Preview 2019: Cards Vs. Pioneers

— Down to their last at-bat Gentry thought they had a chance with one out and a runner on only to have Farmington turn a double play.

The Pioneers hung on as long as they could, but their hopes instantly evaporated when Farmington closer Kyle Gates (3 innings pitched, 1 run, 1 hit, 1 base-on-balls, 2 strike-outs) induced Gentry junior Dylan Rayburn to hit into a 6-4-3 double play. The game, which featured a preview of 4A-1 baseball in 2019 with the Cardinals rejoining the league, ended with Farmington winning 8-1 at home on Monday, March 12.

Rayburn started on the mound. He threw threeand-a-third innings before running into trouble in the fourth. Rayburn allowed 5 runs on 5 hits. He gave up 3 bases-on-balls, two of which were caused by hitting batters. Only 2 of the runs were earned, the other 3 caused by Gentry miscues.

The game brought out mixed reactions from Farmington coach Jay Harper.

“We scored four runs in the second off a couple (Gentry) errors,” Harper said. “We didn’t hit as well as I want us to. We didn’t pitch as well as I want us to. We played well defensively.”

Farmington scored runs by committee. No Cardinal scored twice. Eight different players crossed the plate. Senior Hayden Van Laningham drove in 4 runs. Three other Farmington RBIs came from Cody Parrish, Drew Sturgeon (2-of-4) and Colton Kilgore. Harper wants the Cardinals to be sharp.

“We can’t do the same type of things we’re doing and be successful in our league (5A West),” Harper said. “But having said that, we are seeing some strides. We are going to have to get better.”

Gentry didn’t fare well at the plate. The Pioneers were a collective 3-of-25. Junior outfielder Peyton Wright went 1-for-2 with a single. He scored Gentry’s only run. Rayburn was 1-of-3 with a double. Ayden Smartt (1-of4) had the only other hit for Gentry. Damon Phillips pitched 1.2 scoreless innings while Jacob Lothes pitched an inning giving up 3 runs on 2 hits.