Johnson homers; rain suspends free ball

The Red Oak Tigers started slow in the conference game with Shenandoah on Tuesday, June 11, Tigers came in clutch and held a 12-8 lead in the eighth inning before the game was suspended due to rain.
The Tigers plated three runs in the top of the fifth inning to get within one of the Mustangs, but Shenandoah added two more runs in the home half to take a 6-3 lead.
Mitchell Johnson of Red Oak hit a two-run homer for the Tigers to tie the game in the top of the sixth and get the momentum going for the Tigers, and they took their first lead of the game in the seventh.
Shenandoah came back in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game and head to extra innings.
The Tiger offense lit up in the eighth and Red Oak plated four runs to take a 12-8 lead with a bases-loaded single by Cole Carlson and a Garrett Couse triple. As the Mustangs took to the plate, the rain, which had been falling for more than one inning already, began to pour down.
The Tigers switched pitchers, and due to a Cam Vanderhoof near-fall after a pitch, the game was suspended with one out.
A make-up date has yet to be scheduled.
Dillon Burns threw for 4 1/3 innings to get the game going, and Johnson, Carter Bruce, and Vanderhoof combined for relief.
Creston
The Tigers competed against Creston at Principal Park in Des Moines on Tuesday, in a 2:30 p.m. game. Red Oak fell to the conference foes 6-1.
Bruce started on the mound and threw four innings, giving up three earned runs on four hits while walking two and striking out five.
Vanderhoof pitched 1/3 inning giving up two earned runs on three hits; Dawson Bond pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out two.
Bruce doubled and G. Couse and Wyatt Sederburg each singled.
Bruce recorded the only run and G. Couse earned the RBI.
“We know we can be better offensively,” Tigers head coach Mark Erickson said. “I have liked our overall approach and mind-set at the plate as of late. We have been squaring up the ball quite a bit, but hitting it right at people.”
Clarke
Red Oak hosted Clarke on Thursday, falling in non-conference action 11-2, aided by a Clarke  seven-run seventh inning .
“We did not play well defensively tonight as we had six errors,” Erickson said. “Only four of the eleven runs were earned. Committing six errors and walking seven batters is certainly not what we expect out of our team defensively and on the mound.”
Johnson took the loss from the mound, pitching 4 2/3 innings. He walked five and struck out three.
G. Couse and Vanderhoof pitched relief and combined for two strike outs and two walks.
G. Couse hit two singles while Colton Kinnison and Bond each had one single.
Couse also stole two bags to lead the Tiger offense.
Carlson and Landon Couse each plated one run.
Atlantic
Red Oak used a three-run seventh inning to overcome a 3-1 deficit and earn a 4-3 walk-off win over Atlantic at home on Friday.
“Dillon Burns threw one of our best games of the season,” Erickson said. “He was one out short of a complete game. He did a good job of getting on top of hitters and keeping them off balance. He pitched through some tight situations and a couple trouble spots that our defense put him in throughout the night.”
Vanderhoof came in to get the final out in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded.
The Tigers did not get a hit until the sixth inning as G. Couse broke up the no-hitter with an infield single to the shortstop. Down two going into the bottom of the seventh, Bond led off with a walk, followed by a Vanderhoof double, and Bruce being hit by the pitch to load the bases. Carlson was walked, which scored Bond, and G. Couse recorded his second single on the night to score Vanderhoof.
“After two fielder’s choice plays by Atlantic to get outs at home and keep the game tied, Garrett made it to third. He got a fantastic jump to end the game by stealing home.
“I was proud of our entire team for keeping our energy up and staying positive despite struggling at the plate for most of the night and committing three errors on defense. It was a true team effort to earn the win.”
The Tigers hold a 5-8 record, and travel to Denison for a double header on Thursday, June 20. The first game is set to begin at 5:30 p.m.