Pioneers "Bomb" Bombers

4A State Tournament Bracket

Game #4 2:30 (ASU) Batesville vs Stuttgart

published Thursday, May 1, 2003

On Wednesday the Pioneers wrapped up their 2003 Regular Season play with a win over the the Mt. Home Bombers, Co-Champions of the 5A East conference. This brings the Pioneers record to 24 wins and 6 losses for a regular season winning average for the year of .800. Coach Gum used this opportunity to let his starting pitchers get a few innings each before Saturday's State Tournament opener with Stuttgart, who we defeated in the second round of the tournament last year. The pitchers performed well allowing only 1 run on 6 hits and the Pioneer batters chipped in their part with 5 hits, 1 home run and 3 doubles. The Pioneers played well in the field making several great plays while commiting only 2 errors.

Offensively the 1st inning passes quickly with only a walk being allowed by both sides. The Pioneers turn a double play in the bottom of the inning when a line shot to Rhodes, quickly relayed to Gatlin at 1st, catches Forbush heading for second and ends the inning.

In the 2nd inning, lead off batter Fuqua hits a solo home run for the Pioneers 1st score of the game. The Bombers answer with a Miller double, Spencer single and Biehler scores Miller with a single. The relay from left field catches Spencer attempting home. Biehler is forced out at 3rd and the last out for the Bombers comes when Henrickson closes his appearance with a strikeout.

In the 3rd, lead off batter Francis doubles and steals third then is joined by Fletcher with a walk. Both are left on when the Pioneers are unable to put the ball in play. Mt. Home batter Partee doubles with 1 out, but is also left on when a Burba diving catch and relay to Gatlin adds the 2nd out and Altom strikes out Spencer for the 3rd.

The 4th inning is scoreless and hitless for both sides with Altom picking up another K.

In the 5th, Francis walks, is advanced to 3rd when the Bomber shortstop loses Fletcher's popup in the sun and scores when Burba singles. Again, the Bombers go down 1-2-3 ending with a Partee strikeout.

The Pioneers add 2 runs in the 6th when Skinner leads off with a single. Courtesy runner Yeager advances to 3rd when Gatlin hits a ground rule double over the fence in left center. Both will score on a Francis single. While Mt. Home will manage to load the bases with 2 outs on a single and 2 walks from Burba, a pop up to Rhodes will strand all 3 runners.

In the 7th, Pioneer lead off Fletcher doubles, advances to 3rd on a Fuqua single and scores when the left fielder mishandles the ball. Fuqua is joined by Skinner on a single and Gatlin with a walk. Davis will get the last rbi of the game scoring Fuqua on a sac fly. While the Bombers first 2 batters reach base safely on an error and a walk, 2 great catchs by Smith and Fuqua will leave them at 1st and 2nd with 2 outs. Rhodes will make a great play on the ball and relay it to Gatlin to end the game, 6 - 1 Pioneers.