FARMINGTON -- The second inning proved to be decisive in Farmington's 10-0 conference win over Berryville on April 11.
Trailing 2-0 after an Adam Ness RBI triple and Hayden Sutton RBI single in the first inning, the Bobcats went to bat and a chance to score runs materialized against Farmington starter Flint Oxford, who struck out Tate Ferguson by throwing two straight strikes to overcome a 3-1 count.
Justus Summers and Ethan Chapin drilled back-to-back singles to put Bobcat runners at first and second but Oxford (0 runs, 3 hits, 6 strikeouts) got Davis Stone out on a called strike three and a cut-off throw from left field prevented Berryville from scoring a run on Mock's single. Then with the bases loaded, Oxford struck out Emilio Duarte to end the inning.
When the Cardinals came up, Mock induced John Larabee into a pop up at second base, then struck out Chase Norwood, then allowed the next two batters, Trenton McChristian and Nick Huff, to get aboard. Farmington scored two runs when Ness smacked another triple into center field.
In all, Farmington tallied five runs in the first three innings against Berryville starter Luke Mock (4.3 IP, 10 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts).
"We got opportunities early to score runs and against a pitcher like that [Mock] that throws a 'junk-ball' extraordinaire. Our kids did a good job of staying back and hitting the baseball," said Farmington coach Jay Harper.
"You know it's not really a 'home-run day' even though Adam Ness hit another home run, but they stayed back and hit the ball and when we got an opportunity to finish them off we did. I'm proud of that," Harper said.
The Cardinals pushed across more runs in the fourth with Ness' booming solo shot leaving the ballpark for a home run and Caleb Reagan's single RBI, which brought Tyler Gregg across the plate.
Farmington led 7-0 with a chance to put the game away in the bottom of the seventh inning. McChristian pounded out a leadoff single, then Huff was hit on a 3-2 pitch after taking a strike while McChristian stole third having previously stolen second.
Ness struck out but not before Huff stole second. Sutton then banged out a two RBI single to put Farmington on the doorstep of victory with a 9-0 lead and one out in the fifth. Hunter McManus came in as a pinch runner and beat a throw to third allowing Tyler Gregg to squeeze out a double.
With two runners in scoring position, Cade Black answered the call coming back from a 1-2 count by taking ball-two and then belting an RBI single scoring McManus and concluding the game with a 10-0 Cardinal win.
"We won every inning that's our goal," Harper said. "Flint Oxford did a great job on the mound and we had several people with multiple hits so again we're happy with the situation that we're in."
Sports on 04/23/2014