Pirates, Wolves win in Festival

By CRAIG HALL
POTEAU—Poteau’s bats came alive and Heavener used a big first inning to win their games Thursday in Poteau’s Wood Bat Festival.

After struggling for hits early in the season, Poteau’s bats struck early and often while the Pirates got a good pitching performance from Garrett Klutts in an 11-1 win.

Heavener also struggled to score in its first game of the Festival on Wednesday in a 6-2 loss to Seminole, but that wasn’t the case against Idabel on Thursday as the Wolves scored six runs in the first inning en route to a 9-7 win over Idabel.

In other games involving county schools, Panama fell to Checotah, 11-1, Eufaula beat Cameron 2-1 and Pocola was blanked, 2-0, by Eufaula.

Photo by CRAIG HALL Poteau's Tyler Wilson slides into third as Wilburton's Matt Mitchell can't handle the throw. Wilson scored after the ball went into the outfield.

Poteau jumped on top early against Wilburton, which beat Seminole and Union Christian on Wednesday in the Festival.

In the bottom of the first, leadoff hitter Connor Gilstrap walked and scored on a double by Tyler Wilson. The Pirates escaped a bases loaded jam in the top of the second and added three runs in the bottom of the third.

Wilson walked, moved to second on a hit by Wilson Klutts then scored after he stole second and the throw wound up in the outfield. Klutts scored on a wild pitch and Zach Stubbs scored the final run of the inning on a hit by Blake Roley.

Poteau added four more in the bottom of the fourth after Wilburton scored its lone run in the top of the inning.

Gilstrap had a solid hit to the outfield, stole second and scored on a single by Klutts. Stubbs knocked in Klutts with a single and scored on another single by Connor Oliver.

Poteau applied the run-rule with a bases-loaded double.

Garrett Klutts struck out eight for the Pirates and only walked three. Wilson Klutts had three RBI on two hits while Gilstrap and Stubbs also had two hits.

Poteau improves to 3-1 on the season and is unbeaten in the Festival. Wilburton drops to 7-4.

In the first game at CASC, Heavener got off to the good start and had to hold on at the end to down Idabel.

Nick Wann pitched the first four innings before giving way to Koda Glover, who pitched the final three innings.

Austin Mead was 3-4 with a double and two RBI. Brandon Kirkland was 2-4 with a triple and three RBI. Heavener improves to 4-1 with the win over the Warriors.