GENTRY -- Though the Pioneers started off strong, they couldn't stop the Lions in an April 20 game at the Merrill Reynolds Memorial Complex in Gentry. The Lions took home an 11-3 win in the game.
After walking two, the Pioneers shut down the Lions in their opening at bat with a strike out and two fly outs.
But when the Pioneers came to the plate, it was a different game. Kyler Bunch walked Brent Barker, and Ryan Hockenberry singled back to Bunch, advancing Barker to third. Bunch then walked Josh Cochran. And when Wyatt Clark hit a ground ball to third, an error not only allowed Clark to reach first; Barker and Hockenberry made it home. A ground out to second by Zach Adkins allowed Cochran to score.
But that was all Gentry would put on the board in the game. Gravette, on the other hand, put a run on the board in the third when Brady Rolsma, who had walked, made it home on a Luke Summerford single to right.
In the top of the fifth, the Lions not only tied the game; they finished the inning with a six-run lead. Clark walked the first two batters, Rolsma and Summerford. Cody Fields singled with a bunt to the pitcher, filling up the bases. Then, Rolsma stole home on a passed ball and Mathew Stelting hit a ground-ball double to center, bringing in Fields and Summerford. Jake Ashworth singled on a fly ball to center and Kyler Bunch was hit by a pitch, loading up the bases once again. Derek Pruitt singled on a fly ball to first, bringing in Stelting and Ashworth. Another single, this one by Bryce Moorman, brought in Dylan Gruver, pinch runner for Bunch. And before the inning was out, Moorman and Jackson Soule', who had walked, also crossed the plate, making it a 9-3 game coming into bottom of the fifth.
Gravette added a 10th run in the sixth when Ashworth, who made it on with a walk, scored on a Bunch ground out to short. The Lions added one more in the top of the seventh when Zach Nelson singled to right and was moved around the bases on a Summerford ground-ball single to center.
The Lions finished with 11 hits, 11 runs and eight RBIs. The Pioneers had four hits and three runs, with three RBIs in the game. Luke Summerford led Gravette with three hits and three RBIs. Clark led Gentry with two RBIs.
Clark pitched the full seven innings for Gentry, striking out four and walking nine. Kyler Bunch pitched six innings for Gravette, walked two and struck out five. Dylan Gruver threw four pitches in the game and Avery Burrow pitched an inning, striking out one and walking one. Bunch was credited with the win.
Greenland 7
Gentry 6
The Pioneers came up short against the visiting Greenland Pirates on Thursday. Though the Gentry players battled hard to win on parents' night at the Merrill Reynolds Memorial Complex in Gentry, they couldn't muster the runs and fell to Greenland, 7-6.
District tournament play begins Thursday in Huntsville.
Sports on 04/29/2015