After winning Tuesday night on Michael Reed’s walk-off home run, it would have been easy for Grayson County (Texas) Community College to have a letdown in its next game.
The Vikings, however, didn’t miss a beat against Shelton State (Ala.) Community College on Wednesday night, defeating the Buccaneers 13-2 in five innings.
“We did a good job of separating the two games,” Grayson coach Dusty Hart said. “We had a chance for a letdown, not because this game isn’t important, but because there was so much emotion involved (Tuesday night). We told the guys afterward to let it go, flush the toilet, put on the blinders because at that point it didn’t mean anything in the end.”
The Vikings might have put the game behind them, but that did not keep their bats from cooling off.
Grayson had 11 hits and scored first when shortstop J.D. Alfaro executed a hit-and-run, lacing a ball into left-center field for a double, scoring Reed.
Reed went 3 for 3 with four runs scored and two doubles.
“I am seeing the ball really well right now and trying to hit line drives,” Reed said. “I hope to keep it up the rest of the tournament.”
Shelton was able to match Grayson’s big inning with two runs of its own in the bottom of the first to take its only lead of the game. Brett Whitaker hit a two-run double, scoring Greg Guy and Justin Bussey, who both reached base on walks.
Undeterred, Grayson got to Shelton starting pitcher Caleb McLeod in the third inning, when the Vikings scored three runs to regain the lead, 4-2. Bo Coffman’s two-run single was the big hit. First baseman Alex Johnson drove in the other run.
Grayson extended the lead in the fourth inning, scoring four more runs. Alfaro, Shaun Garcia and Coffman all registered an RBI in the inning.
In the fifth, Grayson closed the game out, scoring five runs including a three-run double by Eric Ross. Alfaro notched his third RBI of the game, hitting a sacrifice fly to put the game out of reach.
Although the Grayson bats were on fire, it was the pitching of Danny Grande that kept Shelton cool. Grande allowed only three hits.
A pitcher notorious for rough starts, Grande got out of the two-run first inning and faced no more than four batters in an inning for the rest of the game.
“I am known to struggle in the first inning,” Grande said. “After the first, Coach Hart and J.D. both told me to start getting the first guy out and that will set the tone of the inning.”
Grande listened, retiring the first batter in each of the final four innings.
With the win, Grayson will advance to play Central Arizona at 7:30 tonight. It will be the fourth consecutive night game for the Vikings.
“Playing at night has allowed us to develop a routine,” Hart said. “It is kinda superstitious so I can’t tell you what it is yet, but it has worked.”
The loss puts Shelton into today’s 3:30 game against Hagerstown (Md.) Community College.
“We haven’t had a game like that in a while,” Shelton State coach Bobby Sprowl said. “But we still have a few more arms left.”
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E-mail Patrick Bahr at pbahr@gjds.com.
