GRAVETTE -- The Lions were too much for the visiting Springdale Bulldogs in non-league play on a cool and cloudy Friday, with Gravette winning, 6-3, in 6 1/2 innings of play.
Ethan Vanderpool struck out three Springdale batters in the top of the second and then got on base in the bottom of the inning on a Springdale error. Matthew Stelting pounded a triple into left field, bringing Vanderpool across the plate. Cody Fields doubled to center to drive in Stelting, and Aaron Means singled to left field, moving Fields to third and then home.
Springdale answered in the top of the third when Poulos singled and then scored on another single by Carson Johnson.
In the bottom of the fourth, Fields doubled again with a fly ball to center field. He advanced to second when Means was hit by a Springdale pitch. He then stole third and made it home on a bad throw in an attempt to catch Means as he advanced to second.
Springdale picked up another run in the top of the fifth when Johnson was hit by a pitch and later in the inning scored on an error.
Gravette picked up another two in the bottom of the fifth on a line-drive double to center by Stelting, a sacrifice by Bryce Mooreman and singles by Wyatt Gibbons and Fields. Stelting scored on a wild pitch and Gibbons also made it home before the close of the inning.
Springdale picked up its third and final run in the top of the sixth when Trevor Beadle walked and made it around the bases.
Randall Hunt, Gravette's coach, was pleased with his players' performance, calling it a "good game" against a "quality Springdale team."
"Friday night's game was an exciting one to be a part of," Hunt said. "We had a great crowd and support from the community."
"Cody Fields set the tone for us from the first at-bat of the game and our game just followed suit," Hunt added.
Vanderpool struck out eight Springdale batters in four innings. He allowed one earned run, two hits and two walks in just over four innings of play. Brandon Shaw sent another four batters back to the dugout swinging in the remaining three.
Fields led the Lions at bat with three hits and two RBIs, batting three for three in the game. Stelting had two hits, including a triple and an RBI. Means also had an RBI.
GIRLS
Har-Ber 10
Gravette 0
GRAVETTE -- The Lady Lions didn't fare as well in Friday's non-league game against the Springdale Har-Ber Lady Wildcats. The girls were shut out, 10-0.
Har-Ber picked up 3 runs in the first, another 2 in the fourth and 5 in the fifth. Har-Ber had 13 hits in the game to Gravette's one. Gravette also had four errors.
Lindsee LaBrecque was the pitcher for the Lady Lions and was credited with the loss. She struck out one.
Sports on 03/12/2014