By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot junior American Legion team known as The A Team got a win and a tie Wednesday against Searcy. The Centennial Bank squad beat Searcy 8-1 in the opening game at the Cabot Sports Complex, then rallied from a 5-2 deficit to score three in the bottom of the last inning to salvage the nightcap tie.
In game one, Cabot did most of its damage early, scoring all eight runs in the first three innings, including five in the second.
Searcy struggled on the mound. Cabot finished with just three base hits, but they were timely. The A Team had people on base throughout the contest thanks to eight base-on-balls issued by Searcy pitching.
Jacob Caswell had two of those hits for Cabot, both doubles, and both resulting in two RBIs. Leadoff hitter Coy Lovercheck went 1 for 3 at the plate and drove in a run as well. Hayden Wood added two RBIs on a walk and sacrifice fly, and Braylen Moore also drove in a run.
Austin Calhoun had a good game on the mound. He pitched five innings for Cabot and gave up zero earned runs while striking out seven and walking just two.
The nightcap was on a time limit and lasted just four innings. Searcy took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning before Cabot tied it in the bottom half of the same frame. Searcy then added three more in the top of the second as Cabot went scoreless until the bottom of the fourth.
Both teams managed just three hits in game two, but Searcy issued seven free bases and committed three errors while Cabot walked four and had two errors.
Zach Eveleth went 2 for 2 at the plate for the Centennial Bank squad, and recorded an RBI. Park Ashcraft had the other base hit.
The A team had lost twice previously in the week, falling 10-0 to Vilonia and 6-3 to Mt. Vernon on Tuesday in Cabot. It was scheduled to host Mt. Vernon again on Thursday, but that game was rained out.
The next scheduled game will be another two-team doubleheader, facing Poyen at 6 p.m. Monday, with the makeup game against Mt. Vernon to follow at the Cabot Sports Complex.