Pioneers face tough spring break competition
Gentry plays in tournament at Prairie Grove
PRAIRIE GROVE — The Gentry baseball team traveled to Prairie Grove to compete in the first annual Jarren Sorters Memorial Baseball Tournament last week.
The Pioneers lost, 12-0, to Booneville (4A-4) in their final game of the threeday tournament Thursday. Gentry will host Berryville Thursday. Earlier this week, the Pioneers played Greenland (the Gravette game on Monday was canceled due to wet fields).
Ozark 15, Gentry 2
On March 21, the Pioneers experienced trouble out of the gate. Ozark scored two runs and the bases were still loaded. Gentry coach Justin Ledbetter changed pitchers, bringing in Damon Phillips, who struck out the first batter he faced to get a second out. A grounder scored another run, but the Pioneers got a force-out. Phillips got out of the inning nicely by inducing a ground-out to third, leaving the Pioneers with a 3-0 deficit.
The Pioneers couldn’t get their bats going and Gentry fell behind, 9-0, after Ozark put six runs on the scoreboard in the third inning. Gentry answered with a run in the fourth inning. Phillips got aboard and scored on Ayden Smartt’s single. Ozark stretched their lead to 11-1 before Gentry scored a second run in the top of the fifth. The run came after back-to-back doubles, with Sean Pierce driving in Miles McFerron, which made the score 112. Ozark ended the contest in five innings with four runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Ledbetter said playing his team in the tournament benefits them to continue baseball competition during spring break.
“We always like to play during spring break,” Ledbetter said. “We have conference games coming up next week. Ultimately, we have got to get some swings in.”
Gentry faced 7A West newcomer Bentonville West on March 22. The Wolverines scored 3 runs in the top of the first inning, but Gentry answered with 2 runs when they came up to bat. Peyton Wright was 1-for-2 with an RBI for the Pioneers. West added 3 more runs in the second.
This time, Gentry was unable to answer, falling behind, 6-2. In the top of the third, West scored 7 runs to record a 13-2 runrule five inning win. Jason Gloeckler went two for two with three RBIs for West. Jaron Jenkins added a double and Hunter Mayes had a triple for the Wolverines. West pitcher Will Jarrett allowed two runs with 7 strikeouts in four innings of work.
We always like to play during spring break. We have conference games coming up next week. Ultimately, we have got to get some swings in.” — Justin Ledbetter, Gentry baseball coach