The Tigers opened the season with their annual Blue and Gold game. (Photo courtesy CHS/Lake Okeechobee News

CLEWISTON- The Clewiston High School varsity baseball team defeated the Okeechobee High School Brahmans on Feb. 28.

The Tigers edged out a 3-2 victory over the Brahmans at Sugarland Park in Clewiston.

Clewiston took a 3-0 lead into the top of the seventh inning, and the Brahmans managed a small rally, scoring two runs before CHS pitcher Bryce Barnes secured the last out to win the game.

Gabriel Rangel got the start on the mound for the Tigers, allowing just four hits in six innings. Clewiston stole three bases against the Brahmans while Okeechobee managed to steal one. Gavin Kindell and Jayce Markham each had an RBI for Okeechobee in their late rally that fell short.

The 3-2 victory was a major turnaround from how the game went the last time these two Lake Okeechobee teams met. Last season the Brahmans took an 8-3 victory over the Tigers, scoring six of their runs in the final two innings.

The win against the Brahmans came after the Tigers dominated East Lee County in the season opener on Feb. 23. Clewiston took a 11-1 lopsided victory over East Lee, racking up 10 hits on the night. Clewiston’s Cayson Holman led the team in hits with three, while he, Sadler Soles, and Brastyn Ballard  each knocked in 2 RBIs.

Gabriel Rangel and Christopher Guerra each hit a triple during the big showing by the Tiger offense.

The Tigers are coming off a season in which they made an appearance in the district semifinal where they fell 3-2 in a close battle against the Saint Andrew's Scots.

The Tigers will be back home again on March 24 to take on the Charlotte High School Fightin' Tarpons. After that, a rematch with the Brahmans awaits them, this time in Okeechobee. The Brahmans and Tigers are set to face off on March 25 in a double header against Okeechobee and the St. Albans Bulldogs.