Pitching Propels Tigers

SEASON OFF TO GOOD START

PRAIRIE GROVE — The Prairie Grove baseball team kicked off the season in impressive style in the first week of March, picking up victories over the Siloam Springs Panthers and the Springdale Bulldogs.

Prairie Grove traveled to Siloam on March 1 and beat the Panthers 5- 1 in their season opener. The next day the Tigers hosted the Bulldogs, crushing their opponent from the 7A classification 8-0. Both outings were hi-lighted by dominant pitching performances from a trio of Tigers.

Against the Panthers, Razorback signee Aaron Kincaid fanned 10 batters and gave up just 1 run on one hit in seven innings. Offensively, Nick Sugg had two hits and one RBI, while teammates Spencer Kilgore and Brandon May each drove in two RBIs.

March 2, Ty Tice and J.D. Speed teamed up to limit the Bulldogs to just 1 hit and zero runs. Tice picked up the win, going five innings, giving up one hit with seven strikeouts and three walks. Speed picked up the save by pitching the final two innings, giving up no runs and no hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

“Ty did a great job,” said Tigers’ coach Mitch Cameron.

The Tigers took a 2- 0 lead in the first inning when Weston Bartholomew scampered home on a fielder’s choice and Jon Halbert crossed the dish on a Bulldog error. The lead swelled to 3- 0 in the third inning when Kilgore led off the frame with base hit down the right field, then advanced to scoring position with a steal of second. Kilgore moved to third on a base knock by Bartholomew, then scored on a Keelon Henderson frozen rope past third base.

Prairie Grove blew out the contest with 6 runs in the sixth inning. Tice drove in two runs in the frame with a single to left field, while May and Bartholomew each helped out with RBI singles. That was plenty of cushion for Speed, who entered in the sixth inning and finished the game by striking out the final two Bulldog batters.

“J.D. came in and threw strikes and kept the ball around the knees and when he does that he is tough to hit,” Cameron said.

Bartholomew led the Tiger’s offense by going 3 for 3 at the plate with 1 RBI and one run scored. Kilgore followed closely behind with two hits and two runs scored. May, Kincaid, Henderson and Tice all added a hit each to the Tiger total.