Lions cage Knights, win 7-2

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Centerpoint had twice as many hits as Jessieville, but the Lions made the most of their opportunities.

Dylan Anderson, Kaleb Moody, Chase Pederson and Logan Perkins each drove in a run while Dalton McClard and Perkins scored on wild pitches in a 7-2 Jessieville win Thursday night. Despite 12 hits, the Knights stranded 10 runners.

“I had heard from a lot of people before the game that they hit really well, so I knew we were going to have to be disciplined,” Jessieville coach Jamie Saveall said. “I think we did a good job of that at the plate. On the mound, the guys got into some bad situations, but they always threw themselves out of it.”

Centerpoint had eight hits in the first three innings off McClard, coming away with just two runs while leaving seven runners.

“Our guys don’t rely on the strikeouts all the time; they feel confident in the guys behind them to make plays, and they do,” said Saveall. “We had some spectacular stuff go on out in the field today that I was happy to see. A lot of the time you’re halfway through the season before you feel comfortable defensively, but I felt comfortable today.”

Anderson and Perkins had RBI singles in the first inning. After Centerpoint tied it with runs in the next two frames, Moody relieved McClard on the mound

and held the Knights in check.

The senior scattered four hits in four innings, striking out three while walking two to pick up the win.

“Dalton’s shoulder was bothering him a little bit, so we went to Kaleb and he did a great job,” Saveall said. “His breaking ball wasn’t working all the time, but he threw it well enough that they had to honor it. When he can throw the breaking ball over it changes his fastball speed a lot.”

Moody’s RBI single and McClard’s run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth put Jessieville ahead for good. The Lions plated three insurance runs in the sixth inning, Pederson with an RBI single and Aaron Ford scoring on a Centerpoint throwing error.

Daniel Forsythe suffered the loss, surrendering four runs on five hits with two walks in five innings. Logan Taylor and Lance Chambers pitched the sixth inning, allowing three runs on one hit with three walks combined.

A patient approach at the plate led to six hits, six walks and no strikeouts for Jessieville.

“We’ve really been working hard on that; our batting average as a team is what we’re trying to work on,” said Saveall. “Our approach is when we get two strikes on us, we’re just looking to make contact. These guys have bought into our system, they know what to expect and they’re doing what we ask them to do.”

Anderson and Moody each finished with one single, one RBI and one stolen base, and Adam Saveall doubled and walked in three plate appearances.

Taylor had three singles and drove in one run for the Knights while Keenan Owens had two hits in three trips.

Now 7-3 overall and 1-1 in conference, Jessieville takes a four-game winning streak into today’s contest at Bismarck.

“We’re going to need another good pitching performance against Bismarck,” Saveall said. “If we can continue to throw to contact, make plays behind it and keep hitting the ball the way we are, we’re going to be fine.”

Centerpoint;011 000 0 — 2 12 2

Jessieville;200 023 — 7 6 1

McClard, Moody (4) and Saveall. Forsythe, Taylor (6), Chambers (6) and Doster. W-Moody. L-Forsythe. 2B-Jessieville, Saveall. SB-Jessieville, Anderson, Moody.