Knights score 12 in sixth, slay Cobras
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Centerpoint’s potent offense was on full display Wednesday night, the Knights banging out 13 hits, six in a 12-run sixth inning, in a 15-2 rout of Fountain Lake.
All nine Centerpoint starters had at least one base hit, spoiling Senior Night for the host Cobras.
“It’s good when they can’t pitch around anybody to get to somebody else,” Centerpoint coach Kevin Owens said. “We lost a heartbreaker yesterday in eight innings; everybody put the ball in play, but we didn’t get the ball through. We told them today to have a little bit better approach, and I think that had a lot to do with the hitting today.”
Keenan Owens and Cole Davidson each drove in one run to give the Knights a 2-0 lead after two innings, but Fountain Lake struck back in the third.
Kyle Fortner delivered an RBI single and Fountain Lake added another run in the fourth, Montana Carden rounding the bases after two Centerpoint errors.
Fountain Lake starter Rory Murphy worked out of a jam in the fifth after the first two Knights reached base safely but ran into trouble in the sixth.
Lance Chambers doubled twice and plated three runs while Gabe Doster, Daniel Forsythe and Owens each had one RBI in the 12-run barrage.
“It’s a 24-hour rule with us; whether we win or lose, we flush it and get ready for the next one,” Fountain Lake coach Josh Wesson said. “The big thing today was about the seniors. This is my fourth year here, so they’ve gone all the way through the program with me, and I wish we would have sent them out on a good note.”
Camryn Willis reached base and later stole second in the Fountain Lake sixth, but the Cobras were unable to spark a rally. Hunter Davis flew out to end the game, Fountain Lake managing just two hits.
“I want to give credit to Centerpoint’s pitcher (Gavin Nott); he threw well and they made plays on defense,” said Wesson. “Offensively, we didn’t have our best approaches at the plate. You’ve just got to tell them to keep swinging it and good things will happen.”
Nott pitched a complete game, scattering two runs on two hits with four walks and eight strikeouts in six innings.
“He’s thrown well for us all year,” Owens said. “He’s just a sophomore so we’re looking forward to having him for the next couple years. He threw a lot of strikes today, and that helps.”
Logan Taylor reached base in four of five plate appearances for Centerpoint, finishing with two singles, two walks and one stolen base. Owens singled twice, drove in two runs and stole two bases in five trips.
Fortner and Lorenz Fehrenbacher each singled for Fountain Lake.
Centerpoint finished the regular season with a 5-8 record while the Cobras (8-9) have nonconference games today at Little Rock Mills and Friday at home against Little Rock Hall.
“We’re looking to bounce back and get some momentum going into the district tournament,” said Wesson. “The 4A-7 conference is a gauntlet just like it is in every sport, so we need to take the next two games to build some confidence.”
Centerpoint;110 1012— 15 13 3
Fountain Lake;001 100 — 2 2 2
Murphy, Willis (6) and Turner. Nott and Doster. W-Nott. L-Murphy. 2B-Centerpoint, Chambers (2). SF-Centerpoint, Owens. SB-Fountain Lake, Davis, Fortner, Willis. Centerpoint, Nott, Owens (2), Taylor.