Triston Hamm pitched the game of his young life for the Lexington baseball team when coach Matt Dierking needed it most.

Hamm, a senior who had yet to pitch in a varsity game, took the mound after Duncan, the defending 5A state champion, scored four runs in the first inning against starter Braxton Keesee in a Southeast Shootout tournament game played in Broken Bow on March 17.

Hamm surrendered just one run over five innings, and Lexington rallied in the seventh for a 6-5 win. Colby Haynes drove in the tying and winning runs for the Bulldogs, who have won eight of their first 10 games.

Kash Klupenger came on in the seventh to get the save.

Lexington started 7-0 then lost two straight to Class 4A Sallisaw and Stephensville (Texas). A third straight loss against another quality opponent hung in the balance when Hamm entered the game.

“He pitched really well,” Dierking told The Register. “He only had one strikeout, so we played really good defense. He threw lots of strikes and did what we needed him to do. Just let ‘em hit the ball and they hit ‘em right to us.

“He came in in a tough situation and did really well against a quality team. We were really proud of him.”

Lexington lost 3-0 to Stephensville the day before.

“Colby Haynes pitched great,” Dierking said. “We had an error in a big spot, and they scored two runs in the third inning. We had the bases loaded with one out in the seventh and couldn’t get it done.”