WARREN, Ark. – The Warren High School baseball squad fell behind early 2-0, but scored eight unanswered runs to claim an 8-2 win over cross-river rival Monticello for the team’s fifth straight win Friday evening at the Warren Sports Complex.
Dennen Cuthbertson
Saline River Chronicle Sports Contributor
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The Lumberjacks improved to 11-4 overall and are 5-2 in league play after sweeping the two conference games against the Billies (8-6, 4-3 in 4A-8) this season.
Monticello scored early in the contest with a run in each of the first two innings. A leadoff walk came around to score on an RBI single in the top of the first and a safety squeeze brought home another in the top of the second. However, starting pitcher Kolby Pope did a good job to limit the damage after the Billies loaded the bases with no outs in the second. Warren had five hits through three innings and left eight runners on base, but couldn’t break through on the scoreboard even with a lot of loud contact hit right at Monticello defenders.
However, the Jacks’ fortune changed in the fourth inning when Tucker McDiarmid and Kolby Pope reached base to begin the frame. Both runners would come around to score on an error by the shortstop and an error on a bad throw by the left fielder getting the ball back in. The Orange and Black then took the lead in the fifth inning when AJ Jordan scored on a sacrifice fly by McDiarmid.
The lead would not be relinquished as the Lumberjacks’ offense exploded for five insurance runs in the sixth inning. Jackson Denton led off with a double and Nathan Spears put runners on the corners with a single into right field. Bryson Harris and Ren Reep followed with RBI base knocks before another run scored on a wild pitch. McDiarmid capped the scoring with a two-run single to right field to put the score at 8-2.
Monticello had the heart of the order up in the top of the seventh, but reliever Ervin Rivera wasn’t phased as he retired them in order with a strikeout and two fly outs to right field to clinch the six-run win.
Pope allowed two runs (one earned) in three innings on the mound with four strikeouts and three walks. Rivera picked up the win in relief with four scoreless frames. The senior allowed three hits with five punchouts against zero walks.
Denton, Harris, and Reep each picked up two hits apiece to lead Warren at the plate. McDiarmid led the team with three RBIs while Reep and Harris drove in one. The Lumberjacks outhit Monticello 10-6 and left 12 runners on base while the Billies left nine stranded.
Warren returns to action on Monday, April 8 with a schedule change. The Jacks were originally scheduled to host Smackover in a non-conference game, but will now travel to Stuttgart for a conference tilt against the Ricebirds in an attempt to get the game in before inclement weather.
