The Cinco Ranch Cougars improved to 6-2 in district play Thursday night with a comeback win over Morton Ranch in the late innings. The win earned the Cougars sole possession of third place in district 18-5A and gave Cinco pitcher Louis Head his fourth victory of the season.

The game started out very defensively with neither team scoring in the first two innings. Morton Ranch drew first blood in the top of the third when Maverick’s left fielder Justin Beiser beat a throw to first in a two out situation to allow Russell La Fleur to make it home safely. Beiser then stole second to put himself in scoring position in case of a Maverick hit. The steal paid off when center fielder Sean Barnes drove Beiser home with a single to center field.

After giving up the two runs, Head found himself in jam as the Mavericks loaded the bases. However, Head was able to bail himself out striking out the next batter.

The next two innings were stalemates as each team went three up, three down.

Cinco made their late push in the sixth inning when Michael Hutchins hit a stand up triple to drive in a runner and bring the game within one run. Cinco’s Mark Mugues stepped to the plate next and bunted in Hutchins to tie the game at two.

Mavericks’ pitcher Matt Steiner (3-1) struggled at the mound in the sixth and found himself in a bases loaded, one out situation. Steiner walked in a run to give Cinco their first lead of the game 3-2.  With the bases still loaded, Head hit a single to right field to drive in two more runs. By the end of the inning Cinco had put up nine runs to take control of the game. Morton was never able to bounce back from the deficit and the Cougars earned the victory.

“Our kids refuse to give up,” explained Cinco coach Marc jones. “The just kept battling and it earned them the victory tonight.”

Cinco will face Alief Taylor at home on Tuesday and the Mavericks will host Elsik on Tuesday as well.

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