BY JASON DELLA ROSA

HERALD DEMOCRAT

GUNTER -- In an always competitive district, it is never too early for a key match-up which could swing the standings. But Gunter's bats made sure that Melissa wasn't going to have the same affect with a knockout blow for the second straight game.

The Tigers blew the game open with an eight-run second inning at the start of a tough three-game stretch as Gunter defeated Melissa, 17-4, in five innings on Friday night in District 11-2A action.

Gunter (10-6, 3-0), the defending district champion, handed Melissa (5-6, 2-1) its first loss before facing Whitewright -- which took its only 11-2A loss last week on a walk-off win by the Cardinals -- on Monday and Howe, which suffered its first district loss over the weekend in a 15-14 defeat to Tom Bean, on Friday.

"They are three crucial games and we got through the first one," Gunter head coach Todd Hogan said. "Our kids were ready to play. They know we've got a tough week."

In the second Price Ferrell kicked things off with a double that scored Chad Tucker from first. Hunter Williams added an RBI single and a Melissa error allowed another run to score.

C.J. Ateek walked on a close 3-2 pitch to force in a run and then a pick-off attempt by catcher Aaron Bush went down the line as two Tigers scored. Tucker and Price each drove in a run to cap the eight-run inning.

"We took advantage of their mistakes and got some timely hits," Hogan said. "Price's double kind of got us started and we went from there."

In the bottom of the third all three Gunter runs came on errors before the bats did some damage in the fourth. Brandon Pierce, A.J. Hester and Tucker all had RBI singles while the other three runs in the frame came around on errors.

Gunter's lineup has undergone some changes recently due to injuries. Shortstop Colton Hinson made his debut after breaking his collarbone during basketball season but is still limited to playing in the field while second baseman Leo Castorena is sidelined with a strained hamstring. But the Tigers picked up the slack in this one as the bottom four in the order reached base nine times and scored two runs apiece.

"We're hoping we peak in the middle of district when we get everybody healthy." Then I think our lineup's really going to take off," Hogan said. "We scored 17 runs with two of our best bats on the bench."

Not lost in the offensive outburst was right-hander Jacob Fuggett. He allowed three runs on three hits in four innings but worked around tough situations in each of the first three innings as Gunter mounted its attack.

"He got out of a jam and he did it himself," Hogan said. "That's what he's done all year."

The junior didn't allow a run after Melissa put runners on second and third with one out in the first and when two Cardinals reached on errors in the third.

Melissa used an an error in the second to set up its first run as Will Litterer had a sacrifice fly and then Landon Wilson hit a two-run homer to left-center in the fourth.

"He just left one up. For him to be successful, he's got to be ahead in the count," Hogan said. "We're going to need him again this season, whether as a three or four starter or in the playoffs out of the bullpen."

The Cardinals, who play at Howe on Monday, added a run on a single by Jackson Bush in the fifth.