Mike Volz Memorial Tournament
Warriors edged by Junction Dragons, Parkers Chapel in tourney bouts
DONALDSON — As the host tourney team of the 2021 Mike Volz Memorial Tournament, the Ouachita Warriors fell short in two competitive baseball match-ups against the Junction City Dragons 2-1 and Parkers Chapel Trojans 16-2 Saturday at Warrior Field.
The Warriors only had a one-run defeat to the Dragons, and maintained a close contest early in a tough loss to a good Parkers Chapel team.
Ouachita baseball head coach Anthony Nail aims for his Warriors to keep progressing from these performances and come back strong this week for more tough play on the diamond.
Warriors 1, Junction City Dragons 2 The game was knotted 1-1 after the second inning, but the Dragons doubled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run in the top of the fourth to eventually take the 2-1 lead for good. The Warriors defense stood productively and kept the Dragons scoreless in the first and third innings. Warriors’ Larson Fowler drew a walk, scoring one run in the first inning to give Ouachita a trip on the scoreboard for the contest.
For the game, the Warriors totaled one run on one hit and no errors while the Dragons tallied two runs on six hits with two errors. Defensively, the Warriors’ pitching was productive to hold the Dragons to only two runs scored. Kelton Fowler led things off on the pitcher’s mound for Ouachita, allowed five hits and two runs over three and two-thirds innings, striking out five batters and threw 46 strikes. Brady Huneycutt threw one-third of an inning out, allowed one run, one walk and struck out one batter and threw six strikes across home plate.
Offensively, Hunter Rook led Ouachita with one hit in two at bats at the plate. Caden Lee scored the lone run while Larson Fowler drove in the run for the RBI. Lee also had a stolen base to lead the base running for the Warriors.
Warriors 2, Parkers Chapel 16 In a turnaround performance, the Warriors took on a dandy championship caliber team of the Parkers Chapel Trojans. The Warriors stayed within striking distance through the fourth inning—trailing the Trojans 5-2. In the top of the fifth, the Trojans routed 11 runs at home, which ended up being the difference factor and led to Parkers Chapel victory.
For the game, Ouachita collected two runs on two hits and two errors with Parkers Chapel rallying up 16 runs on 12 hits and one error through five innings of baseball competition.
Offensively, the Warriors Riley Adams and Jayden Alston (double) led at the plate with a hit apiece. Alston and Rook each drove in a run for an RBI. Caden Lee and Rook each scored a run apiece. Kelton Fowler and Lee each had a stolen base to lead the base running.
Defensively, the Warrior pitched four pitcher’s from the mound. Kaden Fulmer went three and a third innings, allowing nine runs on nine hits, and threw 33 strikes. Caleb Force, Payton Neal, and Colton Braswell each pitched in relief for Ouachita against Parkers Chapel. Force allowed no hits, one run, one walk and threw seven strikes. Braswell allowed three hits, seven runs, four walks and threw 12 strikes. Neal allowed no hits, no runs, no walks, struck out one batter and threw five strikes from nine pitches.
Parkers Chapel’s Trace Shoup led the offensive spark for the Trojans at the plate. Shoup homered with four hits (one double), scored four runs and had four RBIs. Mason Dougan had three hits, Austin Looney had two hits and Chris Greer, Wyatt New and Blake Caldwell each collected a hit with RBIs and scored runs for the Trojans. On the mound, Dougan earned the win and allowed one run on no hits, struck out one batter and threw four strikes over one-third of an inning. Caleb Barnes allowed two hits, one run, two walks, struck out one batter and threw 39 strikes.