HARRISON -- The River Valley Tropics came out swinging Friday evening in the American Legion AA State Tournament, pounding out 11 hits to easily defeat the Hot Springs Lakeside Rams 8-0 in the opening round on Jack Williams Field at the Community First Bank Sports Complex.
River Valley (24-7), which is based in Clarksville but features players from several schools in that area, watched as its first six batters of the game were retired before Taylor Moudy led off the top of the third with a double to get the offense going.
American Legion Baseball
AA State Tournament
At Harrison
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
River Valley 8, Lakeside 0
Sheridan 8, Gravette 4
Harrison , Jonesboro
Maumelle , Hot Springs Village
TODAY’S GAMES
Lakeside vs. Harrison/Jonesboro loser, 11 a.m.
Gravette vs. Maumelle/HS Village loser, 11 a.m.
River Valley vs. Harrison/Jonesboro winner, 1:30 p.m.
Sheridan vs. Maumelle/HS Village winner 1:30 p.m.
Losers’ bracket semifinals, 4 p.m.
Winners’ bracket final, 7 p.m.
When it was all over, River Valley finished with eight runs -- all earned -- on 11 hits, five of which were for extra bases.
"We've had a pretty good season at the plate," River Valley Coach Brandt Tencleve said. "We didn't get off to a great start like we always want to, but we settled down and got some good hits. We got them from up and down our lineup, too."
Moudy, the No. 7 hitter for the Tropics, delivered his double to lead off the third and scored the Tropics' first run that inning when he came home on a groundout by Chance Stines.
Brandon Wolksi, the winning pitcher for River Valley, doubled the Tropics' advantage when he smacked a home run with two outs in the top of the fourth. Eric James followed with a single and scored on Moudy's second double of the game to make it 3-0.
After going down in order in the fifth, the Tropics put two more runs on the board in the top of the sixth. Brian Hawkins led off with an infield single and Layton Robinson walked. With one out, Wolski delivered his second big hit of the night when he doubled down the third-base line to score both runners.
That hit also chased Lakeside starter Johnathan Barmore. Reliever Andrew Spakes retired the next two batters, but River Valley had built its lead to 5-0 already.
The Tropics finished off the game with three more runs in the top of the seventh. Max Higgins led off with a single and Kamron Hurst walked with one out. With two outs, Robinson cranked a double into the left-field corner to drive in both runners and later scored on a single by Jace Hudson for an 8-0 lead.
Lakeside had seven runners in the game but could not generate enough hits to cut into the lead. The closest the Rams came to scoring was in the bottom of the sixth when Chase Willingham singled and eventually made his way to third.
Wolfski went five innings to pick up the victory. He allowed just 2 hits while striking out 6 and walking 1. Relievers Dyllanger Choate and Higgins combined for 2 innings, allowing no runs on 3 hits and striking out 1.
"Wolfski has been our ace all season, and usually when he is on we play pretty well," Tencleve said. "Our defense was also pretty solid behind him today. I can't remember us making any big mistakes."
All five of Lakeside's hits were singles, two by Willingham.
River Valley 001 202 3 -- 8 11 0
Lakeside 000 000 0 -- 0 5 0
Wolski, Choate (6), Higgins (7) and Moudy; Barmore, Spakes (6), O'Keefe (7) and Willingham. W -- Wolski. L -- Barmore. HR -- Wolski.
Sports on 07/26/2014