Savage Horsemen win final home games

The Plains-Hot Springs Savage Horsemen pulled off two victories, both from behind and in the final inning and in their final home games of the season.

On Friday, the Savage Horsemen took on the Mission Bulldogs and never had the lead until the last inning. The Bulldogs took a 3-1 lead in the first inning. In the second, Plains-Hot Springs came back to tie things up 3-3. It was 4-4 in the third, but in the fourth, Mission tagged on six runs for a 10-4 lead. The Savage Horsemen shut them down in the fifth and sixth while closing the gap 10-7 with Garth Parker collecting nine consecutive strikeouts.

In the bottom of the seventh and one out, the Savage Horsemen loaded the bases and scored for a 10-8 game. The Bulldog pitcher walked Jody Page to make it 10-9, followed by a grounder by Zander Czifro, although the pitcher threw home to get Matt Thurston out at the plate. Bases still loaded with Parker up to bat. He walked Parker to tie the game. Up to the plate came Joe Pullen, who shot one through the infield for an RBI and drove in the winning run.

"It was big time clutch play by Garth being patient and letting them walk him and a big play with Joe the hit to win," said Brady Ovitt, the Savage Horsemen's assistant coach.

Savage Horseman Aiden West had two hits and an RBI, Page had two hits and an RBI, Parker had one hit and one RBI, and Wyatt Butcher had two hits and an RBI.

In the final home game of the season on Saturday, the Plains-Hot Springs boys defeated the Troy Trojans 7-6. Anaya Loberg was the starter pitcher for the Savage Horsemen and held the Trojans scoreless in the first inning. But in the second, the Trojans collected three runs before head coach Rick Powers replaced him with lefty Joe Pullen, who let another runner score with a wild pitch. In the bottom of the second, Plains-Hot Springs got on the board when Parker got home on a wild pitch and Loberg went to third. Butcher grounded out, but Loberg went home for a 4-2 score.

The Savage Horsemen tied things up in the third after Czifro grounded out, allowing West to make it home and Page stole second and third, then scored on a single by Parker. Troy scored one run in the fifth, but Plains-Hot Springs scored three for a 7-5 lead. West doubled to drive in Thurston and Pullen, then scored on a wild pitch. Troy scored one run in the top of the seventh, but popped up twice and Parker struck out the final batter.

West had two hits and two RBIs. Parker had two hits and one RBI. Czifro and Butcher each had an RBI.

Saturday was also Senior Day for two Savage Horsemen, who were honored before the game with their parents. Parker, a senior at Hot Springs High School, was accompanied onto the field with his father, Carl. Pullen, a Plains High School senior, was accompanied by his father, Daren, and mother, Jessica.

"The boys have made drastic improvements throughout the year, which has allowed them to finish tight games the way they have," said Ovitt. "Some of the younger guys have stepped up and are hitting the ball and our leaders are doing a great job fostering them," he said.

The Savage Horsemen face the Trojans again at Troy on Thursday, May 4. They take on Browning at Cut Bank on Saturday, May 6 and travel to Florence on Wednesday, May 10. Plains-Hot Springs will participate in the Columbia Falls tournament May 12-13.