Last-ditch comeback effort falls short for Pump Jacks
TEXAS COLLEGIATE LEAGUE BASEBALL
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

Photo by Lester Murray A GOOD NIGHT FOR A FORMER KILGORE STAR - East Texas Pump Jacks third baseman Pat Mc- Crory (4) put the bat on the ball quite frequently Friday night against the McKinney Marshals at Driller Park. McCrory went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI against the Marshals in the contest, but the Pump Jacks fell short, as McKinney scored a run in the top of the ninth inning and held on for an 8-7 win. The Pump Jacks are on a four-game road trip through Wednesday, but will return home to face McKinney once again on Thursday.

The fireworks on the field at Driller Park on Friday night were as exciting as the ones that followed.

The East Texas Pump Jacks, playing just the fourth game in the history of the franchise and just the second at home, fell just short to the McKinney Marshals, dropping an 8-7 decision when one last comeback fell short.

The Pump Jacks (1-3 overall) will get to see McKinney quite a bit in the four-team TCL - in fact, the Marshals will be back here on Thursday night for another series. First, though, the Jacks will go on the road themselves. They were to play Coppell - including former Kilgore standout Jaron Shepherd - on Saturday and today, and then will visit Brazos Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday before coming back to host the Marshals again Thursday.

After getting the first-ever win in their first home game last Thursday night, the Pump Jacks tried to make it two in a row on Friday, but McKinney just wouldn't go away.

The Marshals built a 5-1 lead that evaporated eventually, in part thanks to another former Kilgore standout, Pat McCrory, who signed with the Jacks last week, and has played third base in two games. McCrory grounded out in the bottom of the third, but scored Paige Hodges, bringing the Pump Jacks within three runs, 5-2. McCrory had a good night, finishing 3-for-4 with 3 RBI, and scored a run that tied the game at 7-all in the bottom of the seventh.

But finally in the top of the ninth, McKinney's Mike Sharp managed an RBI single that put his team once again in front, 8-7. The Pump Jacks failed to rally in the ninth, dropping the decision. The fans at Driller were treated to a spectacular fireworks show afterward, however, something that will happen often following Friday night Pump Jacks games.

Christian Gagne was credited with the victory for the Marshals. Carthage native Kory Cleveland took the loss for the Pump Jacks. Cleveland allowed just one run over 2 2/3 innings.

The Pump Jacks have played only four games this year, and all have been against McKinney. The attendance for Friday's game was announced as being 1,172, over 150 more than opening night.