Alva Review-Courier -

The Alva High School Goldbugs baseball team is hosting a tournament with five other teams competing, and the Goldbugs are off to a 3-0 start, kicking off the tournament Friday in the first game, against the Timberlake Tigers.

Game One

Alva jumped out to an early lead over the Tigers, picking up a dominating lead in the first three innings and giving up only two runs in the bottom of the third.

Zeth Warren led off the Goldbugs at the plate, and picked up the first hit of the day when he singled on a pop fly to shortstop. Dalton Rose was able to bring Warren in after hitting a hard ground ball to second base that resulted in an infield error for the Tigers and Alva's first run of the inning.

After loading the bases with a hit-by-pitch and another error, Alva took the advantage to plate two more runners for a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the first.

Alva's momentum picked up speed in the next two innings as they rallied for seven runs in the second and six in the third to lead Timberlake 16-0.

Although the Tigers scored two runs in the bottom half of the third off a line drive to center field, the damage was done and the Goldbugs plated two more runners to get the 18-2 win over Timberlake.

Alva picked up a total of 16 hits at the plate. Big contributors came from Rose (3-5, 3 RBIs, 3 runs), Carson Gaisford (2-4, 1 RBI, 1 run), Morgan Cook (2-4, 1 RBI, 2 runs), Warren (2-3, 2 runs), Braeden Cook (2-2, 3 RBIs, 2 runs), Dalton Hess (1-2, 3 runs), Cameron Gordon (1-2, 1 RBI), Dylan Whitely (1-3, 1 RBI, 2 runs), Dominic Minjares (1-3, 2 RBIs) and Max Parsons (1-4, 3 RBIs, 2 runs).

Game Two

Alva had a tougher showdown in their second game of the day when they faced off with Pond Creek-Hunter/Wakita in a back-and-forth affair to close out Day One.

The Goldbugs traded blows with Pond Creek over the first inning as each plated four runners to remain tied, 4-4, going into the second inning.

Alva trailed 5-7 going into the bottom of the fifth, but after Parsons scored across home on a passed ball, and a line drive double to center field from Whitely plated two more runs, Alva took a one-run lead, 8-7. Alva picked up two more runs before Pond Creek closed out the inning to lead 10-7.

Pond Creek-Hunter had their last chance to take back the lead in the top of the sixth, but the Goldbugs were able to hold them off for the three-run win.

Parsons led the Goldbugs at the plate, hitting 2-for-3 to go with his one RBI and two runs. Other contributors were M. Cook (2-4, 1 RBI, 1 run), Gaisford (1-2, 1 run), Whitely (1-2, 2 RBIs, 1 run), Gordon (1-2, 1 run), Hess (1-3, 1 RBI, 1 run), Rose (1-3, 1 run) and Warren (1-3, 2 runs).

Braeden Cook started on the mound for the Goldbugs, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing six runs off six hits while striking out seven at the plate. Zeth Warren closed the game out, pitching 2.1 innings and allowing one run off two hits while walking three and striking out one.

Game Three

The Alva Goldbugs opened up Day Two with another big win against Pioneer-Pleasant Vale on Saturday despite allowing Pioneer to get an early lead with three runs in the first inning.

Leslie Nation

Cade Madsen was starting pitcher for the Goldbugs against Pioneer on Saturday, pitching 4.2 innings. Madsen picked up five strikeouts in the Goldbugs' 15-4 win.

Although Alva trailed going into the bottom of the second 2-4, the Goldbugs took the lead for good with a four-run inning in the second. The Goldbugs rallied big in the third, plating another eight runs to lead Pioneer 14-4. Alva closed out the game with one more run in the fourth for a 15-4 win.

Rose had a big game against Pioneer, hitting a perfect 4-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs. Other contributors were M. Cook (3-4, 1 RBI, 3 runs), Warren (3-5, 2 RBIs, 2 runs), Gaisford (2-3, 2 RBIs), B. Cook (2-2, 2 RBIs, 1 run), Hess (1-3, 3 RBIs), Parsons (1-3, 2 runs) and Cade Madsen (1-3, 1 RBI, 3 runs).

Madsen picked up the win on the mound for the Goldbugs, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing 1 run off 1 hit while walking four and striking out five.

The Goldbugs will close out the tournament against Fairview tonight at 8 p.m. at Crenshaw Field.