In the first game of a double-header Friday, the White Hall Bulldogs routed the Pine Bluff Zebras at home by a final of 10-2. The second game was scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs wore down the Zebras, creating separation midway through the ball game. White Hall took advantage of five errors committed by Pine Bluff in the bottom of the fourth inning to pull away.
The pitcher’s duel featured Brandon Little of Pine Bluff and Layne Hartsfield of White Hall. Both have had better days, but Hartsfield was able to do just enough to keep the Zebras in line. On the other hand, things got out of hand for Little in the bottom of the fourth, forcing Pine Bluff Head Coach Ryan Stinson to go with a reliever.
In the bottom of the second, Jordan Gober recorded White Hall’s first hit of the game. Outfielder Ollie Reddick then followed up with an RBI single to put the Bulldogs ahead by one.
The Zebras quickly responded by using two White Hall errors to net their first run. After Hartsfield walked Wesley Hunt, he attempted to pick Hunt off at first, but the ball was overthrown, allowing him to advance to third. Then, a wild pitch allowed Hunt to score cleanly from third to knot the score.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
In the top of the fourth, the Zebras had a chance to do damage with the bases loaded, but Hartsfield got the Bulldogs out of trouble with two consecutive KOs.
Little responded with two KOs of his own, and it seemed like Pine Bluff would retire the side quickly. However, the errors began to pile up for Pine Bluff, and White Hall reeled off seven runs. It began with an HBP; after that, Little walked two consecutive batters to load the bases. Then a wild pitch allowed the Bulldog runner to score from third with Hartsfield on deck to bat. Hartsfield is one of White Hall’s best hitters, so Stinson elected to intentionally walk him. That move would quickly come back to bite the Zebras, though.
With the bases loaded, Little walked Devon Koonce, forcing the runner from third to come home. Wes Harp then connected for an RBI double that scored two more runs for the Bulldogs. That would be Little’s final pitch of the game, and he was relieved by Xavier Smith.
The onslaught continued as Jordan Gober welcomed Smith to the ballgame with an RBI single on his first pitch thrown. Then, two errant throws by the Pine Bluff infield allowed White Hall to add two more runs, making the score 8-1.
In the top of the sixth, Pine Bluff’s Kevawn Goins connected for an RBI double, but that wouldn’t be nearly enough, as White Hall wasn’t done. The Bulldogs responded with two runs after an RBI by Braden Croft to take an eight run advantage.
Hartsfield pitched a full seven innings, throwing five KOs while giving up seven hits and two runs.