Smackover knocks off Parkers Chapel
PARKERS CHAPEL Smackover has gotten solid pitching during the first week of the season, but Chase Brumley delivered a scintillating performance on Friday, going the distance with a five-hitter, as the Bucks outlasted Parkers Chapel 3-2 in nine innings at Robert McKinnon Park.
Brumley, who allowed one earned run, walked one and struck out seven, threw 102 pitches in nine innings of work, needing 15 or fewer pitches in seven of those innings.
However, Reid Cates matched Brumley pitch for pitch, allowing six hits and two runs with only one being earned in seven innings of work. He didn’t walk a batter, hit three batters and struck out four.
Smackover (4-0) scored the go-ahead run in the ninth against Trace Shoup.
Sawyer Cropper led off with a pinch-hit single and went to third on a pair of ground outs before Jacob Eubanks delivered a single to right to give the Bucks the lead, and Brumley finished his gem with a scoreless bottom of the ninth, needing only seven pitches.
The Bucks dented the scoreboard in the first.
Bailey Rivers singled and stole second, but was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a base hit by Eubanks.
However, Josh Saulsbury and Braden Doherty followed with singles with the latter collecting an RBI to make it 1-0.
The Trojans (1-2) tied the game in the second after Jordan Arrington doubled, took third on a ground out and scored on a ground out by Tyler Killingsworth.
The game didn’t stay tied for long, as the Bucks reclaimed the lead in the third.
Brumley was hit by a pitch and took second on a wild pitch. Eubanks advanced Brumley to third with a ground out, and the sophomore scored when Saulsbury’s ground ball was mishandled for an error.
The Trojans tied the game in the fifth after Korbin McAuliffe walked and scored after a fly ball by Cates was misplayed for an error.
Rivers, Eubanks, Saulsbury and Doherty were all 2-for-5 for Smackover, while Baylor Brumley finished 2-for-3 in the win.
Shoup took the loss, allowing five hits and one run in two innings of work. He struck out two and issued no walks.
Arrington went 2-for-4 with a double and a single for the Trojans, who got one hit apiece from Killingsworth, Shoup and Chris Greer.
Smackover took on Horatio Saturday at Arkadelphia, and they will begin conference play Monday at Fouke.
Parkers Chapel will hit the road to take on Murfreesboro Monday.