By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Senior North Little Rock Colts made an earlier-than-expected exit from the state tournament in Mountain Home. After opening with a 9-3 win over the host team, the Colts blew a late lead to Bryant, then was blown out by Jonesboro on Monday.
North Little Rock’s win on Saturday came with the help of four Mountain Home errors. The Colts got the lead in the second inning after Dylan Huckaby singled and stole second base. He scored two batters later when Gunner Allen’s shot to shortstop was mishandled.
North Little Rock added three in the third, starting with a leadoff walk by Justin Wiegle. He stole second and advanced to third when the throw from home sailed into centerfield.
L.J. Wallace then singled to left-centerfield to drive in Weigle. Wallace also stole second, but was picked off and caught in a rundown. He ended up safe at third when the Locker Room team dropped the ball on the tag attempt.
Huckaby then singled to score Wallace. Jack Partlow then singled and Allen ripped a two-RBI base hit up the middle for a 5-0 Colts’ lead.
The host team’s only earned run came in the second on a leadoff single, two sacrifices and a base hit.
Allen and Huckaby added one more RBI apiece, one in the seventh and one in the eighth, and Mountain Home (19-18)gave up another unearned run to set the final margin.
The Colts paid back some of the gifts by giving up two unearned runs on two errors in the seventh.
Connor Eller was dominant on the mound for North Little Rock. He threw seven innings, giving up just four base hits and one earned run while striking out seven, walking three and hitting two batters.
Allen pitched the final two innings and gave up no hits and two walks to earn the save.
Allen and Huckaby combined to go 5 for 10 with five RBIs as the Colts improved to 32-4.
North Little Rock gave up three runs in the sixth inning to fall 5-4 to Bryant on Sunday. The loss on Monday was the worst one of the season for the Colts.