Warriors Rook, Fulmer homer in postseason play in Ouachita’s 22-0 win against Murfreesboro
HORATIO — The Ouachita Warriors capped off their postseason run in the 2A South Regional Baseball Tournament winning the third place game against Murfreesboro to earn the No. 3 seed heading into the 2A State Baseball Tournament for 2023.
The Warriors clinched their postseason berths in the opening round at regionals by taking down the host tournament team Horatio 9-6 in the state qualifying match-up. The Warriors tallied nine key runs on five hits despite the Horatio Lions outhitting Ouachita while scoring six runs on 10 hits in the frame.
The Warriors’ Hunter Rook earned the victory and pitched six and two-thirds innings, allowed 10 hits, six runs and struck out eight batters and threw 75 strikes from his performance on the mound.
Kaden Fulmer, Kelton Fowler, Trey Cox, Judd Smith and Colton “Billy” Braswell led the offensive execution in the frame and collected a hit apiece. Cox and Smith both drove in two runs for two RBIS.
Kelton Fowler led the scoring attack and scored three runs apiece—fulmer followed with two runs, Cox, Smith, Braswell and Caden lee each scored a run to propel the three-run victory and punched their tickets to the big dance on the diamond as newcomers in 2A.
In the regional semifinals, the Warriors had a tough defeat to Rison 11-1. The Warriors sparked for only one run scored which came in the second inning. Despite Rison leading Ouachita 2-1 through the fourth inning, the Wildcats ignited a nine-run inning in the fifth that led to the 10-run loss for the Warriors.
Cox led the offense for the Warriors and collected two hits with a double and scored the lone run from Jayden Alston recording the RBI against Rison. On the mound, Fulmer pitched four innings, allowed five hits, two runs and struck out four batters and threw 54 strikes. Cox, Smith and Braswell each saw action on the mound.
Despite the tough defeat in the semifinal round, the Warriors regrouped and took care of business to rout the Murfreesboro Rattlers 22-0 in the third place game.
The Warriors had the firepower in the frame and collected a tournament team-high 17 hits while surging to 22 runs in the shutout victory. The senior duo of Rook and Fulmer showcased the highlight hits of the game and both homered for the Warriors. Also senior Kelton Fowler led the offense and powered four hits with two standup doubles and drove in a season-high six RBIS. Smith followed and collected three hits and drove in two runs for two Rbis—braswell and Lee each had two hits apiece—alston, Larson Fowler and E. Kyzer with Rook and Fulmer’s home runs all sparked for a hit in the frame.
Alston led the scoring attack and scored four runs, Kelton Fowler, Smith and Fowler each scored three runs—fulmer, Cox, and Braswell all scored two runs with Rook, Lee and Caleb Force journeying around the bases for a run. Larson Fowler led the base running and had four stolen bases, Force and Alston each had two stolen bases, while Cox and Lee each sparked for a stolen base to ignite a productive outing on the base path.
On the mound, Kelton Fowler earned the shutout victory and pitched five innings, allowed one hit, no runs and struck out seven batters and threw 39 strikes to ignite the strike zone against the Rattlers.
The Warriors are ready to make a run in the postseason to qualify for the state tournament after their success from being contenders in the 1A Classification. This year, the Warriors debuted in the 2A with a conference runner-up finish in the 2A-8 league play, earning the No. 2 seed for the regional tournament led under the direction of first year baseball head Hayden Thornton. The Warriors aim to make some noise in the 2A state baseball tournament as the No. 3 seed facing No. 2 seed Bay in the opening round Thursday May 11 in Greenland.