Center High School on Thursday, April 17, 2025 –
The Center Roughriders varsity baseball team is fighting to keep their playoff chances alive but they fell to the visiting Hudson Hornets on Thursday by a 6-1 run score. Center now stands at 11-14 overall and they are 3-5 in District 17 4A play with just two games remaining. Hudson is at 13-11 this season and 6-2 in the conference.
Hudson jumped out to a 1-0 run lead in the top of the first inning when Aiden Bonacci drew a walk to start the inning and he later scored on a fielder’s choice when a teammate grounded out. The Hornets later extended their lead to 3-0 when the Roughriders committed two errors to start the third inning, Cutter Warren hit a triple to score them. Warren scored moments later, on a passed ball which gave Hudson a 4-0 advantage.
Center scored their run in the bottom of the third when Easton Wolf singled to rightfield and scored on a single by Logan Horton and a Hudson throwing error. Center trailed 4-1 runs.
The game turned defensive and the 4-1 Hudson lead held up until, the Hornets added two more scores onto their tally in the top of the seventh inning, for the game’s final scores.
TJ Belin pitched 5 innings for CHS and struck out five batters, gave up two hits and walked one. Logan Horton pitched in relief for two inning and gave up two hits, struck out two batters and walked one.
Beto Ibarra pitched seven innings for HHS and struck out three and walked two. He gave up six hits.
The Roughriders will begin their final 2-game series on Tuesday April 22, when they host the Rusk Eagles at 7 p.m. at Centers Horseshoe Ballpark. They will travel to Rusk on Friday for the final conference game.
Rusk, Palestine, and Center are all fighting for the third and fourth seed playoff spots in District 17 4A.
