Late Rally Lifts Nationals Past Prospects

ARKANSAS COACH VAN HORN IN ATTENDANCE FOR TALENT-FILLED MATCHUP

SPRINGDALE — Down to their final out, the Midwest Nationals rallied for three runs to upend Rawlings Arkansas Prospects-Menard 5-4 during pool play of the Mid-America Super 16 tourney Friday, July 8, at Arvest Ballpark.

The two-out rally began with a Texas League single to short right-center field by Eli Wells. Channing Mickey followed with an RBI single, and an infield single by Bailey Cantu loaded the bases for Logan Thomazin, who drove in two runs on a full-count single to create the final margin.

It spoiled an otherwise strong relief appearance by Prospects right-hander Cade Tucker of Conway.

“The boys grinded it out the whole game, and they finally jumped on (Tucker) in that last inning,” said Nationals coach Danny Marcuzzo. “I think we had been beating (Tucker) down since he came in in that third inning, and his stuff finally flattened out a little bit late, and I think that was why we were able to finally break through with a big inning.”

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn was among more than a half-dozen college coaches in attendance for the game that featured 11 players who already have signed or are verbally committed to colleges. Eight of the college-bound players suit up for the Prospects, but Marcuzzo said that didn’t intimidate his squad.

“We tell the boys everyday that we’re playing the ‘ 27 Yankees in Game 7 of the World Series,” Marcuzzo said. “We try to make them treat every single game the same way and they did a good job of not letting the moment get too big against a very good team.”

The Nat iona ls a re comprised mostly of Southwest Missouri players, but they also have one each from Oklahoma and Kansas and two from Arkansas — Harrison outfielder Quinn Cherry and Fayetteville left- handed pitcher Jayson Porter.

Van Horn was there checking out Prospects shortstop Casey Martin, a rising senior from Lonoke who has already verbally committed to the Razorbacks, and Tyler Gregg, a rising senior righthanded pitcher from Farmington.

Martin clubbed an RBI triple and was able to score on the same play when the cutoff throw was bobbled in the outfield to spot the Prospects a 2-0 lead.

Gregg retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts in the first inning before running into control issues. He walked in a run in the second inning and was relieved by Tucker after walking the first two batters of the third frame.

After Tucker retired three straight to escape the third, the Prospects pushed the lead to 4-1 with a run in the third and another in the fourth. Tucker didn’t allow a hit until the sixth when Eli Wells doubled to left field and Thomazin followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 4-2.