Linares, Gaither beat Durant in slugfest opener
Anthony Linares points to the sky after closing out Gaither’s season-opening victory over Durant.
By Chuck Frye, Senior Staff Writer
TAMPA – So much for pitching being ahead of hitting early in the season.
On opening night at Gaither High, both the host Cowboys and Durant displayed offenses that were in mid-season form. But when Gaither’s Anthony Linares matched his plate prowess when he took the mound, the Cougars’ attack finally waned, allowing the hosts a come-from-behind 9-6 victory.
Click here for a few more photos from this game.
Called to the hill with two outs in the top of the sixth inning of a tie game and two Durant runners in scoring position, Linares was fired up.
“Oh, yeah, I’m a pumped pitcher,” the versatile senior said. “I want to show people that I’m really pumped. I want to keep a positive energy throughout the game.”
Fresh off his transfer from Bishop McLaughlin, Matt Altman worked five innings, striking out seven in his first start for Gaither.
Linares yelled as he struck out the Cougars’ leadoff batter to end the threat, and his adrenaline only surged into the bottom of the frame.
Looking to lock up the victory after teammate Angel Hernandez’ second hit of the night put Gaither on top, Linares delivered a perfectly placed base hit to centerfield that brought home Hernandez and S.J. Branham (2-for-4, two RBI) to bump the Cowboy advantage up to three runs.
“Honestly, I was just looking to put the ball in play, hoping I’d get a run in,” Linares related. “Just slap the ball – the ball was out – just hit where it was pitched.”
Durant leftfielder Dylan Karnowski backpedals to track down Sleand Montano’s second-inning fly ball.
The seventh saw a Durant runner reach on an infield error, only to have Linares retire the heart of the order, finishing the night with his second K.
“(When Linares is) on the mound, it’s pretty much game over,” said Gaither head coach Nelson North. “I’ve only seen one time since he’s been here that he’s struggled. The rest he’s been in complete control. His emotions, his command of the ball … someone will have to beat him because he will never beat himself.”
Durant catcher Brantley Hayward low-fives head coach Butch Valdes after blasting a third-inning solo homer.
The sixth-inning rally finally toppled an opportunistic Durant squad looking to find weapons after graduating its top five hitters and top three pitchers.
A Cowboys’ fielding miscommunication on an infield popup from Jackson McClellan (2-for-3) scored a pair of second-inning runs, then Brantley Hayward answered a Linares’ solo home run with a deep blast of his own in the third.
Turning chain hitting into a science, Gaither took its first lead after stringing together five-straight, fourth-inning hits. Leadoff man Jackson Mirza’s triple to right-centerfield scored pinch runner Yanier Rosario (Sleand Montano was hit by a pitch) and Eddy Rojo (2-for-3). David Pina (3-for-3 with a double and a walk) stroked a single followed by a two-bagger from Hernandez. Branham capped the rally with a two-run base hit for a 6-3 advantage.
Gaither third baseman David Pina delivers a first-inning single, kicking off a perfect 3-for-3 night at the plate including a double and two runs scored in a win over Durant.
“Pina and Mirza are two of the best players in the county,” North stated. “They’re really good players and they’re really fun to coach. It’s a joy to write their names (in the lineup) every time.”
A smiling Anthony Linares rounds third base after lining a second-inning solo home run …
Then is greeted by Ryder Warriner (21) and his Gaither teammates at the plate.
Durant didn’t quit, knotting up the score in the fifth with savvy base running and sheer hustle.
With one out and Brady Kelley (walk, stolen base) and Aidan Junttila (single, steal) in scoring position, Hayward hit a hot infield grounder. Kelley was off on contact but was hit by a rundown throw and trotted home. Two batters later, Dylan Karnowski tapped a two-out grounder to the first-base side and beat the throw for a single, with both Junttila and courtesy runner Brennan Bailey crossing the plate, tying the game but setting the stage for heroics from Linares and the Cowboys.
“To see Durant on opening night … I’m very happy that we won. It could have gone either way,” North concluded. “I think (Durant) is in a little bit of rebuilding, but I promise you it won’t take them long. They’re a good club that’s very well coached from the head coach (Butch Valdes) to their assistants.”
Durant senior Jack Brooks drew the starting mound duties Tuesday, going 3 2/3 innings against host Gaither.
And Gaither is picking right up where it left off after last season’s 19-win campaign. Every starter reached base, six of them multiple times, as part of a 15-hit barrage.
“When this team is positive and everyone’s bats are rolling, it’s just a fun game,” Linares said. “Overall, playing with this team is just amazing.”
Ryder Warriner (21) greets S.J. Branham at the plate after he scored on Anthony Linares’ clutch two-run single in the sixth inning.
⚾
(7) Gaither 9
(12) Durant 6
D 021|030|0 – |6|7|1
G 010|503|x – |9|15|2
W – Linares (1-0); L – Franklin (0-1)
2B – Brooks (D); Hernandez, Pina (G); 3B – Mirza (G); HR – Hayward (D); Linares (G). Records – D (0-1); G (1-0).
