MID-AMERICA BASEBALL

Ozark Baseball Club holds off Arkansas Prospects Menard

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas Prospects Menard team has held its own playing against older competition this summer, but could not muster enough offense Friday afternoon in its opening game in the Mid-America Baseball Showcase.

Pitcher Langdon Simpkins held the Arkansas team scoreless through the first five innings, then pitched out of trouble in the sixth to lead the Ozark Baseball Club to a 4-2 win at Baum Stadium.

Ozark Baseball Club 4, Arkansas Prospects Menard 2

Ozark Baseball Club^002^200^—^4^6^1

Arkansas Prospects Menard^000^002^—^2^6^1

Simpkins and Tucker; Wickes, Hreha (5) and Pinkett. W-Simpkins. L-Wickes. HRs-None.

Simpkins, a Drury signee, got Greyson Pinkett to ground out to the first basemen with runners on second and third to end the game, which was called after six innings because of a time limit.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander from Reed Springs, Mo., kept the Prospects off-balance through the first five innings, not allowing more than one base runner in an inning. However, the Arkansas team started the sixth with three consecutive hits, including an RBI single by Jack Strohs.

Logan Easley of Rogers Heritage hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field to pull the Prospects, which includes players from central and Northwest Arkansas, within 4-2. Clean-up hitter Paxton Wallace of Greenbrier walked and stole second base to put runners at second and third. But Simpkins got Pinkett for the final out.

Ozark coach Mike Essick, whose team includes mostly players from Ozark High School near Springfield, Mo., said Simpkins has been strong for his club all summer.

"He struggled there in that last inning, but I thought he was pretty sharp today," Essick said. "We took off last weekend so it's been about eight or nine days since he threw. He's thrown well all summer. He's a good one."

Simpkins picked up the complete-game victory. He allowed two runs on six hits, while striking out one, walking one and also hitting a batter.

"We had big opportunities to bust this thing open and couldn't come up with the big hit, but that's baseball. We scratched for what we got and they helped us once."

The Missouri team pushed across two runs in the third inning and two more in the fourth against Arkansas Prospects starter Jordan Wicks of Conway.

Ozark scored in the third when Cole Smith was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, then added another on a double play ball for a 2-0 lead. It scored two more one just one hit, aided when the Prospects shortstop couldn't handle an underhanded flip that could have resulted in a double play.

Arkansas Prospects coach Andy Menard, whose team includes mostly 15- and 16-year-olds, acknowledged his team struggled offensively, but also was without a key player.

"Their pitcher did a good job, kept hitter off-balance and worked down in the zone," Menard said. "You tip your hat. Our third baseman was not here. Our three-hole hitter. He was attending a funeral. It changes the dynamics of our infield. But the next guy's got to be ready to go."

Sports on 07/11/2015

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