BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Kacen Thomassen and Trenton Klein combined to throw a no-hitter, while Jake Walker drive in six runs in the Union County High School baseball team’s 16-2, five-inning win over host Dixie County on Feb. 13.
Thomassen started and threw four innings, giving up two walks and striking out five. Klein allowed no walks and struck out one in pitching the final inning.
The Bears’ first run resulted from an error and a wild pitch, while they scored their second on two errors.
Union (2-1) fell behind 1-0 before scoring four runs in the third. Two errors allowed Jeffrey Brugh to reach and then score, while Walker drove in his first run on a single. With the bases loaded, Ayden Androlevich ground into a double play, but Erick Lasseter scored on the play, while Walker advanced safely to third. Bo Wilson entered to run for Walker and scored on a passed ball.
The Tigers led 5-2 before pushing 11 runs across in the fifth. They loaded the bases with one out, with Thomassen getting hit by a pitch, Brezdyn Browning hitting a single and Brugh walking. Klein hit a sacrifice fly that scored courtesy runner Devin Diggs. After Lasseter drew a walk, Walker, who finished 4 for 4, hit a bases-loaded double that scored all three runners.
Union loaded the bases again after Foster Smith was hit by a pitch and Androlevich walked. Thomassen was hit by a pitch to force a run in, while the Tigers’ final run occurred when Smith scored on a passed ball.
Klein, Lasseter and Thomassen all finished with one RBI each.
Union entered the game off an 8-7 win over visiting Baker County on Feb. 11.
A three-run first inning that put the Tigers up 3-2 included an RBI double by Klein and an RBI single by Smith.
The Tigers increased their lead to 7-2 with a four-run second. With two outs and no one on, Klein and Lasseter hit back-to-back singles. Smith reached on a dropped third strike, which allowed Klein to score. Union then got consecutive singles from Walker and Thomassen, with Walker’s hit scoring one run and Thomassen’s scoring two.
Baker tied the game with a five-run third, that included the Union defense turning a 6-4-3 double play (shortstop Browning to second baseman Walker to first baseman Androlevich).
In the bottom of the third, the Tigers had two outs and no one on. Brugh hit a single and then scored on a Klein double.
Klein went 3 for 4 with two doubles and two RBI. Brugh also went 3 for 4, while Lasseter and Walker each went 2 for 4, with Walker driving in one run.
Thomassen finished with two RBI.
Lasseter pitched the final 4.1 innings, giving up no runs, two hits and one walk. He struck out five.
The Tigers travel to play Nease on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 6:30 p.m. and will travel to play West Nassau on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. Union returns home to play Williston on Friday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m.
