MCKINNEY -- With 15-25 mph winds blowing almost straight in from right field, it was going to take quite a poke to hit it out of the park Friday afternoon at Gabe Nesbitt Field.

Colby Welsh was up to the task, sending a 3-1 fastball over the left-center field fence in the seventh inning to break a tie in Tyler Junior College's 2-1 victory over North Arkansas in the opener of the District C Tournament.

 

 

"He had to crush it," said TJC head coach Jon Groth. "He didn't hit it into the wind directly. I think he got just enough help from the crosswind. It didn't get out by much."

Adding to the drama, the Apaches weren't sure if the center fielder caught the ball as he crashed into the fence. Welsh, in fact, asked Groth while rounding third base if the ball actually was a home run.

The second-seeded Apaches (29-20) managed just five hits, but four went for extra bases, as they advanced to today's 3 p.m. semifinal-round game against top-seeded Richland.

"We hit a lot of balls right at people," Groth said. "Balls down the line in left had a chance. Both teams were playing their outfielders ridiculously short. We had some really well-hit balls that on a regular day might have been doubles and triples. (Friday) they were easy outs."

Michael Banks (2-3), a sophomore right-hander from Hope, Ark., earned the win by scattering eight singles over 7 1-3 innings. Banks walked two and struck out two in his fifth start of the season.

Todd Immel, a freshman from Hughes Springs, worked a perfect 1 2-3 for his second save.

North Arkansas stranded nine baserunners, including two in scoring position in the eighth. TJC shortstop Ryan Willnow, in his first game back after recovering from a concussion, recorded nine assists in the errorless game.

North Arkansas starter Wes Coleman, a sophomore from North Little Rock, allowed four hits and one run in six innings. He walked two and did not have a strikeout. Reliever Trevor Holt allowed the home run to Welsh, the first batter he faced.

The Apaches tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the sixth. Newly inserted designated hitter Chase Daniel had an RBI double to left, bringing home Matt Johnson.

Jordon Vierra went 2-for-4 to lead the Apaches. Daniel, Welsh and Willnow had the other hits.

-- Joe Buie

-- -- --

District C Tournament

Game 1

Tyler 2, North Arkansas 1

North Arkansas 001 000 000 -- 1 8 0

Tyler 000 001 10x -- 2 5 0

Coleman, Holt (7) and Chwalinski. Michael Banks, Todd Immel (8) and Kegan Johnson. W - Banks. L - Holt. S -- Immel. 2B -- TJC: Jordon Vierra, Chase Daniel, Ryan Willnow. HR -- TJC: Colby Welsh (solo, seventh inning). SB -- NA: Turpin. CS -- TJC: Matt Johnson. SAC -- TJC: Josh Bates.

RECORDS

-- North Arkansas 30-17; Tyler 29-20.

NEXT UP

-- Tyler vs. Eastfield-Richland winner, 3 p.m. today; North Arkansas vs. Eastfield-Richland loser, noon today.