Fulton baseball upsets Hallsville to reach championship game

The damage was done by the end of the first inning.

The Fulton Hornets scored seven runs in the opening inning and never trailed Wednesday, knocking off the top-seeded Hallsville Indians 8-3 in the semifinals of the 24th annual Fulton Tournament.

Fulton, the No. 4 seed in the tournament, improves to 9-12 with the win. The Hornets will face second-seeded Southern Boone at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the championship game.

Southern Boone defeated third-seeded Fatima 5-3 in Wednesday's other semifinal.

Fulton's first seven batters of the game reached base safely against Hallsville.

Jake Moore scored on an error for the Hornets' first run of the game. Woodrow Foster followed with an RBI single to score Grant Derenzy and make the score 2-0.

After a bunt single loaded the bases, Camden Moore hit an RBI single and John Holtkamp hit a two-run double to extend Fulton's lead to 5-0 before Hallsville recorded an out.

Later in the first, Camden Moore scored on a passed ball and David Gibson scored on a groundout to wrap up the seven-run inning.

The Hornets scored their last run in the third inning, when Justin Leake singled to score Gibson and push Fulton's lead to 8-0.

Holtkamp held the Indians scoreless for the first three innings. Hallsville had two runs in the fourth and added another in the sixth off relief pitcher Tyler Sayler.

Holtkamp earned the win on the mound. In five innings, he gave up two runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Sayler threw the last two innings and scattered three hits and one walk.

At the plate, Holtkamp and Joe Hinchie each went 2-for-3 with a single and a double to lead Fulton. Holtkamp and Leake each drove in two runs, while Gibson scored two runs.

Jake Moore, Camden Moore, Leake and Foster each had a single.

With the loss, Hallsville will play Fatima for third place at 4 p.m. Friday.