The Benton Courier

Benton legion splits doubleheader

By Tony Lenahan tlenahan@bentoncourier.com

BENTON – After splitting a doubleheader with Arkadelphia this past Monday, the Benton Panther Junior American Legion 16U ball club split another doubleheader on Thursday with White Hall Relyance Bank at Bernard Holland Park in Benton. Falling in a close 5-4 decision in their first game against Arkadelphia, the Panthers won the second game 14-1 Monday and carried over their domination Thursday in the first game of the DH, beating White Hall 14-2 before falling 7-2 in the nightcap.

Down 1-0 to White Hall in the first game Thursday, the Panthers (9-8-1) exploded with a 6-spot in the bottom of the first frame to take a commanding lead. Benton leadoff man Blake Pigue reached on an infield single and went to second and third on different wild pitches before Sawyer Bennett walked. Bennett stole second before Will Wright knocked both runners in with a single to right field for the 2-1 lead and Benton never looked back.

Logan Hope followed with a single to put two on for Jake Herbner. Herbner hit a 3-run home run to left field for the 5-1 advantage before two walks and an RBI single by Jake Burks made it a 6-1 Benton lead after one.

A scoreless second ensued before the Panthers put the game out of reach in the third, all with two outs. A strikeout and fly out started the bottom of the third, but Benton would end up batting around. Noah Roberson singled and Burks walked before Noah McNamee doubled in a run, followed by Pigue’s 2-run single to make it a

9-1 game. A walk to Sawyer Bennett followed before Wright knocked in one with a single, followed by Hope’s 2-run triple for the 12-1 lead. Herbner and Ethan Busch followed with RBI doubles for the 14-1 lead after four frames.

White Hall would get a run on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth, but that would be it for the 14-2 final.

Benton outhit White Hall 12-4 with Herbner doing the most damage at the plate with his 3-run homer, finishing 2 for 3 with two runs and four RBIs. Wright went 2 for 2 with two runs and three RBIs, with Pigue and Hope both going 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs. Burks and McNamee both went 1 for 1 with a run and RBI, with Roberson adding a hit in the win.

On the mound, starter Hope and reliever Cole McKinley had identical lines. Both gave up one run on two hits and a walk, striking out three in two innings pitched each.

Relyance Bank took the second contest 7-2, putting up five runs in the top of the

third to pull away.

Benton managed three hits, with McNamee 1 for 2 with an RBI, with Herbner and McKinley adding one apiece.

On Monday, Benton fell 5-4 in the first game before again exploding in the second, pounding out 14 hits in a 14-1 win. Herbner homered again and finished 2 for 3 with a double, two runs and three RBIs, with Burks and McKinley both 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Roberson and Sawyer Chandler (RBI) both went 2 for 3 with two runs, with

Wright 2 for 3 with a run and RBI.

Wright started on the mound and gave up one run on four hits and four walks, striking out two in three innings. McKinley struck out the side in a 1-2-3 fourth inning to finish it.

In the 5-4 defeat, Herbner had another good game at the plate, going 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Wright went 2 for 2 with two runs, with Pigue and Roberson adding a hit each.

The Panthers are back in action Tuesday in North Little Rock at Burns Park before beginning the Junior American Legion Area Tournament on July 11 in Hot Springs.

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2022-07-03T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-07-03T07:00:00.0000000Z

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