SPRINGDALE -- It is the dream of every young baseball enthusiast to play ball in a major league ballpark when they grow up. For many in the Gravette Lions baseball team, that dream got one step closer April 14 when they played in an exhibition game at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale against the Mt. Vernon (Mo.) Mountaineers.
Arvest Ballpark is the home of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, a member of the Texas League and a Double A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.
Starting pitcher for the Lions was Jake Carver.
The first run of the game came in the bottom of the first inning when the Mountaineers were able to drive a run home on a double. In the top of the third inning, Gravette, on a single by Drake Short, brought Caleb Wallace home for its first run. Mt. Vernon answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to maintain a one-point lead. Carver got into trouble late in the third, bringing Thomas Tryon to the mound for Gravette.
Tryon lasted to the bottom of the fifth, after Mt. Vernon scored another run and loaded the bases. Gravette brought in Wyatt Coffelt to get the Lions out of trouble. Two more runners crossed home plate before a long fly ball into center field was caught by Mason Dagley, ending the fifth inning and giving the Mountaineers a 5-1 lead.
Gravette started a rally of its own in the top of the seventh but was only able to score one run on a single by Short to bring home Dillon Hendricks. The Lions loaded the bases with one out. Two fly balls ended Gravette's rally, giving the Mt. Vernon Mountaineers a 5-2 win.
Gravette 3
Shiloh Christian 13
Gravette traveled to Springdale April 9 to face the Shiloh Christian Saints in the first of two conference matchups of the week. A two run homer in the first inning by the Saints started the contest. Gravette scored three runs in the fifth off the bats of Parson and Soule, but it was not enough to catch the Saints.
Gravette
Gravette: 20-AB, 3-R, 5-H, 3-RBI, 2-BB, 9-SO.
Pitching
Jake Carver: 1.2 IP, 33-#P, 7-H, 8-R, 4-ER, 0-SB.
Isaac Sullivan: 2.1 IP, 51-#P, 6-H, 5-R, 5-ER, 2-SO.
Totals: 4 IP, 84-#P, 13-R, 13-H, 9-ER, 2-SO.
Gravette 3
Grove 14
Gravette returned to Lion Ballpark to host Grove, Okla., in a non-conference game.
A triple in the first inning brought in two runs for Grove.
In spite of multiple hits by Dagley, and Soule hitting three of three, the Lions dropped the game to Grove.
Gravette
Gravette: 27-AB, 3-R, 6-H, 3-RBI, 1-BB, 8-SO.
Pitching
Kelton Tajchman: 4 IP, 62-#P, 8-H, 7-R, 6-ER, 3-SO, 1-BB.
Thomas Tryon: 3 IP, 54-#P, 7-H, 7-R, 4-ER, 0-SO, 1-BB.
Total: 7 IP, 116-#P, 15-H, 14-R, 10-ER, 3-SO, 2-BB.
Gravette 13
Berryville 10
The Lions traveled to Berryville to face the Bobcats in a conference game April 12.
Bailey Soule homered in the first inning for the first run of the game. Gravette scored five runs on hits by Moorman, Dagley, Soule, Hendricks and Cole to give the Lions a 6-0 lead. But a Bobcat rally in the bottom of the second, scoring four runs, brought Berryville to a two-point deficit.
Moorman hit a second home run of the day late in the game that gave the Lions the win.
Gravette
Gravette: 36-AB, 13-R, 17-H, 12-RBI, 3-BB, 2-SO.
Pitching
Cole Hunter: 3 IP, 61-#p, 9-H, 8-R, 5-er, 0-SO, 2-BB.
Parsons: 3.2 IP, 68-#P, 6-H, 2-R, 1-ER, 6-SO, 2-BB.
Jake Carver: 0.1 IP, 2-#P
Totals: 7 IP, 131 #P, 15-R, 10-H, 6-ER, 6-SO, 4-BB.
Sports on 04/18/2018