LINCOLN -- Lincoln Wolves seized the 4A-1 conference regular season title on Friday, after dispatching their Highway 62 rival Prairie Grove Tigers by a score of 6-1 in a contest played in Lincoln.
"We are capable of being a really good team," said Wolves' coach Brad Harris. "Today we threw it real well, we played defense well and we put the bat on the ball and made things happen on the base path. I'm real proud of our effort today."
The Wolves (13-4, 6-0) got an incredible performance by Drew Harris, both at the plate and on the mound in Lincoln's banner-capturing outing.
Harris accounted for half of Lincoln's runs when he crushed a three-run homer over the right-field fence in the fourth inning, but even more impressive was Harris' dominance on the hill. The junior right-hander (3-1), who hasn't seen the mound since before spring break due to a nagging injury, was slinging stones to the Tigers (13-5, 4-2), limiting Prairie Grove to just one-hit and one run in six innings of work. He carried a no-hitter for five and third innings and racked up six strikeouts while allowing three base-on-balls.
"This is a great feeling," said Drew Harris. "We've been behind Prairie Grove and Farmington for quite a while and now it's great to be able to beat them in this big rivalry and it's just a great team win."
Prairie Grove, who needed to beat the Wolves to remain in title contention, sent J.D. Speed (4-1) to the hill. Speed (3 1/3 innings, 6 runs, 4 hits, 1 K, 1 BB) kept pace with Harris until the third inning, which is when the Wolves got on the scoreboard with one run. In the inning, a fielding error allowed Harris to reach first base. Harris stole second base, then advanced to third on an Emilio Marrufo fielder's choice. When Prairie Grove tried to nab Harris at third base the throw sailed wide allowing Harris to trot home for a 1-0 Wolves lead.
In the fourth frame, Lincoln's Dalton Simmons and Kaleb Ayers both reached base on an error and a single to center field respectively. Simmons crossed the plate on a Payton Hulse fielder's choice, while Ayers scored when Speed fielded Cord McCaslin's bunt but threw it away trying to gun down Ayers at the dish. Harris helped out his own cause, chased Speed from the mound and swelled the Lincoln lead to 6-0 when he followed McCaslin with his three-run round-tripper.
Tigers finally got to Harris in the sixth inning. Isaac Disney reached base on a catcher's interference call, then two batters later Speed broke up the no-hitter with a "seeing eyed" grounder into center field. Harris' only blemish on an otherwise perfect outing came when he was called for a balk which allowed Disney to come home, spoiling the shutout in the process.
Harris closed out the sixth inning, then handed the reins over to Tyler Cummings to start the seventh frame. Cummings set the Tigers down in order, which allowed the Wolves to earn the 6-1 victory and clinch the 4A-1 conference crown. "We didn't swing the bats today," said Tiger's coach Mitch Cameron. "It didn't matter what we did in the field, we just didn't hit. Drew Harris did a great job today. He had his curveball working, throwing it for strikes and locating it well, and that makes it tough."
On offense, Harris finished 1 for 4 with 3 RBI's, while Marrufo, Ayers and Dakota Riggins pitched in with one hit apiece. Speed collected Prairie Grove's only hit in the loss.
Sports on 04/23/2014