Returning to the state tournament for the first time since 2013, the Colbert Leopards made a solid showing in reaching the Class 2A Division 2 semifinals last week.
Coach Zach Crabtree’s Leopards rolled by Oklahoma Union, 7-1, in game one before running into eventual state champ Tushka where they dropped a 10-1 semifinal verdict. Colbert closed the season with a 28-9 record.
Kegan Neill was sensational on the mound in spurring the Leopards to the first-round triumph, tossing six and two-third frames in which he yielded one run on five hits and struck out a whopping 12 batters.
The visiting Cougars scratched across their lone tally in the first frame and carried that advantage until the third stanza when Colbert answered to take the lead for good.
Remington Graham reached on an error and Brett Parsons coaxed a two-out walk ahead of Neill aided his own cause with a double that plated both.
Neill then allowed only one hit over the following three innings and the Leopards put the contest away with five runs in a decisive sixth stanza.
Brigman doubled to plate a pair of runs with Shields and Graham adding RBI hits. A Marr hit kept the rally going with the final score crossing the plate on a balk.
Colbert recorded seven hits with two apiece from Neill and Brigman. Graham, Marr and Shields all notched one hit.
Miscues proved costly for Colbert in the semifinal loss as Tushka totaled just five hits but cashed in eight Leopard errors for the 10 runs.
The Tigers led 1-0 after one inning before the Leopards tied it in the second after a Tiger miscue.
Second-ranked Tushka responded with two runs in the second, one in the third, four in the fourth and two in the fifth to pull away.
Graham provided a single and double for two of the three Colbert hits in the game. Neill also chipped in a double.
