BASEBALL: Defense, discipline lead Claremore past Chickasha in festival win

Claremore’s defense bent all night, but it never broke. Despite surrendering 11 hits, the Zebras limited the damage to just 4 runs and backed it up with timely hitting and aggressive baserunning in a 12-4 victory Thursday night over Chickasha in the Tiger/Zebra Festival at Legendary Legion Field at Murray-Pixley Park. “They were running on us early, and then we back-picked a guy and Tyler [Osgood] started being more active behind the plate and throwing it around a little bit with great throws and just keeping them closer,” Claremore coach Jonathan Gelnar said.

“There was a play in the hole where Braden Trail came around and threw the guy out at second — it was a good winning play to get the lead guy as a baserunner. On one of [Luke Roberts’], he tried to pick it on a bad throw but picked it up and threw the guy out at third. Xyler Reeder had another great wedged-in diving play in the right field, got up and threw the guy out.

“Those are winning plays. We got out-hit, but we took away momentum, and we took away free bases. ” The win was fueled by Brayden Floyd, who drove in 4 runs on 2 doubles, and a Claremore lineup that combined patience at the plate with chaos on the basepaths, stealing 9 bases and drawing 6 walks.

Floyd wasn’t alone. Braden Trail and Luke Roberts each added 2 hits, while Kellen Gaede reached base three times via walks. On the mound, Ryder Garrison gave the Zebras 4 innings, allowing 9 hits and 3 runs, while Lucas Dupont worked in relief to help close things out.