By Bobby Allen

SDN Sports Editor

The Tigers recovered their offensive groove Tuesday, plating six runs in the second inning en route to a 10-0 victory over Denver City in six innings.

Freshman Ryan Mitchell and sophomore Lico Castillo combined on a three-hit shutout, with both pitchers going three innings each in the win.

“I thought by the third inning, Ryan was getting warmed up. He did a good job throwing strikes, and Lico came in and did a good job,” head coach Charles Bollinger said, adding that the offense finally got into a rhythm after being out of sync against Lamesa and Lubbock Cooper. “We know we can hit the ball.”

Alex Neal was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two driven in, while Isaac Ramon and Jordan Dea each collected two hits and an RBI each.

“The main thing was we didn’t hit well (against Lamesa), and we felt a lack of energy,” said first baseman Neal, who drove in the first run and scored the clinching run in the sixth for the Tigers. “We wanted to come out and make a statement, and prove that we’re the team to beat in district.”

Snyder exceeded their scoring output from the previous 18 innings by breaking the game open in the six-run second inning.

After a going down in order in the first, Isaac Ramon led off the second with a double, and promptly scored on a double by Neal, who came around to score on a passed ball for the second run.

Marcus Villarreal drove in pinch-runner Castillo with a single, and crossed the plate with two down on a single by Bradley Price, who scored twice and drove in a run.

Jordan Dea’s single scored Blake Grimmett to make it 5-0, and Ramon belted his second double of the inning to score Price.

Snyder (12-3, 2-0) scored two unearned runs each in the fourth and sixth to finish it off. Denver City committed five errors, while the Tigers had a perfect day in the field.

Next up for the Tigers is Merkel, which topped Lamesa, 7-1, Tuesday to remain a game back in district.

“If we play our game, we will be all right,” Bollinger said.

Sweetwater kept pace with an extra-inning win over Seminole.

The Tigers will play the Badgers at Merkel at 5 p.m. Friday.

District 3-3A Standings

Team Season District

W L W L

Sweetwater 13 3 2 0

Snyder 12 3 2 0

Seminole 6 6 1 1

Merkel 6 5 1 1

Denver City 7 11 0 2

Lamesa 2 12 0 2