GENTRY -- The visiting Panthers from Siloam Springs scored 19 runs on eight hits and 11 Gentry errors in order to defeat the Gentry Pioneers by a score of 19 to 6 on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
The Panthers scored two runs in the first on a walk, a single and a wild pitch, but the Pioneers responded by plating two of their own in the inning. Brayden Feathers started things off for Gentry by lining a home run to left field. Crafton Beeler then singled and Isaak Crittenden flied out to center field and advanced Beeler to second. Drew Nash hit a ground ball and reached on an error by second the second baseman, allowing Beeler to score.
The Panthers pulled away by scoring six runs in the second inning -- with a batter hit by a pitch, followed by two singles and four Gentry errors. The Panthers added three more runs in the third to make it an 11-2 ballgame until Riggs Harper singled and stole his way around the bases, then scored on a wild pitch to make the score 11-3 going into the fourth.
Beeler added a Gentry run in the fifth, getting on with a Panther error and then being advanced by a Critttenden fly ball and a Drew Nash grounder. And the Pioneers closed to within five in the sixth, 11-6, when Houston Nance walked and made it to third on a passed ball and home on a Harper single.
But that would be the end of Gentry's scoring, and Siloam Springs added a run in the seventh, three in the eighth and four more in the ninth to seal the win.
Feathers led the Pioneers with his bat, picking up two hits and an RBI, including Gentry's only home run in the bottom of the first. Beeler and Harper each had two hits, as well, with Harper adding an RBI. Jeremiah Lemke had one.
Crittenden, Nash, Harper, Bennett Roberts, Briar Mayberry, Feathers, Jeremiah Lemke, Beeler and Jared James all had a turn on the mound for Gentry. Together, they walked eight, struck out 15 and allowed five earned runs in the game.
Ryder Winfrey and Andrew Pilcher all collected multiple hits for the Panthers. Winfrey led Siloam Springs with two stolen bases, as the Panthers stole six in the game.
In addition to players on both sides moving around the field and spending time on the mound, the officials also were in a practice mode with experienced officials training a new team of umpires.
The Pioneers' next games were scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in Van Buren and Green Forest.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Siloam Springs' Bode Butler slides across home plate ahead of the throw to Gentry catcher Crafton Beeler during play between the Panthers and the Pioneers in Gentry on Feb. 21.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Siloam Springs' Jackson Still slides into second while Gentry's Jeremiah Lemke attempts to tag him out following a wild pitch during play between the Panthers and the Pioneers in Gentry on Feb. 21.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Gentry pitcher Drew Nash winds up to throw a pitch during Gentry's game against Siloam Springs in the Merrill Reynolds Memorial Sports Complex on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Gentry catcher Crafton Beeler waits for the pitch during Gentry's home game against Siloam Springs on Feb. 21.