After two close losses this weekend to open their season, Verden’s third-ranked Tigers run-ruled Alex 19-1 Monday at Longhorn Field for their first win of the spring.

The Tigers took out some frustration on Alex starter Wayne Heffington, getting to him for 12 runs on six hits, eight walks and two ‘Horn errors in 2.2 innings. Verden sent 14 hitters to the plate in a marathon first and seven in the second before Mike Cassmeyer took over with the bases loaded and two out. Wade Crowder singled in two more runs before Cassmeyer got Pete Verser to pop up to first baseman Steve Brooksher to end the inning.

Verden starter J.P. Blackwood gave up one single in the first but Sean Landrum got the Longhorns on the board in the home second after singling and moving over on a wild pitch. He scored on a hit-and-run on Brooksher’s infield out for Alex’s only run.

The visitors batted around again in the third, sending 10 men up and picking up five more runs before Cassmeyer struck pinch-hitter Austin Adams out with two on to end the top half.

Freshman James Boyer took over for Verden in the bottom half and put two on before getting Cassmeyer to ground out to finish the three-inning game.

Verden got some production from the top to the bottom of their order. Leadoff hitter Tyler McComas doubled in two runs and walked twice, Justin Boyer walked, singled in a run and doubled, Dan Edwards singled, walked and smacked a very high three-run homerun over the right-field fence and cleanup hitter Wade Crowder walked and singled in two runs.

Pete Verser singled in two runs, Bryce Hendren doubled in a run and walked, Ryan Rennels walked, reached on an error and singled, Dillon Wilson walked, tripled in a run and drove in another on a fielder’s choice and Blackwood sacrificed in a run with a fly to deep left, walked and singled in another run.

Thomas Crow and Landrum had the only hits for Alex, which drops to 0-2 after a 5-0 loss to Cement Friday in their season opener.

Verden comes out at 1-2 after a 4-2 loss to Am-Po Friday and a 2-1 extra-inning loss to Elgin on Saturday.

Alex’s junior high kids run-ruled the young Tigers 16-6 in the early game. Josh Collins got the win on the bump and hit a three-run homer for the Little ‘Horns.