ROGERS — The Rogers Optimist Club American Legion Baseball team walked to victory Wednesday night.
Four different Poteau, Okla. pitchers dished up 11 walks the first two innings as Rogers (21-5) rolled to a 14-4 win at Northwest Park.
The victory gives Rogers some momentum heading into their final two Zone 1 games at Fayetteville Lindsey on Friday and at Mountain Home on Monday. Rogers coach Tony Anderson said a pair of wins should give the team a first-round bye at the Zone 1 Tournament.
“The Fayetteville is a must game and then we have to finish strong against Mountain Home,” Anderson said. “We are trying to get a bye at district. Playing an extra nine innings is not what we want to see at district.”
Wednesday’s game was just five innings as Rogers jumped to a 12-1 lead after two innings en route to a 10-run mercy rule win.
Orin Orlopp, Camdon Myers, and Jacob Kent all drew bases-loaded walks in the first to help give Rogers a 3-0 lead.
Rogers took advantage of five more walks and a two, two-run singles by cleanup hitter Reed Brown in the second inning for the 11-run lead. Rogers sent 14 to the plate in the second.
“Poteau gave us a lot of freebies, and we were able to drive them in,” Anderson said. “That was pretty much the game. Reed has been hitting the ball really well all season. Reed is the most dangerous with men on base. He has been getting a lot of RBIs for us.”
No. 2 batter Zac Stewart also had a two-run single in the Rogers second while three more runs crossed on walks.
“Our top five hitters are really strong, and they have been strong for most of the season,” Anderson said. “Where they go, we go.”
Cameron Besett (3-1) overcame a shaky first inning to go the distance for the win. Besett hit a pair of batters in the first but got out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts. Poteau finished with four hits, including two by Chris Pearson.
“Besett finally settled in and he let the defense go to work,” Anderson said. “He did a good job. We just need to get him some more innings.”