Area teams split at Sheridan tourney
SHERIDAN — Acme Brick walked away with a win, but Graves Sports struggled Wednesday night in the Sheridan Wood Bat Tournament at the Sheridan Recreation Center.
The Black Cats used a big second inning to down the Morrilton Devil Dogs, 5-2, but Hot Springs Village committed nine errors as White Hall rolled to a 9-2 victory.
Morrilton took the early lead, scoring in the bottom of the first after an error by shortstop Javin Shirley.
In the top of the second, Shawn Lingo reached on a single to left field with one out, advancing to second on a pitching error before Ben Slate hit a triple to left field to send Lingo home. Justin McKim was walked before Slate scored on a wild pitch, and McKim scored on an Ethan Bates double to make it 3-1.
The Devil Dogs score again in the bottom of the third to pull within 3-2 after a sacrifice fly plated a Morrilton runner.
The Black Cats got in trouble in the bottom of the fourth as Morrilton loaded the bases, but after a foul tip was grabbed by catcher Lingo, head coach Danny Spadoni pulled Brady Prince from the mound, putting Slate in to pitch. On the 2-2 pitch, Lingo threw to Bates at third for a pickoff, and Slate then closed the inning with strike three.
Magnet Cove secured the win in the top of the sixth, scoring two more runs. With one out, Clay Spadoni reached on an error, Slate bunted out a single and McKim loaded the bases after he was hit by the pitcher. Bates then hit a double to right field to plate Spadoni and Slate to make it 5-2.
Morrilton got a runner into scoring position in the bottom of the inning, but Slate held on to close out the inning, stranding two on the basepath.
Bates went 4-for-4 at the plate
with three doubles and three RBIs, and Slate was 2-for-3 with a triple, one RBI and two runs scored.
Prince picked up the win with 3 1/3 innings on the mound, giving up two runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two. Slate earned the save with 2 2/3 innings of relief, allowing two hits and striking out two.
Morrilton’s Payton Gottsponer picked up the loss, going four full innings. He allowed three runs on five hits, four walks and one hit batsman while striking out six.
Magnet Cove will face Jacksonville tonight at 5:30 p.m. in the tournament.
Hot Springs Village-White Hall
Relyance Bank took control of the game early and never relented, thanks in part to the nine errors committed by Graves Sports.
The Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of both the first and second innings to take a 6-0 lead on five hits and three errors.
Hot Springs Village was able to get on the board in the top of the fifth, pulling within 6-2. Daeton Bassett led off the inning with a double followed by a Jake Turner walk. Stephen Turner reached on an error with one out to load the bases before Race Tittle drew a walk with two outs to send Bassett home.
Montana Carden was walked to send Turner across the plate, but Carden was ousted on a fielder’s choice before Turner could score to leave it 6-2.
White Hall added two more in the bottom of the inning to stretch its lead to 8-2 before adding a security run in the bottom of the sixth to set the final.
Drew Raines earned the win for Relyance Bank with 4 2/3 innings on the mound, giving up two runs off two hits, four walks and one hit batsman while striking out eight.
Carden collected the loss for Graves Sports with 2 1/3 innings on the hill, giving up six runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two. Dalton McClard pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, allowing one hit while striking out three. Tittle closed out the game on the mound, giving up three runs on one hit and one walk while striking out two.
Hot Springs Village faced Searcy Thursday night, and they play Saturday against El Dorado.