SPRINGDALE -- Springdale Har-Ber didn't waste a fine pitching performance this time.
Gus Vitt lined a two-out, RBI single to right field in the seventh inning to give Har-Ber a 2-1 victory over Rogers Wednesday in 7A/6A-West Conference play at the Tyson Complex. Vitt's clutch hit backed the pitching of Brady Patrick and Kirt Phillips, who combined to limit Rogers to two hits.
Game 1
How They Scored
Springdale Har-Ber 2,
Rogers 1
Rogers^100^000^0^—^1^3^2
Springdale Har-Ber^000^010^1^—^2^4^1
Gentz and Ivey; Patrick, Phillips (5) and Mitchell. WP - Phillips LP - Sallee HRs - None.
Game 2
How They Scored
Springdale Har-Ber 2, Rogers 0
Rogers^000^000^0^—^0^6^1
Springdale Har-Ber^010^010^x^—^0^8^1
Farnan and Ivey; Rogers and Mitchell. WP - Rogers. LP - Farnan. HR - Kimbel.
The Mounties scored an unearned run in the first after leadoff batter Tim Seldonridge reached on an error.
Vitt had two singles and made a diving catch in left field for Har-Ber, which lost 6-1 and 4-0 to Fayetteville in a doubleheader last week. The Wildcats managed four hits in the opener against Rogers after getting seven hits and combing for 29 strikeouts in the two losses to Fayetteville.
Har-Ber put the winning run in scoring position after Alex Schemel reached on an error and stole second base with one out. Zach Stanley struck out for the second out before Vitt delivered the game-winner on a 3-1 pitch from Derek Sallee.
"Vitt played a real solid game for us," Har-Ber coach Randy Salsbury said. "He's a senior and when he gets that kid of opportunity, he'll do that for you."
Patrick, who pitched into the seventh inning against Fayetteville, allowed two hits and walked one in four innings against Rogers. He was replaced by Phillips, who allowed one hit in three innings to earn the victory.
"Brady didn't have the game he did against Fayetteville, but he got some key outs for us," Salsbury said. "Philips did really good but he's kind of in early-season form because of some injuries. He's gotten healthy and he's going to help us a lot."
Nolan Farnan had an RBI single in the first inning for Rogers and that lead held up until the fifth when Har-Ber tied the game. Patrick hit a one-out triple against Brett Gentz and scored on a wild pitch with two outs. Zach Stanley followed with a double and Matt Kimbel lined out following an intentional walk to Vitt.
"They broke through after a big triple and that was a big play in the game," Rogers coach Matt Melson said. "We had a disappointing day offensively and, unfortunately, we had that miscue in the seventh that led to a run. We failed to lay down a couple of bunts. If we had executed better, we wouldn't have had to worry about (the error) in the seventh."
Game 2
Matt Kimbel hit a home run in the second inning to help Har-Ber complete a doubleheader sweep over Rogers.
Weston Rogers threw a complete-game shutout to earn the victory over Nolan Farnan for Rogers. Rogers allowed six hits and struck out 11.
The victory moved Har-Ber (18-6, 5-5) past Rogers (10-11, 4-6) in the league stands.
Sports on 04/24/2014