GOBLINS FLASH POWER, FALTER LATE

A quick start fizzled out for the Harrison Goblin baseball team on Tuesday. In the season opener, the Goblins lost an early 3-0 lead to Gravette before losing the game, 8-4. The Goblins got off to a strong start after shutting down Gravette in the top of the first. Thailer Lovell led off the home half of the inning with a shot over the left field fence for a 1-0 lead. One batter later, Quinn Cherry duplicated the blast with a homer of his own over the left field fence for a 2-0 Harrison lead. In the bottom of the third inning, Cherry struck again with his second home run of the ballgame, increasing Harrison’s lead to 3-0. It was the top of the fourth inning where things began to turn. Gravette put four runs on the board in the inning to move out front to a 4-3 lead. The Goblin offense stalled over the next three innings, leaving the bases loaded once over that time frame. Meanwhile, Gravette added two runs to its score in each of the fifth and sixth innings for an 8-3 lead. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Goblins got their fourth solo home run of the game as Laine Hilliard took a pitch deep over the center field wall to make it an 8-4 game. That’s where the game would end as Gravette would claim the victory. Cherry finished the game going 4-of-4 at the plate. Lovell, Hilliard, Jaxon Edwards and Keeton Brown added one hit apiece. Leading the team in runs scored was Cherry. The senior crossed home plate twice while Lovell and Hilliard added one run each. Cherry drove in two RBI for the Goblins. Lovell and Hilliard added one apiece. Starting the game on the mound for Harrison was Cherry. He pitched three innings, allowing no runs on no hits while striking out five and walking two. Tanner Taylor threw one inning in relief, allowing four runs on five hits while striking out two and walking none. Damian Ireland threw two innings in relief for Harrison. He allowed five runs on six hits while striking out two and walking six. Hilliard pitched the final inning for the Goblins. He allowed no runs on no hits while walking one batter. Harrison was on the road Wednesday as it traveled to Rogers for a matchup against Bentonville West. On Friday, the Goblins open the conference season with a road trip to Siloam Springs. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.

GOBLINS FLASH POWER, FALTER LATE

CRAIG ENLOE

Harrison Daily | 3/8/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Harrison Athletics