6 Ks, 13 hits plenty as Cards return to conference play
HASKELL — The Harmony Grove Cardinals (10-3, 3-0) saw their sevengame winning streak come to a close last week at the hands of nonconference foe Lake Hamilton in an 8-2 final.
On Friday, the
Cardinals started a new streak, getting back into conference action and taking down Centerpoint 12-2 at home.
Harmony Grove would bash out 13 hits in the win, scoring multiple innings in the second, fourth and fifth innings.
Starting pitcher Peyton Potter would get out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, striking out the side to escape unscathed.
The Cardinals would also be held off the scoreboard in the first, but quickly took the lead in the second with a two-rbi single from Potter to bring home Walter Browning
and Nathan Cate for the 2-0 lead after two.
The Knights would answer in the third, pushing across a hard run on Potter’s passed ball to draw the score to 2-1
Cardinals.
Unfazed, the Cardinals grabbed the two-run advantage back in the third, using a steal of home plate from Landon Spann. Harmony Grove
would lead 3-1 after three.
Still a nag, the Knights continued to chip away at the Harmony Grove lead in the fourth, scoring on an Rbi-single to trail 3-2.
Playing a strong, backand-forth affair to this point, Harmony Grove would make thing interesting for the home crowd in the fourth, blowing the doors open with six runs in the frame.
After grounding out to open the bottom of the fourth, the Cardinals would follow with five straight singles.
Tysen Forrest would make it 4-2 Cardinals with a steal of home plate before Aiden Hughes singled home Potter for the 5-2 lead.
Following a hit-bypitch and a two-run error, Cate would double to left, driving home Whitt Richardson and Lane Richardson for a 9-2 Cardinals advantage after four.
Cole Gunter would get in on the action in the fifth, singling home Potter, followed by an Rbi-double from star Dax Hammett. Gunter would score on the extra-base hit, moving the Cardinals in front 11-2.
Forrest would end the game’s scoring with an Rbi-single in the sixth, drawing a close to the game early due to the sportsmanship rule.
Five Cardinals finished with multiple hits in the victory, led by Hughes who was 3 for 4 with an RBI.
Potter and Gunter both finished with a pair of hits, combining for three RBIS and four runs scored for Harmony Grove.
Hammett and Forrest each would tally two hits in the game, each driving home one as well.
Potter finished the game on the mound, throwing a complete game while giving up two unearned runs on six hits and 16 strikeouts.
Harmony Grove will returned to action Tuesday at Fouke in more league play. See and upcoming issue of
The Saline Courier for full details.