Tuscola Rallies Late, Stuns #11 Burns in Extras

LAWNDALE, N.C. – In a battle between two teams with deep postseason aspirations, Tuscola outlasted #11 Burns in a thrilling 7-6 extra-inning victory on Friday night. A ninth-inning home run from Evan Conner proved to be the game-winner, as Tuscola escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom half to secure the win.

Both teams showcased resilience throughout the game. Burns jumped ahead twice early, but Tuscola battled back each time to knot the score at 1-1 and 3-3. The back-and-forth contest continued into the fifth, where Tuscola briefly took a 4-3 lead, only for Burns to respond with a three-run rally with two outs, reclaiming the advantage 6-4.

Tuscola refused to go away, as Amos Rich delivered a clutch two-out single in the seventh, followed by a Bo West double to even the score at 6-6. Burns nearly walked it off in the bottom half when Marshall McGowan launched a deep fly to left, but it was tracked down to send the game to extras.

In the ninth, Conner led off with a towering solo home run to put Tuscola ahead. Burns threatened once more, loading the bases with one out, but Mason Harrell held his composure, inducing back-to-back pop-ups to seal the dramatic victory.

Key Performers

Tuscola:

• Evan Conner: 1-for-5, HR, 1R, 1RBI
• Amos Rich: 4-for-4, 2B, 1R, 1RBI
• Bo West: 1-for-3, 2B, 1R, 1RBI
• Mason Harrell: 2-for-5, 2 RBI
• Kolt Nelson: ND, 2 IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 4K
• Amos Rich: 5 IP, 2H, 3R, 0ER, 1BB, 7K
• Zach Shuler (W): 1 IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 0K
• Mason Harrell (S): 1 IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 1K

#11 Burns:

• Drew Dixon: 1-for-3, HR, 2R, 2RBI
• Hagan Hoyle: 1-for-5, 1RBI
• Yates Toney: 1-for-3, 1RBI
• Max Davis: 2-for-4, 1R
• Jaxon Dubesko: 1-for-3
• Colby Putnam: ND, 4 IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 8K
• Jackson Toney (L): 5 IP, 5H, 4R, 1ER, 2BB, 10K

SCOUT BLOG

Amos Rich, RHP, Tuscola HS, 2026
North Carolina commit. Strength present. Physical lower half. Stands 6-foot-1, 205 pounds. Arm strength and arm speed. Direct lines, working level and on-line. Square foot-strike. Medium arm swing to an over-the-top slot. Has intent. Fastball jumps out of the hand and showed ride when elevated. Ranged