HICKS – For six and two-thirds innings, it was all Hornbeck. 

Then Hicks found a little of that Pirate magic. 

Hicks scored four two-out runs, the final run coming on a walk-off RBI-single from Conner Helton as the Pirates stunned the Hornets in a District 3-C showdown on Thursday, 4-3. 

The Pirates improved to 19-2 overall with the win and virtually clinched the league title. 

The game was knotted at 0-0 through four complete innings as Hicks starter Zach Haymon and Hornbeck ace Michael Mason were locked in an intense battle. 

Hornbeck drew first blood with a run in the top of the fifth and added another in the sixth to take a 2-0 lead over Hicks. 

Hunter Thacker entered to pitch in the seventh for the Pirates and surrendered another run as Hornbeck took a 3-0 advantage. 

Mason managed to retire two batters, but gave up a double to Aiden Coffman, who scored on a hit from leadoff batter Dylan Williams, getting the Pirates on the board. 

Williams moved to third and Thacker reached to give Hicks runners at the corners. This prompted a Hornbeck pitching change, with Waylon Woodell entering the contest. 

Thacker took second on a catcher's indifference before Haymon tied things up with a two-run single with two strikes. Haymon advanced to second on the throw, setting the stage for Helton. 

Helton calmly punched a single to the outfield to score Haymon, giving Hicks the improbable comeback victory. 

Thacker got the win pitching, going only one inning, giving up a run on no hits with a strikeout. Haymon worked six innings, giving up two runs on three hits with six strikeouts. 

Williams went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored, while Haymon was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Coffman and Thacker each had a hit and run scored, while Helton had the game-winning RBI. 

Mason went 6.2 innings for the Hornets in receiving a no decision. He gave up three runs on five hits with 10 strikeouts. Woodell suffered the loss, giving up a run on two hits. 

Caleb Britt and JoJo Weeks each had an RBI, while Parker Alexander had a hit and run scored. Devyn Sharp and Britt each scored a run, while Cayden Fox was 1-for-3 in the loss for Hornbeck. 

This article originally appeared on Leesville Daily Leader: Pirates rally to stun Hornbeck, 4-3