West Ark American downs Gentry 12-3

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

— A day can make a world of difference and that was apparent for the West Ark American team.

West Ark American exploded for 12 runs, including an eight-run second inning, to knock off Gentry 12-3 in five innings at the Southwest Regional Senior Babe Ruth Tournament at Hunts Park.

Chase Anderson started the big second inning with a two-run double to right. Kyle Gilbert and Bryan Nevills each had an RBI to push the lead to 4-0. Kobey Welch then added a tworun double to give West Ark American a 7-0 advantage. Blake Roley capped the eight-run frame with anRBI ground-rule double.

“We played a whole lot better and played like we should have,” West Ark American coach Bill Rogers said. “Big innings help and not as many errors this time.”

Gentry tried to make things interesting in the third as Trae Wilkins drove in a run with a triple. Wilkins scored on an error to trim the deficit to 8-2. Then Josh Sewell cut the West Ark American lead to three as he scored on an error.

“They are a good group of kids,” Gentry coach Bryan Hudson said. “They tried hard all the way to the end. We are a small town, a little team and this is what we got. It was big time for these guys. They got totravel, stay in hotels, and it’s not something these country kids do often. It was a lot of fun and I hope it was an experience they can remember their whole lives.”

Welch pushed the West Ark American lead to 10-3 in the fourth with a tworun single to center.

He capped his five RBI day with an RBI single to left in the fifth to set the final margin. Welch finished with three hits and reached base in all four of his plate appearances.

Bryan Nevills picked up the win as he pitched five innings while allowing six hits and struck out eight. Nevills allowed just one earned run and needed just eight pitches to retire the side in the fourth.

News, Pages 7 on 07/28/2010