Marion gets on the board

Marion gets on the board

Pats take twinbill at Tilden Rodgers

WM School District With the frustration mounting and the season nearing the mid-April point, Marion baseball coach Daniel Kelly felt Tuesday was the perfect time for his team to break out of an Oh-for-17 campaign.

The Patriots got a gutsy complete-game effort from game 1 starter Peyton Moore for a 7-3 victory over West Memphis and then Marion rallied from a 7-6 deficit in the sixth inning for a 10-7 win in the nightcap at Tilden Rodgers Complex.

'We've had opportunities (for wins) a few times this season and we just couldn't get over the top,' said Kelly. 'We've just been kind of our own worst enemies. But tonight was a positive outing for us.'

In the opener, the Pats staked Moore to a 6-0 lead after two innings and the Marion hurler cruised for the most part, changing 2 RBI, Blakeleigh Garrison checking in with 2-2 day capped by 3 runs and an RBI and Destiny King was hit by a pitch and struck an RBI double while also scoring two times.

It was the last meeting between the two schools as members of the blended 7A/6A-East conference.

Next season the two schools will still be conference rivals, but in a newlook speeds and keeping the Blue Devils (4-13) on their front feet all afternoon.

'P-Mo is rounding into form real nicely,' Kelly said of Moore. 'He was slow out of the gate, but his last four starts he hasn't given up more than three or four runs.'

The Patriots clipped West Memphis starter Curtis Washington for an unearned run in the first inning when lead-off hitter Heath Stephenson, who reached base four times, was safe on an error. He came around on Ben Vaughn's RBI single.

Marion batted around in a five-run second, paced by RBI hits from Hayden Hodge, Jackson Wiggins and Vaughn.

Moore showed signs of wear late, despite a comfy 7-1 lead.

The Blue Devils reached him for a pair of runs in the seventh despite only one hit, that by Austin Sudbury.

West Memphis got only five hits off Moore, two of which came from Nick Allsbrook.

In the nightcap, Marion ran out to a 4-0 lead before 6A/5A district for every sport, except for football.

“It’s a fun game. It gives us a reason to play, it’s great for the town and all of the fans and stuff gets really into it,” said Tolleson, who has been a part of the West Memphis rivalry on the volleyball court and on the softball field.

West Memphis will host the Blue Devils tied it.

Marion held a 6-4 lead in the fourth inning when West Memphis nicked Peyton Steele for three runs.

Tyler Thorn led off with a double, followed by walks to Lance Burch and Sudbury. Hayden Spears plated the first run with a sacrifice fly and the other two scored on Marion throwing errors.

With West Memphis reliever Conner Allen rolling through the Patriot lineup, he experienced some arm soreness and he was pulled in favor of Burch. That's when Marion rallied.

In the Marion sixth, Hodge led off with a walk and he advanced to second on a wild pitch. Wiggins singled him home for the tying run. Vaughn, who got the pitching win in relief, plugged the gap in leftcenter for a two-run double to put the Pats on top for good.

'We haven't quit all season,' Kelly added. 'I'm very proud of them today for coming back like that.'

Little Rock Central on Tuesday in a 7A-East showdown that will have state tournament implications. That game will start at 4:30 p.m.

Marion is scheduled to travel to play Greene County Tech on Thursday afternoon before hosting Mountain Home on Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.

By Billy Woods