Pocola splits district games with Sallisaw-Central Tigers; rubber game was slated to take place Friday afternoon

April 28, 2012

POCOLA — The Pocola Indians baseball team had to wait one more day for the chance to celebrate a district title once again.
The Indians split the first two games of the Class 2A District Tournament Friday with the Sallisaw-Central Tigers, taking the nightcap 9-1 after losing 6-5 in the opener.
In the nightcap, Tanner Francis dominated the Tigers as he struck out six batters in a complete-game win.
The Indians scored once in the opening inning, but used a three-run third inning, a two-run fifth inning — highlighted by the first-ever home run by Francis, a solo shot — and a three-run sixth inning to put the game away.
In the opener, Pocola had a 5-1 lead, with Dakota Highley being pretty dominant over the first 5.1 innings. However, the Tigers got to Pocola reliever Ricky Manzano got five runs in the sixth inning to snatch the win away.