Several big innings made the difference in a crosstown rivalry game in Pine Bluff on Friday.
The Watson Chapel baseball team defeated Pine Bluff 19-4 at Taylor Field in nonconference action.
Wildcats Coach Brandon Little said his team battled at the plate.
“We took a lot of good approaches today,” Little said. “That’s been our problem here in the past is our approach hasn’t been there. I seen some good swings, seen some good things. We finally got people starting to hit the ball.”
Watson Chapel (4-4) scored five runs in the first inning and three in the second.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The first three Wildcat batters reached base before shortstop Tariq Conner hit a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. Second baseman Kameron Kennedy later hit a two-RBI single, the lone Wildcat hit in the first inning. The first two hitters of the second inning singled, later scoring on errors. Third baseman Bryon Madden drove in a run with a sacrifice fly later in the second.
The Wildcats went on to add a run in the fifth, three in the sixth and seven in the seventh to pull away.
Right fielder Xavier Walker finished with a team-high three RBI. Starting pitcher McErvin Bagby hit 3 for 4 with an RBI and 4 runs, while centerfielder Braylin Washington hit 2 for 3 with an RBI and 4 runs. Every hitter scored at least once. The Wildcats drew 10 walks to go with 10 hits.
Bagby said the Wildcats focused on driving the baseball.
“A lot of people try to lift the ball in the air,” Bagby said. “We just took advantage of the defense we had in front of us, and we just thought line drive and hit the ball on the ground. Keep it simple, and it worked out in our favor. Just keep it simple, drive the baseball, play small ball.”
Pine Bluff (0-9) responded to the early runs with a 3-run bottom of the second. The first five hitters reached base, three of them being hit by pitches with a walk and a bunt single. After two runs scored on bases-loaded hit batters, centerfielder Kylin Simms hit an RBI single to cut Pine Bluff’s deficit to 8-3.
Watson Chapel got out of the inning with an unassisted double play by Madden, who caught a line drive and tagged third base.
The only run the Zebras scored the rest of the game came in the fourth inning. Right fielder Camarion McCoy led off with a triple, then scored on a passed ball.
Bagby pitched 6.2 innings and struck out 14 hitters with two walks and seven hits. He allowed 4 runs, 3 earned. Kennedy took over to record the final out.
Bagby said after the 3-run second inning, he kept his head up and put it behind him.
“It already happened,” Bagby said. “Don’t get mad. Don’t get frustrated. Just keep playing the game. I was feeling pretty confident this game, not any doubt, really. A long as you don’t doubt yourself and believe, anything can happen.”
After the first two innings, Zebras relief pitcher Sedrick Pridgeon retired every hitter in the third and fourth innings to keep the game within reach. He finished his 5.1-inning outing with six strikeouts. First baseman James Ento had the best day at the plate for the Zebras, hitting 2 for 3.