BY JASON KING
Leader sports writer
IN SHORT: Searcy found winning difficult in the Class A Memorial Day tournament at Burns Park. A 8-5 win Saturday over Vilonia was its only victory.
Searcy’s B&B Oil American Legion A team struggled at last weekend’s Memorial Day tournament at Burns Park. A Saturday win against Vilonia was the only win in four games for Searcy in the tourney, as they dropped three other games against North Little Rock, Fayetteville and Jacksonville.
The tournament started out tough for B and B, with a Friday-night rout at the hands of host team North Little Rock 12-1. Searcy recovered from the blowout to play its strongest game of the tournament against Vilonia with an 8-5 win Saturday afternoon.
Vilonia took the early lead in the game, leading 3-2 after the first inning. Runs from Jordan Bradley and Jordan Roberson in the bottom of the first inning narrowed a three-run lead for Vilonia down to one.
Searcy took that lead away in the bottom of the third with three runs to put them up 5-2. Bradley and Jason Jennings both scored on passed balls, and Roger Glaude scored on a fielding error to give B&B Oil the advantage.
They extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth with runs from Jonathan Luthe and Bradley. Bradley hit a triple to right field to score Luthe, and scored himself off a one-hopper to right field from Jennings. Jennings scored the final run for B&B when Glaude doubled to left for the RBI.
Searcy finished the game with eight runs, seven hits and two errors. Vilonia had five runs, eight hits and three errors. Royce Smith took the win at the mound for Searcy, going all seven innings to earn the victory.
Searcy found it difficult to hit off of starting Jacksonville pitcher Cameron Hood Sunday. Hood allowed two hits the entire game.
A fielding error allowed Kendall Chasteen and Jennings to score in the bottom of the fifth.
