By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Centennial Bank put Morrilton out of its misery early with a run-ruled 12-4 win through five innings on Thursday night at Brian Wade Conrade Memorial Baseball Field.
Morrilton struggled both offensively and defensively, but avoided a shutout with a four-run flurry in the top of the third inning. The rest was all Cabot.
Cabot (6-9-2) wasted no time taking the advantage in the opening frame of the junior American Legion matchup, sending Morrilton three up and three down in the top of the first before putting up three in the bottom half.
Leadoff batter Zach Uhiren singled, stole second and scored when Brandon Surdam singled him in. Surdam then scored on a groundout by Justin Goff.
Tyler Carter drew a walk and was driven in on a single by Spencer Roberg.
Singles by Josh Graham and Bryson Morris made it 4-0 in the second. Uhiren reached on an error, and one out later, Tyler Carter got the biggest hit of the night for Centennial Bank with a ground-rule double that scored Uhiren and Surdam to make it 6-0.
Tyler Cole followed with a single to left that scored Carter for the final run of the frame, but Cabot picked right back up an inning later.
James McRainey got things started for Centennial Bank in the bottom of the third when he took first base after getting hit by a pitch. Graham reached on an error to advance McRainey. Morris doubled down the third base line to score McRainey, and Graham came in on a single to left by Uhiren. Surdam grounded out to second to bring in Uhiren and extend the lead to 11-0.
Centennial Bank was set up for a four-inning win before Morrilton’s last gasp in the top of the fourth extended the lopsided affair for one more inning. Morrilton took advantage of two walks, as well as an error and a single to close the gap to 11-4.
Centennial Bank needed only one more run in the bottom of the fourth, and got it with a single by Graham that scored Cole.
Daniel Fox earned the win for Cabot. Fox kept Morrilton scoreless through three innings.
Uhiren was 2 of 2 with two RBI and three runs to lead Centennial Bank. Graham was 2 of 2 with a RBI and two runs, while Morris was 2 of 2 with a double and an RBI.
