BIG INNINGS HELP HARRISON DOWN ROGERS HERITAGE

ROGERS -- Harrison coach Greg Crow was pleased to see his team's offense finally warm up on a chilly Thursday afternoon at Veterans Park. The Goblins broke open a close game with a 10-run top of the sixth inning en route to an 18-7 run-rule win over Rogers Heritage in the Best Sports Classic. "We had three hits total in our first two games," Crow said. "We hadn't hit the ball at all. We're still young and trying to figure out how to win. I thought our pitcher did a good job. Overall, I was pleased with it. "We've only got three seniors out there on the field right now. One guy hits and all of a sudden everybody goes 'Wow, this is fun.' I was proud of our kids. We had been struggling offensively. Even in our benefit game, we didn't score." Harrison (2-1) had scored only one run in its first three games, including a benefit game. But broke loose offensively, aided by seven Heritage errors. Heritage pitchers also hit five batters and walked seven. The Goblins led only 8-7 after five innings, but sent 14 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs only five hits in the inning. Journagan had two hits in the inning -- a double and a two-run home run. Senior Carson Journagan led the Harrison offense, going 3-for-5 with a home run and two doubles. He drove in four runs and also scored three times. Breckin Duck added two hits and drove in a run, while also picking up the victory on the mound. Duck pitched the first four innings, allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits. Tanner Taylor came on and pitched two hitless innings. Heritage (2-1) took advantage of a two-out Harrison error to score two runs and get within 8-7 in the fourth, after the Goblins turned a 5-2 deficit into a 7-5 advantage with a five-run top of the third. Vance Tobol went 2-for-3 with a triple and a home run and drove in three runs for the War Eagles.

BIG INNINGS HELP HARRISON DOWN ROGERS HERITAGE

PAUL BOYD

Arkansas Online | 3/9/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Harrison Athletics