By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
A runaway bottom of the fifth inning was the difference for Cabot on Monday. The Centennial Bank senior American Legion team fought back from a 6-2 deficit with three runs each in the third and fourth frames, and took control in the fifth with a six-run spree.
Maumelle tagged on three more scores late, but Centennial Bank held on for a 14-9 win at Brian Wade Conrade Memorial Baseball Field.
Cabot quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth when C.J. Jacoby was hit by a pitch, Brandon Surdam singled and Joe Bryant reached on an error.
A bloop single to right center by Andrew Reynolds scored Jacoby to give Cabot a 9-6 lead, and a bases-loaded walk to Powell Bryant brought Surdam in to make it 10-6. Matt Turner followed two batters later with a double to deep right field that scored three runs, and an infield hit by Ty Steele that was mishandled at shortstop allowed Turner to score.
The Bulldogs ended up using four different pitchers through six innings, but it did little to stop Cabot’s 12-hit performance.
Cabot started with Jacoby at the mound, but Powell Bryant came on in relief in the top of the third to earn the win.
Centennial Bank took the lead in the bottom of the first with two runs. Powell Bryant was hit by a pitch, followed by the first of two triples by Sam Bates. Turner followed with a double to score Bates, giving Cabot a 2-0 lead. The Bulldogs made up one of those runs up in the top of the second, and five runs in the third lifted them to a 6-2 lead.
Cabot made up three of those runs in the third. Powell Bryant singled, and came in on another triple by Bates. Turner then singled to score Bates, and a hit to center by Steele that was misplayed scored Turner to make it 6-5.
Leadoff Joe Bryant tripled in the bottom of the fourth and scored on a single by Reynolds, who scored moments later on a double by Bates. Turner then doubled to score Bates, giving Centennial Bank an 8-6 lead.
Turner led Cabot, going 4 of 4 with three doubles, six RBI and two runs. Bates was 3 of 4 with two triples, three RBI and three runs scored. Reynolds was 2 of 5 with two RBI for Centennial Bank.
CABOT JUNIOR 7, MAUMELLE 7
The game didn’t need any more excitement, but that did not deter Centennial Bank junior Legion coach Andy Runyan in the bottom of the fifth inning of Cabot’s 7-7 tie with Maumelle on Monday night at Conrade Field.
Daniel Fox came in on a double by Bryson Morris to tie the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the fifth.
With one out, Tyler Cole hit a fly ball to left and Morris tagged up and tried to come in with the winning run. But the throw from left to the Bulldogs’ catcher was on the mark, and Morris was called out, much to Runyan’s disapproval.
Runyan questioned the call and pushed dirt on the plate. The two teams went through another scoreless inning of play before the game had to be called for time.
The Bulldogs controlled things early on in building a 4-0 lead after two innings.
Centennial Bank picked up three runs in the bottom of the second inning to pull within a score.
Singles by Brandon Surdam and Josh Graham put two on, and Fox loaded the bases when he was hit with a pitch. Surdam and Graham scored when Zach Uhiren and Morris each drew walks. Tyler Cole was hit by a pitch to score Fox.
The Bulldogs picked up three more runs in the top of the fourth, but Cabot was able to answer. Uhiren led off the inning with a walk, advanced on an error, and tagged up on a sacrifice fly to left by Morris. Cole singled and advanced on Tyler Carter’s ground out. Justin Goff doubled to score Cole, and Carter came in moments later to pull Centennial Bank to within 7-6.
Goff went 2 of 3 with a double to lead Cabot.
