fourth. He allowed three hits and two runs (1 earned) with three walks and three strikeouts.

Jaden Davis then pitched one inning, allowing one hit with one strikeout before Rippy took over.

The Red Raiders and Hawks play again on Friday with a 7 p.m. contest in Heath.