Snakebit Tigers Fall To Bobcats

PRAIRIE GROVE — Berryville beat Prairie Grove, 7-4, in baseball Thursday, but the Bobcats may not have long to gloat.

The teams face off in a rematch Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the first-round of the District 4A-1 Tournament at Lincoln with a Regional berth on the line.

The Bobcats (12-9, 8-3) got a strong performance on the mound from senior Austin Woods, who became stingy after giving up 3 runs in the first two innings. Austin Woods blanked the Tigers in the next four innings before allowing a run in the bottom of the seventh.

“He threw lots of strikes, worked ahead and made it hard for us to score runs,” said Prairie Grove coach Chris Mileham. “It’s part of the game and it happened.”

Prairie Grove senior Silas Myane hit a two-out single into center field in the fourth, but Woods induced a ground-out to ease out of the inning after facing only 4 batters. Woods walked the leadoff batter in the fifth, but the Bobcats turned a double play to eliminate the base-runner when a line drive was caught in the infield. He surrendered another single into center field, this one by Tiger catcher Couper Allen, but suffered no damage when the next batter ground out to third.

The Bobcats had only one more hit (12-11), but capitalized on three Prairie Grove errors. The Tigers seemed snakebit as the ball seemed to bounce in Berryville’s favor thwarting Prairie Grove’s offense.

“We lined out for one double play,” Mileham said.

Prairie Grove leadoff batter Cole Simmons reached on an error, but was caught stealing second on a strike-out by Woods, who again ended an inning with a ground-out to get out of the sixth. In the seventh, Myane (3-of-4, 2 runs scored), once more drilled a single to get the leadoff hitter aboard. Myane moved to second on a throwing error but D.J. Pearson was tagged out trying for second.

Mileham described yet another improbable out by the Bobcats saying in an ideal situation if the pitcher is backing up the ball at home plate the Bobcats can’t make a play.

“We haven’t had too many of those nights,” Mileham said. “Tonight was one of them.”

Drew Cates (2-of-3, double) plated Myane by singling.

Woods induced a fly-out and ground-out, sandwiched around Couper’s single to end the game with Berryville winning, 7-4.

Despite the loss Mileham likes the Tigers’ chances of advancing out of district, proclaiming, “We match up well with anybody.”

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Prairie Grove catcher Couper Allen whirls after receiving a throw in front of home plate trying to tag out a Berryville runner. Despite Allen’s effort the Tigers lost 7-4 to the Bobcats Thursday.