By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Blake Evans’ two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning of Game 1 was the only thing historic about Sylvan Hills’ 14-0, 11-0 sweep over North Pulaski on Wednesday at Kevin McReynolds Field in Sherwood.
Evans blasted an offering from Falcons pitcher Eric Olenette over the left field wall for the first home run at the brand new field, which sits just down the hill from the Bears’ former home field that was destroyed by tornadoes last April.
It also drove in freshman DH Blake Baxendale to put the Bears up 10-0 as part of a 10-run Sylvan Hills’ spree in the third.
Senior all-state pitcher and future Razorback D.J. Baxendale earned the win for the Bears, throwing no-hit ball through four innings while striking out five batters. The Falcons reached on fielding errors by the SH defense in the first and second innings, but found no further charity.
Evans took the mound for the final inning, forcing two groundouts and a pop-up to secure the win for Baxendale, who improved to 7-0 on the season.
Falcons hurler Olenette gave up six hits and three walks to Sylvan Hills in the first two innings, but the NP defense was able to minimize the damage. The Bears (18-1) loaded the bases to start the bottom of the first on a single by leadoff Justin Treece, a base-on-balls to Ty Van Schoyck and a single by Nathan Eller.
North Pulaski got Treece out at the plate when the elder Baxendale hit into a fielder’s choice from the cleanup slot, but a walk to Jordan Spears gave Van Schoyck a free trip across the plate for the night’s first score. Olenette then fanned Blake Baxendale for his first of two strikeouts in the game.
Van Schoyck delivered a triple in the bottom of the second to drive in Casey Cerrato and Treece, and advanced when Eller reached on an error. Both came in on a single to right-center by Jordan Spears to put Sylvan Hills up 5-0 after two.
Michael Maddox started the bottom of the third with a free trip to first after being hit with an Olenette pitch, followed by a walk to Cerrato. A sacrifice fly by Treece brought in Maddox, and Van Schoyck singled in Cerrato.
Eller walked, and Spears drove in both runs with a single. He came around when Blake Baxendale reached on an error.
Van Schoyck was 2 of 2 with a triple and two RBI. Treece was 2 of 4 with two RBI. Spears finished with one hit, but reached on all three at-bats and had five RBI for the game. Cerrato also reached three times and had a single.
Baxendale had five strikeouts, and gave up no walks or hits. Olenette gave up 10 hits and five walks, while fanning two.
Eller took the win in Game 2 to complete the 5A-Southeast Conference sweep.
Sylvan Hills was scheduled to play at North Little Rock last night, while the Falcons will host Crossett in a league doubleheader on Tuesday.
