Pioneers Split with Yellowjackets

Hold on to Conference Lead

published Wednesday, April 13, 2005

The Pioneers won one and lost one at home last night against the visiting Wynne Yellowjackets. Currently the Pioneers are at the top of the 4A East conference standings with 7 wins and 2 losses. The Yellowjackets are only 1 game out at 6 and 2. If the Pioneers can win out by defeating GCT, Beebe and the postponed 2nd game with Paragould we should be able to repeat our 2005 Conference Championship. While our schedule is easing up Wynne is just getting to the meat of theirs with Nettleton and Marion games still pending.

The Pioneers opening game started off rocky with Batesville pitcher Evan Eary giving up a double to the lead off Wynne batter and hitting the next one to put runners at first and second. However, an infield ground ball and a well executed 6-4-3 double play leaves the lone Yellowjacket runner at third. A walk by Eary puts runners at the corners but he ends the inning with his first of many strikeouts for this appearance. The Pioneers get on the board first in the bottom of the second inning with a solo, lead off home run by Clint Walls. Kelly Davis reaches base on a fielders choice and Casey Aycock claims a single rbi with a double to put the Pioneers ahead 2-0. In the third the Yellowjackets score a solo run and the Pioneers answer when Eary walks on and is eventually scored by Jason Angel with a double. Eary hits full stride in the fourth setting the Wynne batters down in order with 3 straight strikeouts. The Pioneers add 2 runs when Casey Aycock singles, Hunter Platt doubles and both eventually score. Eary increases his strikeout count to 6 consecutive in the 5th, gives up a solo home run in the 6th but gathers up 2 more K's in that inning, then closes the game with 3 in the top of the 7th for a total of 15 strikeouts for the Pioneer ace. The Pioneers pick up the win 5-2. Leading for the offense Clint Walls with a home run, Hunter Platt and Jason Angel with doubles and Casey Aycock with a double and a single.

In the nightcap game starting pitcher Addison Rayford gets into trouble immediately, giving up 4 runs on 4 hits and a walk. The Pioneers picked up 2 runs to close the margin to 2 in the 2nd when Chris Milum doubled and was relieved by courtesy runner Kyle McMullin. He is scored by Jason Angel on a base hit, Angel scores on a Kelly Davis hit to bring the score to 4-2 Wynne. In the 4th a lead off hit and bunt by the Yellowjackets compounded by a Pioneer fielding error will add 2 runs to the Yellowjacket tally to put them ahead 6-2. In the bottom of the 6th the Pioneers rally and add 2 runs when Milum singles and is relieved by McMullin who scores on a series of Yellowjacket errors initiated by a play on Walls who reaches first on a Wynne error. Walls is squeezed in by Rayford on a bunt to bring the score to it's final of 6-4 Wynne. Rayford performed well after the first inning giving up only 4 additional hits in the last 6 innings. He also struck out 11 Wynne batters. Leading for the offense Milum with a double and a single, Davidson with a double and Angel with 2 singles.