HARRISON BASEBALL VS. PEA RIDGE

A pitching change doesn’t always work for the best. The Blackhawks of Pea Ridge found that out on Monday evening as Harrison rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 3-2 win over their conference opponent to remain undefeated in 4A-1. Harrison is 11-2 overall and 3-0 in league play. “It was a good job by our kids in finding a way,” said Harrison coach Greg Crow. “It was a struggle. We needed to be in a situation where we had to battle from behind. Nobody cares how it looks at the end of the day as long as you find a win to win.” Pea Ridge scored a run in the fourth inning and added another score in the fifth to take a 2-0 lead entering the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Harrison’s Trey Richardson reached first base on a passed ball strikeout. He later advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Three-hole hitter Cole Keylon then connected on a three-one pitch that rifled into right-center field for a stand-up double that scored Richardson to get the Goblins within, down 2-1. Keylon was left stranded. Pea Ridge was held scoreless in the top of the sixth and Harrison went back to work. The Goblin batters then began to take advantage of a pitching change by the Blackhawks. Harrison starting pitcher Breckin Duck led off with a line-drive single past the shortstop that entered the outfield. Sophomore Tyler Hutchinson then pinch ran for Duck at first base. Thailer Lovell then laid down a bunt that forced the Blackhawk defense into a scurry while Lovell reached base and Hutchinson moved to second. It was dejavu on the next pitch as Cy Madden put a bunt on the ground that the defense couldn’t get to in time. The bunt didn’t even warrant a throw to first and the bases were loaded with Dylan Block approaching the batter’s box. Block was hit by a one-two pitch that kept the bases loaded and moved Hutchinson home to tie the game at 2-2. Later in the inning Tanner Taylor hit a sacrifice fly into center field that advanced all the runners and sent Lovell scurrying across home plate for the go-ahead run. “I’m really proud of our execution bunting the baseball in the sixth inning,” said the coach. “We take a lot of pride in that.” Pea Ridge was limited to three batters in the top of the seventh inning with Keylon pitching relief for the Goblins. “It was a great job by Cole Keylon slamming the door,” said Crow of the pitcher that earned the victory for Harrison. “I’m really proud of Breckin Duck. He didn’t have his best stuff, but he kept us in the game and gave us a chance.” Journagan had a single in the second inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Duck but was left stranded when the inning ended. Harrison managed to load the bases in the third inning with a single by Shaver followed by Taylor getting walked and Richardson being hit by a pitch but the inning ended on a fielder’s choice and a strikeout. Duck pitched 5.2 innings for Harrison allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts. He also walked three. Keylon threw for 1.1 innings with no hits and one strikeout. He also gave up a walk. Hutchinson, Richardson and Lovell all scored a run for the Goblins. Lovell had two hits while Journagan, Shaver, Madden and Duck finished with a single apiece. Keylon hit a double in the ballgame. Tanner Taylor, Block and Keylon each recorded an RBI. Harrison plays Gravette on Tuesday and will finish its five-game homestand against Pottsville on Wednesday at Jack Williams Field.

HARRISON BASEBALL VS. PEA RIDGE

RODNEY BEAVER

Harrison Daily Times | 4/3/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Rodney Beaver