Pioneers Scalp Chickasaws

Sweep Blytheville in first Conference Contest

published Wednesday, April 6, 2005

The Pioneers added 2 conference victories to their tally to bring their conference record to 6 - 1 when they defeated the Blytheville Chickasaws at Blytheville last night. This was the first conference meeting of these teams since the Chickasaws were reclassified from 5A this school year. The Pioneers were solid at the plate with 24 hits, 8 for extra bases, on the night. Defensively they played solid ball with a few errors. Starting Pitchers Evan Eary and Addison Rayford picked up a win each on the night. While their styles, strategies and stats may differ greatly, they both are able to lead winning defenses for the Pioneers.

In the opener, consecutive singles by Eary and catcher Chris Milum put the Pioneers on the scoreboard with an opening inning run. The Chickasaws quickly take the lead with 3 runs on 3 hits in the bottom of the inning. The Pioneers even the score in the top of the second when lead off batter Clint Walls walks and is joined by Addison Rayford who hits on. Both are scored by Platt on a double. The Pioneers gain the lead in the third when Eary singles and eventually scores on a passed ball. Chris Milum generates the second run of the inning when he walks and is relieved by courtesy runner Cody Aycock. Aycock is scored by Walls on a base hit to bring the score to 5-3 Pioneers. In the bottom of the fourth the Chickasaws close the margin by 1 when a hit batter followed by 2 singles results in a Blytheville run. The Pioneers tack on 2 in the fifth with a lead off double by Jason Angel. Angel is relieved by pinch runner Kyle McMullin who scores on a Walls hit. Walls is ejected at the plate after a collision with the Chickasaw catcher. While there was definite contact, it did not appear malicious, but I don't think the NFHS rules leave the officials much leeway on this issue. Rayford scores the second run after reaching first on a fielder's choice and is eventually scored by a Casey Aycock sac fly to bring the score to 7-4 Pioneers. Eary sets the Blytheville batters down in order with 3 straight K's to end the inning. In the sixth the Pioneers bust it open hitting for the cycle. Nick Davidson leads off with a triple, Eary hits the four bagger, Milum doubles and Jeff Whitener adds the base hit. In the process the Pioneers pick up 4 additional runs. Eary pitches a 3 pitch inning when the lead off batter grounds out and the second batter reaches on a first pitch Pioneer fielding error. The door is slammed on the Chickasaws when the third batter hits a line shot to third baseman Whitener for the second out and he relays the ball to Angel at first catching the sole Chickasaw runner before he can return to tag. In the final inning, Casey Aycock and Platt lead with hits. Both are scored on Eary's second home run of the game, to bring the Pioneers to their final tally of 14 runs. The Chickasaws weren't done though and rallied for 6 runs in the bottom of the inning. Eary was relieved after 1 out and a 2 run homer and while reliever Davidson gave up 2 hits and 3 runs he was able to stem the resurgent Chickasaws to finish the game 14-10 Pioneers. Winning Pitcher Eary had 8 strikeouts and 1 walk and HP. Eary also lead the offense with 2 home runs, went 4 for 4 at the plate, had 4 runs scored and 5 rbi's. Not a bad performance by the 4 and 5 hole hitters, Milum and Angel, both went 2 for 4 with a double and single each. Walls had 2 hits and 2 rbi's.

In the nightcap, the Chickasaws get on the board first in the bottom of the second. A lead off single, passed ball and wild pitch give them the lead after 2 complete innings. Batesville joins them on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. Lead off batter Eary singles, steals second and is scored by a Milum double. Eary is ejected at the plate for making inflammatory remarks to the Chickasaw catcher after both teams had been warned in the previous inning to curtail this behavior. Milum is relieved by McMullin who scores on an Angel hit and Angel adds the third run when Pioneer batter Cameron Ward lays down a great bunt for the squeeze. The score remains 3-1 until the top of the sixth when Milum leads off and hits his second double of the game. A follow up double by Angel scores courtesy runner McMullin to bring the score to 4-1 Pioneers. In the top of the seventh Kelly Davis is hit by a pitch and followed on by Platt and Davidson with hits to load the bases. Coach Rush goes back for the squeeze again but Casey Aycock misses the bunt leaving Davis half way down the line. The Chickasaws try to run Davis down but end up throwing the ball into his back as he scores at the plate. The Chickasaws walk Milum forcing in Platt and Davidson scores on an Angel fielder's choice. The final score of the game comes when Cody Aycock hits a sac fly to score his brother Casey. The Chickasaws go down quickly to bring the score to 8-1 Pioneers. Pitcher Addison Rayford adds a win, striking out 8 batters, walking none and hitting two while allowing only 5 hits and 1 run. Milum and Angel again preform strongly at the plate with Milum adding two doubles and 2 rbi's while Angel doubled, singled and added 3 rbi's.