BASEBALL: Late-inning swing dooms Claremore in tight loss to McAlester

For five innings, Claremore had it right where it wanted.

But for one inning, it all slipped away.

The Zebras carried a late lead into the sixth, but a 3-run surge by McAlester proved decisive in a 5-3 loss Saturday in the McAlester 5A Shootout Festival at McAlester High School.

Claremore was paced offensively by Luke Roberts and John Tedesco, who each collected 2 hits, while Roberts and Evan Jameson each drove in a run. Brayden Floyd also reached base three times with walks as the Zebras showed patience at the plate, drawing 10 walks overall.

On the mound, Saxton Pickup delivered a strong start, striking out 7 over 5 innings while allowing 3 runs. However, the game turned in the sixth inning, when the Buffaloes capitalized on free passes and hit batters against Claremore’s bullpen.

McAlester struck first in the opening inning.

After a two-out single and stolen base, Denver Durant came around to score on a wild pitch to give the Buffaloes a 1-0 lead.

Claremore answered in the second.

John Tedesco tripled to open the inning and later scored when Braden Trail reached on an error, tying the game at 1.

The Buffaloes regained the lead in the third.

Blake Judkins doubled to start the inning, and John Marchant followed with a bunt single. An error on the play allowed Judkins to score, putting McAlester ahead 2-1.

The Zebras responded again in the fourth, though.

After loading the bases with a single and 2 walks, Jameson was hit by a pitch, forcing in a run to tie the game at 2.

Claremore continued to battle, stranding runners in scoring position in both the third and fifth innings as it searched for a breakthrough.

The Zebras finally found it in the sixth.

Jameson reached after being hit by a pitch, and after Gaede walked and Floyd followed with another free pass, Roberts delivered with an RBI single to left, scoring Gaede and giving Claremore a 3-2 lead.

But the momentum was short-lived.

In the bottom half, McAlester loaded the bases and tied the game when Judkins was hit by a pitch. Moments later, Marchant put the ball in play, bringing home another run on a fielder’s choice to give the Buffaloes a 4-3 lead.

The inning continued to unravel as Durant drew a bases-loaded walk, forcing in another run and extending the lead to 5-3.

However, the Zebras had one last chance in the seventh.

Tedesco singled to put the tying run on base, but McAlester’s bullpen shut the door, recording the final outs to seal the win.