PRAIRIE GROVE -- After having a rivalry game canceled by Farmington April 20, Prairie Grove went shopping for an opponent.
They found one in 6A Siloam Springs, which traveled to Prairie Grove for a nonconference game April 24.
"It's kind of a tune-up game for the tournament," said Prairie Grove coach Chris Mileham, not wanting a long layoff before the Tigers began postseason play in the District 4A-1 tournament at Gravette last Wednesday.
The Panthers proved themselves a worthy opponent as an early 2-1 Prairie Grove lead didn't hold up as the Tigers fell to Siloam Springs, 7-3. Siloam Springs opened the Monday game by taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Taylor Pool singled with one out and courtesy runner Jacob Rowe took his spot at first base. Chance Junkermann was hit by a pitch and Rowe scored on a single by Josh Hunt.
Prairie Grove responded by scoring a pair of runs against Ellis, who started on the mound for Siloam Springs. Lead-off hitter Clay Fidler drew a walk and advanced to third on Reed Orr's single. Drew Cates and Austin Jentzsch hit back-to-back singles to score 2 runs for the Tigers.
The Panthers answered with 3 runs in the top of the second inning to take the lead which they never relinquished. Landon Nickell singled to open the inning. Eli Hawbaker (2 for 3) singled into left field to put runners at the corners. After a strike-out, Prairie Grove changed pitchers with Michael Hutsell coming on in relief. Chandler Cook's sacrifice fly drove in a Panther run, then Pool hit a line drive that caromed off the Tiger third baseman, allowing a second run to score in the inning. Junkermann was hit by a pitch as the Panthers stayed alive with two outs. With the bases loaded, a flyball was dropped allowing a run to score and Siloam Springs led 4-2.
In the fourth inning, Junkermann (1 for 4, 2 RBIs) drove in another run with a single into center field. Siloam Springs added two more runs in the fifth. Nickell beat a throw to first and Hawbaker walked. The runners advanced on a passed ball and Jacob Rowe singled to drive in a run. Following a strike-out, Pool was hit by a pitch to load the bases and a run was walked in with Junkermann patiently drawing ball-four.
Orr began the fifth with a lead-off triple into left field for Prairie Grove. He scored on Cates' sacrifice fly trimming Siloam Springs' lead to 7-3, but Panther sophomore L.T. Ellis got out of the inning on a strike-out after issuing a walk. Neither team scored over the final two innings and the Panthers claimed the win aided by three double plays in the contest.
Siloam Springs had 11 hits and capitalized on 3 Prairie Grove errors. For the Panthers, Josh Hunt was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI.
Orr was 2-for-3 with a triple for the Tigers, and Drew Cates was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs.
Prairie Grove 2, Fort Smith Northside 0
Solid pitching will keep a team in a game, but sometimes they have to manufacture runs.
Prairie Grove (15-6, 7-2) found a way to win by pushing a pair of runs across the plate in the fourth inning to defeat 7A Fort Smith Northside on April 17. Austin Jentzsch and Silas Myane scored runs for the Tigers. Myane and Cole Speed were credited with 1 RBI apiece. Reed Orr and Jentzsch each had a base on balls and Clay Fidler (0 for 1) was twice hit by pitches. Jentzsch was 2 for 2 on stolen base attempts and Fidler was 1 for 1.
During a contest in which the Tigers went a collective 4 of 19 in the batter's box, the x-factors became crucial in pulling off a two-run victory over the Grizzlies.
Defensively, the Tigers were charged with only one error. Prairie Grove starter Reed Orr scattered 4 hits over 7 innings with 3 bases on balls and 5 strike-outs.
Freshman Khaden Washington, 3.1 innings, 2 runs, 1 hit, 2 bases on balls, 3 strike-outs, took the loss for Northside. Josh Jordan pitched 2.2 innings for Northside, yielding 2 hits and striking out 2. Washington and Jordan threw a combined 79 pitches compared to 87 for Orr.
Sports on 05/03/2017