Cards start hot before slipping to Cats

MALVERN – The Harmony Grove Cardinals returned to the diamond Thursday in tournament action in Magnet Cove, but slipped to Conway’s junior varsity 6-3.

The loss snapped a twogame winning streak.

The Cardinals jumped in front early in the first, taking a 3-0 lead on two doubles, two errors and a single.

Cole Gunter crossed for the first tally, scoring on an error with no outs in the opening frame.

Hunter Hawkins would quickly make it 3-0 Cardinals with a 2-run single two hitters later. A double play, though, would end the threat for Harmony Grove.

Conway began chipping away in the bottom of the first, scoring on a dropped third strike with two outs.

Still down 3-1 in the second, Conway tacked on another run via sacrifice fly to make it 3-2.

The fourth inning would prove detrimental for Harmony Grove as Conway

took advantage of four straight hits after back-toback strikeouts to start the inning.

The Cats would tie the contest at 3-3 on an RBI double before taking the 5-3 lead on a 2-run single a batter later.

Conway added its final run in the sixth, scoring on an error by the Cardinals to make it 6-3.

Harmony Grove had

chances, but only mustered three runners total in the final three innings.

Dax Hammett led the Cardinals with two hits, followed by five others with a hit each.

Isaac Patterson started and threw five innings, getting touched up for six total runs on five hits. He would strike out eight and walk another in the loss.

Hammett closed the contest on the hill, throwing a perfect frame while striking out the side.

Harmony Grove moves to 4-6 on the young season.