By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
IN SHORT: Cabot’s American Legion teams picked up two one-run wins over Sylvan Hills Tuesday night in Cabot.
The Cabot Centennial Bank senior and junior American Legion teams got away with two, last-inning, one-run victories Tuesday night over Sylvan Hills at Brian Conrad Sports Complex in Cabot. The senior team eked out a 9-8 victory while the junior team came back from a 6-1 deficit to notch a 7-6 win.
Cabot’s Chip Morris started on the mound and threw four innings of solid ball, but reliever Jeff Brown came in for the final inning to get the win.
Cabot coach Jay Darr was pleased with both his hurlers Tuesday night.
“Chip did well,” Darr said. “He got into a little trouble here and there, but overall I think he did ok. He’s growing up quickly for us.”
Brown has little experience at this level, but the Cabot coach is very excited about the future for Tuesday night’s reliever.
“We’re expecting some big things for Jeff Brown,” Darr said.
Tuesday’s games were played on a time limit due to some players still taking finals over the last week of school, so the last-inning heroics came in the fifth.
After striking out the first Cabot batter of the inning, the Bruin pitching went wild, and the next three batters drew walks from two different Sylvan Hills pitchers.
That brought three-hole hitter Matt Evans to the plate with one out. He lined a single to right-center field to bring home the winning run.
Sylvan Hills got a run for an early lead in the top of the first, but two Cabot runs in the bottom of the inning put the home team on top. After the Bruins tied it in the top of the second, Cabot scored five to take a commanding lead. A walk, two hit batters and three base hits gave the home team a 7-2 lead.
It didn’t last. The Bruins scored four in the third and two in the fourth to take an 8-7 lead.
In all, Cabot picked up eight base hits, including two each from Justin Goff and Tyler Erickson. Erickson had a team-high three RBI in the victory.
The Bruins did Cabot one better in the hits department, tallying nine base knocks. Forrest Harrison, Cody Hattenberg and Chase Imhoff each picking up two hits apiece.
The junior team’s win was even more dramatic. The Bruins jumped out to a3-0 lead in the first inning. Cabot cut into the margin in the second with a single run, but Sylvan Hills answered back with three more in the third to make it 6-1.
After a scoreless fourth and top half of the fifth, Cabot bats came alive. Trent Frizzle got a runner in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. A base hit and a walk loaded them up with no outs.
Devon Burk then roped a line drive, but roped it right to the Bruin second baseman for the first out. Aaron McKenzie then hit a grounder to second base.
The Bruin second baseman had some trouble scooping it up. The Bruin infield made the play at second, but wasn’t in time to turn the double play while Cabot sent the game winning run across the plate.
Adam Hicks got the win on the mound for the junior Centennial team, which improved to 2-1 on the season. The senior team is now 2-2. Both teams will be in action Monday at home against Little Rock Continental.
