Robert E. Lee overcame frigid temperatures to make quick work of Forney in a 12-2 win Thursday at Mike Carter Field.

It was Game 3 of the Rose City Classic, which started late to allow the field to dry from Wednesday’s snowfall.

Daniel Bogue struck out 12 and catcher Marc Schwartz drove in three runs for the Red Raiders (1-0), who scored nine in the fifth to force the game to be called because of the 10-run rule.

“I was excited and thankful we just got a chance to play considering we had two inches of snow on the ground at 2 p.m. Wednesday,” Lee coach David Howard said. “The snow had melted, but the field was still saturated, so we felt like we needed a half of a day to dry it out.

“It worked out well and the field played wonderfully.”

The annual event, celebrating its 24th year, had a paired down schedule because of the weather, with just three games.

Nacogdoches defeated Carthage 6-4 in the opener, with Carthage taking down Forney 8-3 in Game 2.

Lee was scheduled to play Atlanta, but the Rabbits were snowed in. Forney stayed for another game to complete the day.

Lee led 2-0 thanks to a walk and steal by Parker Bates and a single and steal from Parker Bramlett. This set the table for Garrett Hudson’s sacrifice fly and Schwartz’s RBI single.

Forney tied the game 2-2 in the top of the third.

What turned out to be the game-winning run was scored in the fourth after Henry Smith doubled, was sacrificed to second by Mitchell Nejame and scored on a sac fly from Stephen MacPherson.

REL poured it on in the fifth, highlighted by two-run singles from Schwartz and Jacob Romines.

The tournament continues today with Sulphur Springs and Forney expected to start things off at 12:15 p.m. at Mike Carter Field.

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Rose City Classic

Robert E. Lee 12, Forney 2, 5 innings

Forney 002 00 — 2 3 1 Lee 200 19 — 12 8 1

Hedge, Baker (4), Rasberry (5) and Flowers. Daniel Bogue and Marc Schwartz. W — Bogue (1-0). L — Baker. 2B — REL: Henry Smith.

RECORDS — Forney 0-2; Robert E. Lee 1-0.

NEXT UP — Lee vs. Nacogdoches, 7 p.m. Friday at Mike Carter Field.

 

Thursday’s Games

Game 1: Nacogdoches 6, Carthage 4

Game 2: Carthage 8, Forney 3

Game 3: Robert E. Lee 12, Forney 2, 5 innings

Friday’s Schedule

Game 4: Sulphur Springs vs. Forney, 12:15 p.m.

Game 5: Sulphur Springs vs. Lufkin, 2:30 p.m.

Game 6: Hallsville vs. Lufkin, 4:45 p.m.

Game 7: Nacogdoches vs. Robert E. Lee