Longhorns fall short

Dover’s baseball season ended the way it began with a loss to Leedey.

But all that happened in between got the program back on the map.

An erratic first inning by both teams saw a combined 13 batters come to the plate, four combined errors, two walks and four hits.

All of that resulted in three total runs, but unfortunately for the Longhorns, the Bison got more of them in a 2-1 victory in the Class B state quarterfinals at Edmond Memorial High School.

Sixth-ranked Dover’s season ended with a 22-9 record.

The Longhorns were making their first appearance at the fall state tournament since 2010.

It appeared the nerves were built up for the Longhorns in the top of the first as Leedey drew a walk and then capitalized on an error and a double to take a 2-0 lead in the first three batters of the game.

Longhorn starter Trypp Lack issued another walk and gave up a bunt single, but eventually managed to get out of the frame.

Leedey starter Keaten Adams had his own issues in the first, though it mostly had to do with his infielders.

The Bison committed two early errors and had three in the inning.

Sandwiched in between was an RBI single by Bryce Cockayne to pull the Longhorns within 2-1.

Cockayne eventually reached second base, but was stranded when Adams struck out two Longhorns to end the inning.

And that proved to be it - for both teams.

Lack settled in and only gave up six hits in seven innings.

Not until the top of the seventh inning did a Bison reach third base again and that was an intentional walk to load the bases.

Lack coaxed a fly ball to get out of the inning.

He struck out three batters, worked around four walks and didn’t give up an earned run.

But the Dover offense couldn’t crack Adams either.

The Longhorns only had four runners on after the first inning.

Two of them came in the second inning when Hunter Miller walked and advanced on Brok Cooper’s single.

But Casen Buck lined out to end the inning and Dover only got in scoring position one more time.

That was Buck in the fifth when he reached - and advanced to second - on an error with two outs.

A.J. Avila was hit by a pitch with one out in the sixth, but the Bison turned a double play one batter later.

Adams struck out six and walked one in the game.

The fourth-ranked Bison advanced to play No. 1 Fort Cobb-Broxton in Friday’s semifinal.

Dover was making its 16th appearance in the fall state tournament and 34th overall when counting the spring.

The Longhorns last reached the fall semifinals in 2008 when they beat Arnett 10-5 in the quarterfi nals before losing to Roff in the semifinals.