Tide Is High But Tigers Hold On

PRAIRIE GROVE EMERGES WITH 8-5 WIN AGAINST GRAVETTE

PRAIRIE GROVE — Early momentum favored Prairie Grove, then the tide went against them, but with the game tied, the Tigers rose to the occasion.

This is a pattern Prairie Grove coach Chris Mileham said the team has consistently displayed, including a 7-2 win over Westville, Okla. at home Friday.

Prairie Grove 7, Westville, Okla. 2

The Tigers led 5-0 after the second inning but Westville tried to rally with a run in the fifth, trimming Prairie Grove’s lead to 5-1. The Tigers answered with two runs in the sixth. DJ Pearson and Clay Fidler drew backto-back walks with one out. Reed Orr, who had a pair of sacrifice flies for RBIs earlier in the game, plated Pearson with a single. Fidler then stole third before the next batter, Drew Cates, ever saw a pitch. With runners at the corners, Mileham orchestrated a delay steal with the speedy Orr leading the Yellowjackets on a merry rundown between first and second base while Fidler stole home for a 7-2 Tiger lead.

“We got off to a good start, then they brought in that side-winder pitcher (Westville’s Dagan Hembree),” Mileham said. “He was good. He was kind of lulling us to sleep, but kind of like this season has gone, when anybody rallies, these guys are ready to fight. They start battling back.”

Mileham praised starting pitcher Chase Wade, who is now 4-0.

“He had a just under one earned run average,” Mileham said. “He just continues to get out of jams. It’s not pretty at times. What I mean by that is he’s walked some guys, but he finds a way to get it done. We’re developing him, he’s a junior.”

Mileham said the Tigers’ go-to arms are Fidler and Orr, who finished the game in relief.

“Reed Orr has been pounding the zone,” Mileham said. “He’s been outstanding for us. Neither one of them are overpowering, but nobody on our staff is.”

Prairie Grove 8, Gravette 5

The Tigers used a 3-run burst in the sixth inning to overcome Gravette by an 8- 5 score on April 3. Couper Allen singled and Jaden Higgins followed suit. Gravette switched pitchers, bringing in Trey Nunnally, but Fidler got aboard to load the bases. Orr capitalized by smashing a 2 RBI double. Drew Cates plated another run with a sacrifice fly to put the Tigers ahead, 8-5.

Orr retired the Lions in order to make quick work of the seventh on a minimal number of pitches and Prairie Grove took the 3-run victory.

The Tigers led 5-0 after the second inning, only to have Gravette answer with 2 runs in the top of the third. Mason Dagley drew a walk, then William Owens’ bunt was mishandled, allowing him to get on base. Kilby Roberts placed a line-drive past the pitcher scoring Gravette’s first run with an RBI single. Brady Moorman’s sacrifice fly narrowed the gap in the score to 5-2. Brodie Parsons singled to advance Roberts to third, but Wade halted the Lions’ rally with a strike-out.

The Lions hung around, holding Prairie Grove without another run until the sixth inning. By then, Gravette had tied the game at 5-5 with 3 runs in the fifth. Parsons took the loss for the Lions, pitching 52/ 3 innings and allowing 6 hits and 4 earned runs. Parsons also surrendered a pair of bases on balls, one of which, accounted for the unearned run by Prairie Grove.

“Coach (Bryan) Bearden does a great job,” Mileham said. “Coach Bearden just goes about his business the right way. It’s just a matter of time before he has them playing well. We definitely won’t take them lightly or take them for granted.”

Silas Myane started Prairie Grove’s big second inning, taking four straight balls for a leadoff walk. Wade advanced him to third with a single, setting the stage for Cole Speed’s RBI single to break a scoreless deadlock. Allen’s bunt was retrieved by Parsons coming off the mound, but he didn’t have a play and Allen got to first. Higgins came up with the bases loaded and promptly drove in a run with a single. With the bases still loaded, Fidler sent a long ball that was caught in the outfield, plating a third Tiger run. Cates singled to drive in a fourth run and Austin Jentzsch brought in a fifth run with a double.

Gravette’s offense was powered by the bats of Roberts (3-for-4, 1 RBI with a double), Kenton Tajchman (2-for-3, 1 RBI with a double), and Dylan Gruver ( 1- for3, 1 RBI). Hunter Cole and Moorman also drove in runs, although neither had a hit.

Prairie Grove produced 10 hits of their own. Allen and Higgins both went 2 for 3, and Orr and Jentzsch contributed doubles. Orr (1 for 4) and Cates (1 for 3) drove in 2 runs apiece.

Wade earned the win for Prairie Grove on the mound, allowing 2 runs and 4 hits over 31/ innings with 3 4 strike-outs and 3 bases on balls. Orr earned the save, allowing 3 earned runs on 4 hits over the final 32/ innings. 3

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Prairie Grove coach Chris Mileham and Tiger reserves keep a sharp watch on players in the field. Prairie Grove defeated Gravette, 8-5, in a see-saw battle last week.