Santa Clarita, Calif. — William Carey rebounded from a season-opening loss with a decisive 12-7 victory over The Master’s on Friday. The Crusaders built an early lead and held off a late rally by the Mustangs.
Head coach Bobby Halford praised the team’s effort, highlighting pitcher Everett Thompson, who pitched five innings allowing one run on five hits. Halford also commended freshman Alan McClean for his performance in the field and at the plate, where he drove in six runs. Gage Hinnant and Taylor Walters contributed offensively and defensively, and Dylan Wallace closed out the game.
The Crusaders scored first in the third inning after DeeJay Booth’s sacrifice fly. In the fourth, Taylor Walters doubled, and Clayton Williamson drove him in with an RBI single. Cam Senior sacrificed, and McClean delivered a two-run single to extend the lead to 4-0.
The Mustangs responded with a run in the bottom half of the fourth but the Crusaders answered with a five-run fifth inning. Gage Hinnant and Booth started the inning with singles. Jayden Mark’s sacrifice fly, a bases-loaded walk, and a balk pushed the lead to 9-1, with McClean adding a two-run single later in the inning.
In the eighth, The Master’s staged a comeback, scoring three runs and cutting the lead to 9-7. Caleb Ougel’s pickoff at third base and a two-run homer kept the game tense. Despite the rally, William Carey responded in the ninth with an RBI single from Senior and a two-run single from McClean, restoring a five-run cushion. Tyler Ducksworth sealed the game with a diving catch at first base for the final out.
McClean finished with three hits and six RBIs. Senior added two hits and two RBIs. William Carey returns Saturday for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m., closing the series.
