Pioneers Blast Ricebirds

4A State Tournament Bracket

AAAA State Tournament 2nd Round, Monday 5/5 at Nettleton HS:
Sylvan Hills vs Harrison; 12:00 Noon
Nettleton vs Malvern; 2:30 PM
Batesville vs Greenbrier; 5:00 PM
Magnolia vs Grene County Tech; 7:30 PM

published Saturday, May 3, 2003

The Pioneers opened the 2003 State Tournament with a big bang. One the Stuttgart Ricebirds won't soon forget. After being defeated 14 - 5 by the Pioneers in the second round of the tournament last year, things only got worse for Stuttgart when they were again eliminated by the Pioneers in the opening round this year in a 5 inning run-ruled game, 12 - 2. Pioneer Pitcher Henricson pitched strongly against the Ricebirds with 6 strikeouts, facing only 10 batters in the last 3 innings. The Pioneers came to hit; combining for 16 hits against Stuttgart Senior pitcher Gentry. This game also saw the Pioneers playing to their full potential defensively with no Pioneer fielding errors commited in the entire game.
1st Round Results
Sylvan Hills 3 1W - Paragould 1 4E
Harrison 7 3W - Lakeside 5 2SW
Nettleton 3 1E - LR Mills 0 4SE
Malvern 10 3SE - Greenwood 0 2W
Greenbrier 3 1W - Arkadelphia 2 4SW
Batesville 12 2E - Stuttgart 2 3SE
Magnolia 10 1SW - Alma 4 4W
Greene County Tech 8 3E - Monticello 7 2SE

I see lots of talk on the Internet about who is the toughest conference. Lets look at the 1st round results. The teams advancing are: 3 from the East, 2 from the West, 2 from the Southwest and 1 from the Southeast. I predict all of the East teams will advance to the semi-finals and that, like last year, it will be 3 out of 4 from the East.

The Ricebirds manage 2 hits and 1 run in the first inning when Curtain doubles and is scored by Capps. Henrickson racks up his first 2 K's of the game.

The Pioneers strike back quickly. Smith reaches 1st on an HP advances to 3rd on Gatlin's single and scores the 1st run of the game when Burba also singles. Fletcher adds the 3rd hit in a row to score Gatlin. Fuqua joins them with an HP and Skinner brings in the 3rd run with a Sac Fly(3 -1 Pioneers).

Ricebird Starks reaches on a fielders choice and advances to 3rd on a passed ball and a wild pitch. He will add Stuttgart's 2nd and last run of the night when he is batted in by Jones.

Pioneer Francis reaches on an error by the Ricebird's 2nd baseman and steals second. He is scored by Gatlin with a single. Gatlin is joined by Burba on a single and both are batted in by Fletcher who triples. Fuqua is beaned again and a Skinner single scores Fletcher for the last run of the inning (7 - 2 Pioneers).

3rd Inning

The Ricebirds go down 1-2-3 with Henrickson picking up a K.

The Pioneer fare little better with Rhodes leading off with a single but left on by 3 quick outs.

The Ricebirds are feeling the heat now and not liking it. Again, Henrickson sets them down 1-2-3 with 2 more K's.

Pioneer lead off Burba doubles and advances to 3rd when Fletcher reaches on an error by the Ricebirds shortstop. Black and Blue Taylor Fuqua takes yet another HP to load the bases. Skinner scores Burba and Fletcher with a single. Rhodes singles to load the bases again. A Francis sac fly scores the last run of the inning when Fuqua crosses the plate (10 - 2 Pioneers).

Ricebird lead off Jones singles but is put out when Curtain advances on a fielders choice. Their last at bat will come to an end when Jacobs pops up to Francis to close the top of the inning.

Lead off Pioneer Gatlin reaches when the Ricebird 2nd baseman mishandles the ball. Somehow Gentry misses Fuqua this time and he joins Gatlin with a single. They advance on a balk and are joined by Skinner with another HP (bringing our total to 5 for the game). Davis will score the last hit and last 2 runs of the game to close the game 12 -2 Pioneers after 5 innings.

Pitcher Henrickson pitched 5 innings allowing 2 runs on 6 hits with 0 walks and 6 strikeouts.
Offensive Leaders: Gatlin - 2 singles; Burba - double, 2 singles; Fletcher - triple, single; Skinner - 2 singles; Rhodes - 2 singles.
Most Battered award: Fuqua - 3 HP's