Early struggles hinder Cougars in state tourney loss to Dierks

The Cougars get fired up between innings (Democrat photo/Trent Fletcher) [Click to enlarge]

Dierks struck for seven runs in the first two innings and went on to post a 13-3 five-inning victory over Rector in the first round of the 2A State Baseball Tournament Friday afternoon at Taylor Field in Pine Bluff.

Dierks scored three times in the opening inning when David Boray singled and moved to third on back-to-back walks by Drew Walston and Cody Chandler. Boray and Walston came home on a two-run single off the bat of Justin Simmons before Erik Billings drove in the third run of the inning with an RBI single of his own.

Boray's three-run homer highlighted the Outlaws' four-run second inning, pushing the Dierks lead to 7-0.

Rector threatened in the top of the second when Dalton Shaw doubled, but the Cougars stranded Shaw at second, thwarting the scoring threat.

Dierks picked up another run in the third inning, thanks to a couple of Cougar errors.

Rector came back to score their only three runs of the game in the top of the fourth inning. Daniel Hester provided the big blow of the inning, drilling a two-run double to cut the Outlaw lead to 8-3. It was only the second hit for Rector, and their last of the game.

Dierks came right back with a pair of runs in the fourth inning to go ahead 10-3, stifling what momentum the Cougars picked up in the top of the inning.

The Outlaws put the game away with a three-run fifth. Winning pitcher Cody Chandler knocked in the game-clinching run with an RBI single for the Outlaws.

Mason Knight picked up the loss for the Cougars.

"We were kind of tight at the plate early on," said Rector coach Nathan Henderson. "We finally scored three runs in the third, with a big two-run double from Daniel Hester. But Dierks got two runs back pretty quick. They are just a good ball team. They hit the ball well and made the plays. They are an aggressive team and they took advantage of the mistakes we made. That's pretty well it," said Henderson.

"We are very proud that we made it to state, and we have a good group of kids coming back for next year," continued Henderson. "Eighty-five percent of our innings from our pitchers will be coming back, which is good. I like our chances again," concluded Henderson.