Pioneers best Jonesboro

Defeat Golden Hurricane 7-4

Carl's Game Scorebook

published Friday, Mar. 3, 2006

The Pioneers kicked off their season in grand fashion last night in Jonesboro at Annie Camp Junior High, home of the 5A East Jonesboro Golden Hurricane. While this is the same team that the Pioneers opened against last year, the situation and the results would prove to be very different. The Pioneers found themselves in the very enviable position of having 7 starters, veterans of a State Championship, on the field. They are older, wiser and hungry for a shot at a win against the 5A State Runner Up from 2005.

The Pioneers first at bats may have lulled the Hurricane into a false sense of security. If not, the 3 run lead at the bottom of the first inning probably did. Starting pitcher Evan Eary gave up 3 hits, including a Home Run by Watts, to the first 3 Hurricane batters. However, he remained poised and in control allowing only 1 additional hit before closing the inning and picking up his first 2 strikeouts of the year. The Pioneers get on the board in the second inning, with the sharp crack of Junior Aaron Thornton's bat. Thornton was making his first appearance as a Varsity Pioneer and along the way picked up his first Home Run and the teams first run of the 2006 season. Eary gives up only a walk in the bottom of the inning and picks up another strike out. The Pioneers add 2 runs in the fourth when lead off batter Nick Davidson bunts and then reaches first when the catcher overthrows the ball. Jason Angel picks up the second hit of the game and his first Home Run of the year to tie the game at 3-3. The tie won't last long as Watts returns to the plate and smacks a solo homer to take the lead. The sixth turns the tide for the Pioneers; Lead off batter Hunter Platt reaches first on a dropped third strike, steals second and advances to third on a passed ball. Eary singles scoring Platt to tie the game. He advances to third on the strength of an Angel hit to load the corners. Angel is relieved at first by pinch runner Ross Simpson who quickly steals second. Eary is scored and Simpson advances to third by a well hit ball by Clint Walls, again loading the corners. The Hurricane pitcher is charged a balk, although I'm not sure why, I guess I just didn't have position on this one, and by their reaction the Jonesboro coaches definitely didn't. However, Simpson gets a free ticket home and Walls advances to second. Addison Rayford gets the last hit of the inning, scoring Walls to bring the score to 7-4 Batesville. Eary pitches to 2 more batters in the bottom of the inning, allowing a walk and a single before being relieved by Walls. Walls faces 3 and quickly put them down with two hit back to him, one a line shot. The Pioneers come out strong in the seventh. With one out, Platt hits safely, but is picked off attempting second. Davidson reaches base on an infield hit and is advanced to third when Eary doubles. The Hurricane coaches choose to walk Angel and load the bases. With Walls at the plate a hard thrown ball gets by the catcher and it looks like Davidson has a good shot at coming home, but the ball rebounds from the brick wall right into the catcher's glove. Davidson is caught at third ending the seventh for the Pioneers. There is some concern now about what course of action the Pioneers should take. After walking the first batter Walls is now faced with Murray "Mammoth" Watts. Watts is batting a thousand with 2 Homers and a double giving him a slugging average only 60 feet from home (3.33) but Coach Rush shows a lot of confidence in the Pioneers and Walls and pitches to the Behemoth Hurricane. The results are great for the Pioneers when he hits a long, high ball into the left field gap. Left Fielder Kelly Davis makes a great diving catch, comes up with the ball and throws the Hurricane runner out before he can return to first. It appeared that the runner was unsure what to do. Possibly, Watts had never popped up before. Another fly ball to center field and Platt will seal the deal for the Pioneers, allowing them to claim their first win of the 2006 season.