Pioneers win one, lose three
Gentry defeats Elkins but falls to Gravette, Harrison, Fort Smith Northside
GENTRY — After a win on Monday, March 15, the Pioneers fell in three games during the remainder of last week.
It was a disappointing game for Gentry on Friday when the neighboring Gravette Lions visited the Pioneers at Gentry High School. Though the Pioneers held a 3-1 lead after two, the Lions scored a run in the third and six in the fourth to take the lead, 8-3, for good.
Though the Pioneers had a big sixth inning, scoring four runs to come back within reach, the Lions finished off the game in the seventh with seven more runs for the 16-7 win.
The Lions had 16 runs on 13 hits and seven Gentry errors. The Pioneers had seven runs on seven hits and only one Gravette error in the game.
Both teams had trouble on the mound, with Gravette walking nine and Gentry eight in the game. Rhett Hilger, McCoy Kildow and Alex Beard all took their turns on the mound for Gravette. Gentry started off with Hayden Henry for three innings. Dawson Rayburn, Garry Cox and Brayden Feathers all pitched in the fourth, with Feathers finally getting the Pioneers out of trouble and pitching until the seventh when he was replaced by Dawson Wright for the remainder of the inning.
Noah Tawney had two hits and two runs batted in for Gravette. Holden Betz had two hits and three RBIs. Jake Carver had two hits and an RBI.
On Gentry’s side, Aiden Whitehead led with his bat, picking up two hits and two RBIs.
Two controversial calls were made by the umpires in the top of the fourth when a Gravette runner was called safe in a pickoff attempt at first base and later in the inning when a ground ball on the way to the shortstop hit the infield umpire and bounced toward third base. The umpires allowed the batter to be safe on first and other runners to advance, with a run scoring.
Harrison 6, Gentry 5
The Pioneers fell in the bottom of the seventh to the Goblins at Harrison when a Harrison single brought home a run to break the 5-5 tie.
Gentry scored three runs in the second inning when Riggs Harper doubled to right field, bringing in two, and later scored on a wild pitch.
Harrison scored four runs in the sixth inning, but Gentry answered with two runs in the top of the seventh when Cody Tucker brought in two to take a 5-4 lead.
Harrison tied things up in the bottom of the seventh on a dropped third strike and a single to left. Another single to right gave Harrison the win.
Isaiah Lemke took the loss for Gentry. He gave up two runs on three hits over one inning, striking out two and walking one.
Isaak Crittenden started the game for the Pioneers.
He allowed one hit and two runs over five and a third innings, striking out 12.
Cody Tucker went 2-for-3 with his bat to lead the Pioneers.
Northside 17, Gentry 0
Northside shut out the Pioneers on Tuesday, March 16, in an away game. Northside scored four runs in the first, six in the second, three in the third and four in the fourth to finish off the Pioneers in 4½ innings.
Northside had 17 runs on 10 hits. Gentry scored zero runs on three hits.
Garry Cox, Brayden Feathers and Hayden Henry all pitched in the game, with Cox credited with the loss.
Crafton Beeler, Isaak Crittenden and Isaiah Lemke all had hits in the game. Beeler’s hit was a double.
Gentry 6, Elkins 3
The Pioneers’ only win for the week was at Elkins on Monday, March 15, when the Pioneers rallied in the top of the seventh for four runs and the 6-3 win.
The Elks were up 3-0 after two, but the Pioneers scored two in the third and added four in the seventh for the win.
Aiden Whitehead led Pioneers with two hits in three at-bats. He also had two RBIs in the game. Crafton Beeler had a double in the game.
Gentry’s pitchers included Isaiah Lemke, Hayden Henry and Isaak Crittenden. Crittenden was credited with the win.