Pioneers Crush Badgers

Defeat Lions for 20 Wins

Carl's Scorecard - Beebe Game #1

Carl's Scorecard - Beebe Game #1

Carl's Scorecard - Searcy

published Sunday, Apr. 30, 2006

The Pioneers gained some breathing room in the conference race and tacked another year onto a long standing Pioneer traditon this week by sweeping Beebe on Wednesday and then, in a pick up game on Thursday, they defeated the Searcy Lions in a down to the wire contest. That win gives the Pioneers their 20th of the year, extending a tradition of at least 20 wins in a season to 15 years. The Pioneers continued their dominance of the Beebe badgers on Thursday. Our record with the Badgers improved to 8-0. With our record at Gilliam field in Beebe, I'm suprised they let us play there. In 2004, we scored 41 runs there, only slgihtly more than the 38 scored by the Pioneers this year. It was good to see the level of excitment and comraderie among the Pioneers before the game. They were ready to play and proved it on the field and at the plate. There was a new face in the dugout, a Dr. Mo. He was leading the rally from the dugout, and while rather eccentrically dressed he seemed to be doing a great job. While I photographed Dr. Mo, I will not be able to share them at his request. This series leaves the Pioneers with a good shot at second place in conference play, important for State Tournament seed. A split with Marion ensures our position, a sweep would just be a little icing on the cake, since the Pioneers are now 23-0 against the Patriots and this meeting will be the teams last as conference opponents. The bracket for state is available here: http://www.ahsaa.org/2006%20Baseball%20St%20Brkt.pdf And while LR Mills is far from the best facility for a tournament, we do have a very good record at Mills with only 1 loss there, which I believe occured in the state finals in 1996, before the finals were played at Baum. The Patriots are going to come to play Tuesday. They don't like being the Pioneers whipping boy and know that this will be their last chance to rectify that situation. For the Pioneer seniors, this will be their last game on their home field. I expect them to play like the champions that they are.

The Pioneers took the field and the lead quickly at Beebe in the opening game. Five hits and a walk, put the Pioneers ahead 5-0 at the turn. With Pioneer ace Evan Eary on the mound the Badgers had little chance to even the score. Their only run in the game was from a play on a dropped third strike with two out. Eary would allow only 1 hit with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts to completely shutdown the Badger offense. The Pioneers add four more runs in the second inning with a two out rally, started when Eary reaches on a Badger fielding error. Hits by Milum and Thornton score two and a home run by Angel adds the next two. The third inning crushes the last of the Badger hopes when the Pioneers bat 14 and score 9 more runs to bring the score to it's final of 19-1. Winning Pitcher, Eary. Hitting for the Pioneers: Davidson(3b) Eary(1b) Angel(hr,1b) Thornton(2x1b) Rayford(1b) Milum(2x2b) Ward(1b) Cody Aycock(2x2b) McMullin(2b) Whitener(1b)

In the closer, the Pioneers again jumped out to a lead scoring three runs on three hits and a walk. With Pioneer pitcher Addison Rayford on the mound the Badger offense is quickly shut down with no hits allowed in the first inning. Rayford allows only 2 hits with 6 strikeouts, 3 walks and 3 hp's total allowing the Badgers very little opportunity to put together an effective offense. The Pioneers tack on 3 more runs in the second with 4 more hits and extra base hits by Cody Aycock and Eary, bringing the score to 6-0 Pioneers. The Badgers manage a run in the bottom of the inning capitalizing on a solo hit and a wild pitch to bring the score to 6-1. Third inning action begins with the Pioneers adding 3 more runs, this time taking advantage of walks and Badger errors. The Badgers pick up another run in the bottom of the inning after a lead off walk is scored by a follow up hit, bringing the score to 9-2 Pioneers. In the fourth inning the Pioneers tack on one more after a lead off double by Thornton is eventually scored by a Davis Sac fly. The Pioneers let loose in the fifth and score the remaining 9 runs when 3 consecutive walks load the bases and bring Angel to the plate. A balk advances the runners and Angel hammers the ball out of right field for a 3 rbi homer. Thornton keeps the Pioneers rolling with a double and Aycock picks up another two bagger himself. Combined with 2 more hits and 3 walks the Pioneers increase their lead to 17 runs. The Badgers score three runs in the bottom of the inning from walks and a Pioneer fielding error, but go down without another hit. Final Score 19-5 Pioneers. Winning Pitcher; Rayford. Hitting for the Pioneers: Eary(2x2b,1b) Angel(hr,1b) Thornton(2x2b,1b) Rayford(2x1b) Milum(2x1b) Cody Aycock(2x2b,1b)

The Pioneers return to action the next day with an unscheduled game with the Searcy Lions. Coach Mark Rush gives reliever Clint Walls the nod to start against the Lions and Walls proved he was up to the challenge. Walls went the distance, allowing 3 runs, 1 unearned on 6 hits by the Lions. Along the way, Walls added 6 strikeouts in an excellent performance from the mound. The Lions take the lead after 2 1/2 scoreless innings when a failed pick off at first allowed a Lion to score. The score remains 1-0 Searcy until the top of the fifth (The Pioneers favorite rally inning) when lead off batter Rayford is hit by a pitch. Two batters and two outs later Rayford is still at first, but a hit by Eary puts runners at the corners. An error by the Lions shortstop scores Rayford and leaves Eary and courtesy runner Kyle McMullin in scoring position. Jason Angel takes another pitch (his third in three games) yard to bring the Pioneer tally to four. The Lions battle back after an HP leaves Lion Scott McCammon shaken at first. The next Lion batter adds his own home run and two more Lion runs to the scoreboard. Walls strikes out the last batter to end the Lion threat and bring the score to what would be it's final count of 4-3 Pioneers. The Lions never threatened again and although the Pioneers managed to load the bases after 2 outs in the seventh, they also were unable to score. The Pioneers played well in all aspects of their game against a strong opponent. Great Job, Guys, keep up the good work!