Pioneers defeat Lake Hamilton

Great last ditch effort gains win for Pioneers

published Friday, April 1, 2005

The Pioneers squeaked out a close one when they faced off against the Lake Hamilton Wolves last night at Pioneer field. The Wolves are members of the 5A South conference and Lake Hamilton High School is located in Pearcy, near Hot Springs. While the Pioneers may have thought the Wolves would be a pushover coming into the game with a 1-9 season win-loss record they would be surprised before the night was over. Starting Pitcher for the Pioneers, Cameron Ward takes the mound in the first inning and gives up a solo hit before retiring the Wolves with no score. The Pioneers manage walks by Kelly Davis and Chris Milum but no score in the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the second Pioneers Trent Weeks and Addison Rayford hit back to back singles with 1 out but are left stranded at the end of the inning. The Wolves get on the board in the top of the third when an infield error allows Alex Fotioo to reach base safely. He scores when teammate Scotty Smith hits one down the right field line for a triple. The Pioneers again appear ready to answer with a Milum single followed by a Clint Walls walk leaving courtesy runner Kyle McMullin at third and Walls at second. However, a quick strikeout leaves them on at the end of the inning. The Wolves add a second run in the fourth when another fielding error allows the lead off batter on base. He scores on a Sac fly by Brock Green. The Wolves tack on another run in the sixth. A lead off walk by Ward sees him relieved on the mound by Cody Aycock. Wolves batter Green singles driving in Dustin Lercher who had walked, bringing the score to 3-0 Wolves. The Pioneers appear to be in dire straights with 2 strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh. Wolves pitcher Nathan Ball who has pitched a great game up to this point appears to be tiring and allows a quick succession of hits by the Pioneers. Leading the 2 out rally was Davis with a single. Nick Davidson doubles, scoring Davis and is in turn scored by Milum who also doubles. McMullin, running for Milum is scored by a Clint Walls double that lands near the base of the fence in left center, tying the score at 3 all and eventually forcing extra innings.

Nick Davidson relieves Aycock on the mound and sets the Wolves down in the top of the eighth with a strikeout and 2 infield ground outs. The Pioneers quickly pick up 2 outs of their own with a strikeout and a ground out from relieving Wolves pitcher Dennis Fuller. Casey Aycock reaches first safely on a base hit and then the previously error free Wolves would literally throw the game away. Lead off Batter Hunter Platt hits to the right side of left handed pitcher Fuller. The ball rebounds off of Fuller's glove toward third. Green fields the ball and tries to make a play at first on Platt, but the ball is thrown wide leaving Platt safe at first. The catcher fields the overthrow and attempts a play on Aycock advancing toward third but again the throw is off and Aycock reaches third safely. Aycock quickly heads for home leaving the Wolves fielders scrambling for the ball. The throw was close, but appeared (from my little box) to pull the catcher into foul territory leaving Aycock enough room to squeak by and avoid the tag, ending the game 4-3 Pioneers. Winning Pitcher for the Pioneers was Davidson, Losing Pitcher for the Wolves; Fuller. Leading the Pioneer offense was Milum with a double and a single. Davidson and Walls also doubled for the Pioneers.

The Pioneers are scheduled to resume Conference Play on Tuesday at Blytheville.