FORT SMITH — A day can make a world of difference and that was apparent for the West Ark American team.
West Ark American exploded for 12 runs, including an eight run second inning, to knock off Gentry 12-3 in five innings at the Southwest Regional Senior Babe Ruth Tournament at Hunts Park.
Chase Anderson started the big second inning with a two run double to right. Kyle Gilbert and Bryan Nevills each had an RBI to push the lead to 4-0. Kobey Welch then added a two run double to give West Ark American a 7-0 advantage. Blake Roley capped the eight run frame with an RBI ground rule double.
“We played a whole lot better and played like we should have,” West Ark American coach Bill Rogers said. “Big innings help and not as many errors this time.”
Gentry tried to make things interesting in the third as Trae Wilkins drove in a run with a triple. Wilkins scored on an error to trim the defi - cit to 8-2 then Josh Sewell cut the West Ark American lead to three as he scored on an error.
“They are a good group of kids,” Gentry coach Bryan Hudson said. “They tried hard all the way to the end. We are a small town, a little team and this is what we got. It was big time for these guys. They got to travel, stay in hotels and it’s not something these country kids do often. It was a lot of fun and I hope it was an experience they can remember their whole lives.”
Welch pushed the West Ark American lead to 10-3 in the fourth with a two-run single to center.
He capped his five RBI day with an RBI single to left in the fifth to set the fi nal margin. Welch fi nished with three hits and reached base in all four of his plate appearances.
Bryan Nevills picked up the win as he pitched fi ve innings while allowing six hits and struck out eight. Nevills allowed just one earned run and needed just eight pitches to record the side in the fourth.
NWA 11, Madisonville 1
Northwest Arkansas used 16 hits to knock off Madisonville at Hunts Park.
Ryan Roughton’s grand slam in the third inning sparked a stretch where NWA scored 10 runs over two innings.
The loss drops Madisonville to just 24-3 on the season.
West Ark National, 8 Bentonville 3
Brady Bradley got the phone call he hoped for a couple of weeks ago. Sunday, he gladly gave back.
Bradley’s bases-loaded double capped a six-run sixth and propelled West Ark National into the finals of the Senior Babe Ruth Southwest Regional Tournament at Goldtrap-Gardner Boys and Girls Club.
West Ark National, which has outscored its first three opponents 35-2, will face Pine Bluff in today’s finals at noon at Hunts Park. West Ark National capped a 4-0 run late Sunday with an 8-3 win over Bentonville.