Strong pitching has Bentonville on verge of title game
!"The All-Stars have struck out 27 batters in two games at the Babe Ruth 15-yearold North Arkansas State Tournament.
Posted: July 27, 2009 at 7:39 a.m.
SPRINGDALE — Bentonville All-Stars head coach Kevin Swartwood knew his baseball team had good pitching.
The performance on the mound this weekend, however, has been great. Bentonville had another solid performance Sunday, defeating Springdale 6-2 at the Babe Ruth 15-year-old North Arkansas State Tournament at the Tyson Complex in Springdale.
The victory puts Bentonville at 2-0 in the double-elimination tournament and sends the All-Stars to the winner's bracket final today at 2 p.m. where they'll face District 3 champ Mountain Home, an 11-1 winner against Siloam Springs on Sunday.
The loser today will play an elimination game tonight at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the tournament championship game Tuesday at 5 p.m. The tournament champion earns an automatic bid to the Babe Ruth Southwest Regional Tournament that beginsAug. 6 at the James Butts Complex in Siloam Springs.
Right-hander Trace Craig didn't give up an earned run in Sunday's win and struck out 10 batters in seven innings. His complete-game gem came on the heels of Friday's start by Sakel Peak.
Peak struck out 15 batters in six innings during a 7-1 win against Osceola.
"And even in that game the reliever we brought in to pitch the seventh (Craig Salvatore), he struck out two of the three batters he faced," Swartwood said. "I expected to see good (pitching) performances, but I wouldn't say I expected the great performances like they've done so far."
Bentonville, the champion from District 4, built a 4-0 lead through three innings Sunday and cruised. Luke Crenshaw and Zac Killian each drove in two runs. Killian smashed a bases-loaded double to right field to make the score 3-0 in the third inning.
Crenshaw put the All-Stars on the scoreboard early with an RBI double and later walked with the bases loaded for Bentonville's final run in the fifth.
Luke Rouhselang and Josh Bush also drove in runs.
Joey Nemesi, Swartwood said, will start today's game on the mound for Bentonville.
Sports, Pages 6 on 07/27/2009
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