WARREN, Ark. – The Warren High School baseball squad squandered a 7-2 lead, but was able to complete the comeback when center fielder Jackson Denton cleared the bases with a double in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 12-11 victory over Maumelle Charter High School Monday evening at the Warren City Complex.
By Dennen Cuthbertson
Saline River News Baseball Contributor
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The Lumberjacks (9-7) were ahead 7-2 early and took an 8-5 lead to the top of the sixth inning when the Falcons (12-11-1) were able to plate six runs on no hits thanks to two errors, three walks, one hit-by-pitch, and two wild pitches to take an 11-8 advantage.
The comeback began when Logan Case singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh and Madden Bryant was hit by a pitch with one out. Tucker McDiarmid singled to load the bases before Ren Reep delivered an RBI single to cut the score to 11-9. Denton stepped up to the plate and laced the 1-0 pitch into center field for a hit. The center fielder was playing Denton to pull in left center field, but the ball was hit so hard up the middle that the defender couldn’t cut it off. Once the ball rolled past the defender the celebration was on as all three runners scored for the 12-11 walk-off victory.
Warren out hit Maumelle Charter 13-7 on the game, but made six errors and allowed a combined 10 free baserunners via walk and hit-by-pitch. Denton led the offensive charge for the home team with four hits, including three two-baggers, six runs driven in, and three runs scored. Case and McDiarmid were the only other two Lumberjacks with multi-hit efforts. Case scored two runs and also stole a base, while McDiarmid scored three times and also nabbed a bag. Parker O’Neal drove in three runs.
Bryant tossed the first four innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Case, McDiarmid, and Chris Barnes combined to throw the final three frames.
The Orange and Black looked good early with an RBI double from Denton and RBI groundout by O’Neal in the bottom of the first. The Falcons got one back in the top of the second, but Warren scored four more in the bottom of the second for a 6-1 edge. Maumelle Charter scored on an error in the fourth inning to get within 6-2, but another RBI groundout by O’Neal pushed the score to 7-2.
The Falcons began their comeback with three runs in the top of the fifth to claw within 7-5. However, Zech Bush pulled an RBI single into left field in the bottom of the frame to put Warren on top 8-5. Maumelle Charter then had their big inning to set up the Jacks’ comeback.
The Lumberjacks return to action on Tuesday, April 21 with an important road conference matchup at Crossett. First pitch from EC Crossett Field is set for 5 p.m.
