Rogers High mounts rally in sixth, tops Fayetteville

ROGERS HIGH 8, FAYETTEVILLE 5

ROGERS — Rogers High wasn’t bothered by a four-run deficit against Fayetteville on Tuesday.

The Mounties took over in the later innings and defeated the Bulldogs 8-5 in 7A-West Conference action at Veterans Park. The teams will play each other again today at Fayetteville.

Fayetteville (10-6-1, 3-2) was cruising with a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning. But the Mounties (11-4, 4-1) tied the game with two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings before surging ahead with four runs in the bottom of the sixth.

McKaden Templeton had a two-run double in the sixth, followed by a two-run home run from Matthew Watson to highlight the rally. Watson then pitched the seventh inning to earn the save.

“This is the true definition of a team win,” Rogers coach Matt Melson said. “There was no panic in the dugout and I was proud of that. We never stopped fighting. We had some good at-bats and put together some runs.”

Rogers’ rally came after Mason Shaw put the Bulldogs back ahead 5-4 with a home run off sophomore reliever Jay Watson. Watson got off to a good start in the sixth inning when he struck out Matthew Magre and Jeff Sinacore. But Shaw, the No. 9 hitter, lifted a home run to left field.

Fayetteville’s celebration was brief, and Rogers overtook the Bulldogs with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Templeton, who started the

game on the mound for Rogers, put the Mounties ahead with a line-drive double past third base that scored two runs. Watson then launched a two-run home run to center field on a cold and blustery day.

“[Templeton] didn’t have his best stuff on the mound, but he sure had a big hit in the sixth when we needed it,” Melson said.

Jackson Down put Fayetteville ahead 1-0 lead with a home run in the second inning. Fayetteville added three runs in the fourth inning to chase Templeton. The Bulldogs had three hits in the inning, including run-scoring singles by Magre and Sinacore.

Rogers cut the Fayetteville lead to 4-2 in the fourth with the help of a double from Jay Watson, a single by Sal Jacobo and a two-out error by the Bulldogs.

Fayetteville loaded the bases in the third inning but did not score after Luke Davenport hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

BENTONVILLE WEST 11, SPRINGDALE HIGH 6

Roger Alexander’s fourth-inning sacrifice fly drove in Joey Aden with the go-ahead run as West claimed its first 7A-West victory Tuesday at the Wolverine Athletic Complex.

West (9-6, 1-4) led 3-1 after three innings but needed a four-run fourth to regain the lead after Springdale (98, 2-3) scored five runs in the top half of the inning for a 6-5 lead. The Wolverines then added their lead with two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth.

Will Jarrett, Aden and Alexander — the top three hitters in West’s lineup — drove in two runs apiece, while Aden and Cody Stewart each had three hits to pace the Wolverines’ 15-hit attack. Carter Bourg, the third West pitcher, threw the final 31/3 innings to pick up the victory.

Christopher Harvey had a double and drove in four runs for Springdale.

SPRINGDALE HAR-BER 8, BENTONVILLE HIGH 2

Blaze Brothers’ two-run single gave Har-Ber the lead for good and the Wildcats completed a sweep of Bentonville with Tuesday’s victory at Tyson Park.

Brothers’ fourth-inning hit snapped a 2-2 tie, then Mitch McCloskey added an RBI single on the following pitch to give Har-Ber (15-2, 5-1) a 5-2 cushion. Jake Williams, who had four RBIs in Monday’s game at Bentonville, burned the Tigers again with his bases-clearing double in the sixth.

Blake Benson allowed two runs on four hits in the first inning, then held Bentonville (7-7, 1-3) scoreless on three hits over the final six innings. Austin Garrett pitched four innings and took the loss for the Tigers, while Brooks McDowell had two of Bentonville’s seven hits.

“[Templeton] didn’t have his best stuff on the mound, but he sure had a big hit in the sixth when we needed it.”

— Rogers coach Matt Melson

VAN BUREN 15, ROGERS HERITAGE 5

The Pointers used a seven-run third inning to roll to the 7A-West Conference win Tuesday.

Chase Moore went 4-for5, scored two runs and drove in four as Van Buren (13-1, 4-1 7A-West) led 10-2 after three innings. Three other Pointers had two hits each.

Evan Jones threw the final five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits. He struck out six and walked four.

Jeb Brown went 2-for-3 and drove in a run, while Dylan Qualls added two hits for Heritage (2-12, 0-6).