There have been some amazing comeback stories in the Pecos League this season, but Monday’s contest between the Houston Apollos and the Salina Stockade was one for the ages. An eight-run top of the eighth inning allowed Houston to pull ahead, only to see Salina battle back with seven runs in the bottom of the frame on their way to a 17-15 victory. Hudson Bilodeau led the way with three hits and four RBI, including his third homerun of the season. Trevor Wick came on to record his first save of the season.

Each team got on the board in the first inning, as Houston plated three, with Salina battling back with two in the bottom frame. A theme of the contest was the Stockade continuing to battle back in the contest. They tied the score with a run in the bottom of the fourth, only to see Houston retake the lead in the top of the fifth. However, Salina tied the score again in the bottom of the frame, only to see the Apollos score 3 in the top of the sixth to take a 6-4 lead.

The Stockade plated five in the bottom of the sixth to take their first lead of the contest and extended their lead to four with a run in the bottom of the seventh.

That set up the wild eighth inning. Houston scored eight in the top half of the inning as Nicholas Ray and Matthew Fountain were having no success in containing Houston’s bats. Chase Stacy finally closed out the inning, and he would earn the victory when his team rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the inning.

Jared Gay joined Bilodeau with a homer, his second of the season. Gay finished 3-5 with two runs scored and three RBI. Bilodeau was 3-4 with two runs scored and four runs driven in. Eddie Grimaldo also drove in three for Salina. Jordan Dicks and Ernie Geraci each scored three runs for the Stockade.

Houston was led by Yale Hughes, who was 3-5 with three runs scored and three RBI. Jordan Gonzalez drove in three and Aaron Stubblefield was 4-6 with four runs scored and two RBI.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier