Bryar Riley turned in a complete-game performance on the mound while Tate VanHooser and Easton Thompson each slugged home runs as Caldwell County won 6-3 Tuesday at Hopkins County Central in 7th District baseball action.
Caldwell (8-7 overall, 1-2 district) never trailed after scoring three times with two outs in the top of the first inning. VanHooser got the scoring started with his homer to left. Thompson then singled home two more runs to give Caldwell its 3-0 lead.
The Tigers made it 4-0 in the second when Oliver Parker singled and later came in on an error. Thompson homered to left with two outs in the top of the fifth to give Caldwell a 5-0 edge.
Hopkins Central (4-11, 2-1) got back in the game with a three-run fifth. Four of the Storm’s six base hits off of Riley came in that frame to make it a 5-3 game. However, Hopkins Central managed just one baserunner the rest of the game.
Caldwell went up 6-3 in the sixth on an RBI single by VanHooser.
Thompson finished the day 2-for-3 offensively, driving in three runs and scoring once. VanHooser was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored. Parker went 2-for-4.
Austin Scarbrough was the only player for Hopkins Central with more than one base hit, going 2-for-3.
Riley struck out 10 and walked just one to pick up the pitching victory for Caldwell.
The Tigers and the Storm are scheduled to meet again Thursday at the VFW Ballpark in Princeton.
