Photo from 2024, Courtesy God’s Gifts Photography
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore – The Henley Hornets (1-0; 3-2-1) used a seven-run third inning to glide to a mercy-rule victory over the Klamath Union Pelicans (0-1; 4-3) in the Skyline Conference season opener.
The pivotal third inning saw Henley’s lead balloon from 5-0 to 12-0, all with two outs in the inning. Carson Pimley got the rally started with a two-out single followed by Carson Siems getting hit by a pitch (one of three times Siems would be plunked during the game). Ryan Douglas knocked Pimley in on a groundball which resulted in a Klamath Union error. Errors would be a running theme for the Pelicans, as the home team committed six resulting in 12 unearned Henley runs. After Douglas reached, Connor Shively doubled in a run. Jacoby Tacchini blasted a bases-clearing double later in the inning which increased the Hornets’ lead to 10-0.
Klamath Union scored their lone run of the ballgame in the bottom of the fifth inning as PJ Safford grounded out to score Luis Meza-Bravo. But it was too little too late for the Pelicans as Henley put away a 13-1 win. This extends Henley’s winning streak in the Skyline Conference to 29 games, and the winning streak over Klamath Union stands at 22 games.
Beau Pyle earned the win on the mound for Henley, working 2.2 innings allowing one hit and striking out six batters. Maruk Morris picked up the loss for the Pelicans despite only giving up one earned run. Morris allowed 10 hits and struck out one batter while walking three.
Tacchini was the standout for the Hornets, going 2-4 with four RBI and a double. Ryan Glidden and Tildon Coffman were the only Pelicans to record hits in the contest.
Klamath Union continues the Skyline Conference slate on Friday against Mazama. Henley will take a break from conference play and travel to North Marion High School where they’ll meet The Dalles/Dufur on Friday before playing the host Huskies on Saturday. The Hornets return to the Skyline Conference on Tuesday against the Vikings.
