- Spring’s Pitcher Jeremy Kivel stands in after a soild perfomance, striking out 9 Cougars Tuesday night at Cougar Field
Kivel strikes out nine in his first start of the season to lead the Lions
Tomball – After starting district play 4-0, the Spring Lions had dropped their last three decisions as the first half of district play had ended. That’s when Lion’s Coach Doug Rush turned to his bull pen for answers and yes the pen prove to be true.
Junior Jeremy Kivel pitched five and 1/3 scoreless innings stunning the home crowd and defeating Tomball 7-0 on Tuesday night at Cougar Field. With the win the Lions (12-5, 5-3) sweep the regular season series 7-6, 7-0.
In the first meeting the Lions trailed 6-0 late in the game but thanks to a big 5-run inning along with Nick Marti’s walk off homer in the bottom of the seventh to give the Lions the victory.
Both teams entered the game tied in the fourth place spot.
Kivel, who was supported by a 12 hit offensive attack was solid on the mound, yielding one hit, struck out nine and walked four for his first win of season as a starter.
“I just wanted to come out here and get the job done because our team had been losing a lot and this is my first start in a long time,” said Springs Pitcher Jeremy Kivel. “We need to get back in the running for the playoffs. I have confidence in my fast ball and my slider.”
Tomball’s (11-10, 4-4) best chance for points came in the bottom of the first inning when T.J. Anderson doubled to center, Troy Gillen was hit by a pitch before Nick banks went down on strikes. Clean up Hitter Jordan Henry hit in what appeared to be a double play when short stop Orlando Quiroga fielded the routine grounder as he threw to second base where Ryan Leleux dropped the ball leaving the bases loaded with one out. Kivel then battled back to fanned Rahm Spence and chase Daniels to retire the side.
“Spring played a great ball game, you till your hat to them, Tomball’s Coach Rick Lynch said. “We’ll come out tomorrow workout and try to get better. I’m disappointed, it was a surprise, I really thought we’d score some runs. We had opportunities early in the game, we had the bases loaded but we didn’t get anything out of it and we had first and second and didn’t get anything out of it.”
The Lions scored the only run they would need on the night in the top of the second. Brandon George smoked a single to left field that ricocheted off the glove of third baseman Rahm Spence. David Collins drew a walk on balls with runners on second and third. Right after, Quiroga’s RBI infield single drove in the winning run.
“It was a huge win, we’ve been struggling, we lost three straight ball games after starting off 4-0,” said Spring Coach Doug Rush. ” We were getting hammered so we gave the ball to Jeremy Kivel and he stepped up big for us and threw a gym, so I’m real proud of him and we’re really starting to hit the ball again. That’s the old spring Lions are back.”
In the third inning Spring continued to score, this time with back to back home runs from third baseman Nick Marti and Center Fielder Dustin Luna to increase the lead 3-0.
Spring added two more runs in the fifth and seventh innings to finish out the game.
The Lions will face DeKaney Friday April 8th at home while Tomball travels to Klein Forest on Friday.
Tomball – After starting district play 4-0, the Spring Lions had dropped their last three decisions as the first half of district play had ended. That’s when Lion’s Coach Doug Rush turned to his bull pen for answers and yes the pen prove to be true.
Junior Jeremy Kivel pitched five and 1/3 scoreless innings stunning the home crowd and defeating Tomball 7-0 on Tuesday night at Cougar Field. With the win the Lions (12-5, 5-3) sweep the regular season series 7-6, 7-0.
In the first meeting the Lions trailed 6-0 late in the game but thanks to a big 5-run inning along with Nick Marti’s walk off homer in the bottom of the seventh to give the Lions the victory.
Both teams entered the game tied in the fourth place spot.
Kivel, who was supported by a 12 hit offensive attack was solid on the mound, yielding one hit, struck out nine and walked four for his first win of season as a starter.
“I just wanted to come out here and get the job done because our team had been losing a lot and this is my first start in a long time,” said Springs Pitcher Jeremy Kivel. “We need to get back in the running for the playoffs. I have confidence in my fast ball and my slider.”
Tomball’s (11-10, 4-4) best chance for points came in the bottom of the first inning when T.J. Anderson doubled to center, Troy Gillen was hit by a pitch before Nick banks went down on strikes. Clean up Hitter Jordan Henry hit in what appeared to be a double play when short stop Orlando Quiroga fielded the routine grounder as he threw to second base where Ryan Leleux dropped the ball leaving the bases loaded with one out. Kivel then battled back to fanned Rahm Spence and chase Daniels to retire the side.
“Spring played a great ball game, you till your hat to them, Tomball’s Coach Rick Lynch said. “We’ll come out tomorrow workout and try to get better. I’m disappointed, it was a surprise, I really thought we’d score some runs. We had opportunities early in the game, we had the bases loaded but we didn’t get anything out of it and we had first and second and didn’t get anything out of it.”
The Lions scored the only run they would need on the night in the top of the second. Brandon George smoked a single to left field that ricocheted off the glove of third baseman Rahm Spence. David Collins drew a walk on balls with runners on second and third. Right after, Quiroga’s RBI infield single drove in the winning run.
“It was a huge win, we’ve been struggling, we lost three straight ball games after starting off 4-0,” said Spring Coach Doug Rush. ” We were getting hammered so we gave the ball to Jeremy Kivel and he stepped up big for us and threw a gym, so I’m real proud of him and we’re really starting to hit the ball again. That’s the old spring Lions are back.”
In the third inning Spring continued to score, this time with back to back home runs from third baseman Nick Marti and Center Fielder Dustin Luna to increase the lead 3-0.
Spring added two more runs in the fifth and seventh innings to finish out the game.
The Lions will face DeKaney Friday April 8th at home while Tomball travels to Klein Forest on Friday.