Steers Baseball knocks off Bangs in warmup game

The Steers want to keep their momentum going as they inch closer to the playoffs. On Saturday, Graham hosted Bangs in a practice game before the playoffs begin next weekend. The Steers came away victorious 6-2.

Steers head coach Jim Bob Williams, a Graham native, used to coach at Bangs. Bangs is competitive in 3A and located near Brownwood. Bangs is in District 7-3A with Comanche, Coleman, Early and Brady. 

Graham scored first in Saturday’s game in the bottom of the second. Tucker Horn and Steven Kimberling singled to start off the inning. Chance Hornsey then reached base on an error. Kade Darrow followed that with a fielder’s choice. Horn scored and then Kimberling scored off of an error to make the game 2-0 Steers. 

Rodgers pitched four innings and gets the win for the Steers. He allowed three hits and both earned runs to score. The only real trouble Rodgers ran into was allowing four walks. He also recorded three strikeouts in his outing.

Horn pitched two hitless and scoreless innings for the Steers. He had a walk and a strikeout. 

Offensively the Steers had nine hits. Bangs only had three. Horn and Kimberling went 2-for-4 at the plate. Each scored a run. Key went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Perry went 1-for-4 but scored a run and had an RBI. Hornsey went 1-for-3 at the plate with a run scored, an RBI and a walk recorded. Darrow scored and had an RBI off of a walk.

The Steers played Clyde in a final practice game on Monday in Graham. 

The Bi-district round of the playoffs starts for the Steers on Friday in Iowa Park. Game one of the best of three playoff series will be at 7 p.m Friday. Game two will be in Graham at 1 p.m. and game three (if necessary) will be 30 minutes after game two in Graham.

The Steers hope to continue to get in some work at the plate and on the mound before Friday and Saturday’s playoff games. Monday’s game against Clyde will be another opportunity to keep the offense going and a chance for the Steers pitching staff to stay warm. Facing live batters and pitchers is essential to Graham’s preparation for the playoffs.

Read the entire article in Wednesday's edition of The Graham Leader.