DHS baseball sweeps Edison to wrap up district

A solid district sweep of Tulsa Edison to wrap up the regular season secured the Durant Lions the fifth seed out of District 5A-4 in the Class 5A state baseball playoffs that begin this week.

With the 4-1 and 12-2 victories, the Lions improved their record to 17-16 on the season, their first winning record in a regular season since 2017. They’ll also be in the regional tournament at district champ Tahlequah. Durant dropped narrow 4-1 and 3-0 decisions to the Tigers back in March.

In the Edison opening contest, the Lions made the most of five hits utilizing two scoring innings in the pitcher’s duel.

The Eagles took a 1-0 edge in the first inning before Durant answered with a pair. Aiden Diviney was hit by a pitch and raced all the way around with the tying run when Cole Robbins smacked a triple to the centerfield wall. Robbins then scored on a double steal that gave the Lions the lead for good.

Two more insurance tallies proved to be valuable two frames later as Diviney triggered the flurry by reaching on a bloop single and stole second. Robbins added another RBI with a single and scored again following a sacrifice bunt and ground out.

That was plenty of offensive support for Kaden Neill, who fired a seveninning gem and yielded just one run on five hits while striking out five and walking three.

Robbins tallied two of the team’s five hits with Diviney, Lucas McClure and Jared Avalos each adding one.

Runs and hits were much more plentiful in the second game of the series as Durant broke on top with a run in the opening stanza when Diviney singled and came around on an Eagle error. Avalos and Stephen Manhard had singles that led to another run in frame number two.

A nine-run third inning explosion put the advantage completely out of reach, cashing in on a couple of Edison miscues along with a string of hits. Elijah McClure, Diviney, Neill, Lucas McClure and Avalos contributed singles during the Lion uprising.

Durant posted a final run in the fourth stanza as Manhard posted his third hit of the game and advanced all the way around the bases following a walk, stolen base and ground out.

Robbins twirled another complete game on the mound, scattering four hits along with seven strikeouts and two walks in five innings.

Diviney and Avalos tossed in two hits each with Neill, Elijah McClure and Lucas McClure contributing one apiece. Neill also drove in three and Lucas McClure finished with two RBI.