Cards win pitchers’ duel to stay alive
BOONEVILLE — The Harmony Grove Cardinals lived on the edge Friday, keeping their 2019 campaign going following a 1-0 win over Atkins to open the Region 2 Regional Tournament at Booneville.
Atkins hurler Ben Jackson ended his year with a complete-game masterpiece, logging seven inning while giving up a run on seven hits. He also struck out six while not allowing a walk.
For the Cardinals, southpaw James McCormick matched Jackson for 5.1, allowing four runs while striking out eight. McCormick, though, would
walk a pair.
Fellow lefty Christian Young closed the game with 1.2 innings of perfect work, striking out one while not allowing a hit.
Playing to a scoreless tie through three, the score would not changed until Harmony Grove scratched a run across in the fourth via RBI single from Shane Small.
Atkins would only have three runners reach base from the fourth inning on, going scoreless the entire way.
For Harmony Grove, it too would only have three runners reach during that time.
Small led the Cardinals, going 2 for 3 with an RBI. Five others would collect a hit as Harmony Grove outhit Atkins 7-4.
The victory moves the Cardinals into the quarterfinals where they will face a familiar foe — Central Arkansas Christian.
The Cardinals have fallen twice to CAC this season, including a heartbreaking 8-7 walk-off in the semifinals of last week’s 5-3A District Tournament.
First pitch is undetermined at this time as the threat of inclement weather could postpone today’s matchups.