Marion claims thriller

Marion claims thriller

Pats bust Bombers at John Robbins

Sports Editor MARION — So far in 2016, very little has gone the way of the Marion Patriots.

However, if the team’s past three conference games are any indication, then maybe the worm is beginning to turn.

Marion (3-18 overall, 3-6 7A/6A-East, 1-0 against 6A-East) got a complete game from senior Peyton Moore, and a sixth-inning two-run single from sophomore Designated Hitter Will Skipper that would eventually double as the game’s game-winning hit in a 2-1 victory at John Robbins Field.

“We’ve been hard on ourselves this year in getting the timely hit. We haven’t done that as well. We finally got it today,” said Marion’s fourth-year head coach Daniel Kelley.

Moore has been Marion’s most consistent pitcher all season long, but Skipper is new to the mix. The sophomore did not start the season on Marion’s roster after an offseason back injury shelved him for the first six weeks. He returned to the lineup two weeks ago in Marion’s game against Gosnell, and started his first game last week against West Memphis.

“It feels good to be productive again,” said Skipper, who started at Designated Hitter yesterday.

Following Skipper’s hit, Moore returned to the hill and retired Ben Henderson and Marshall Roberson in order before issuing a walk to Seth Horn ahead of the game’s final out, a fielder’s choice off the bat of Luke Jackson.

“We’re struggling scoring runs. We’ve been that way the past couple of weeks,” said Mountain Home head coach Jim Tejcek after the game. “We had a kid on the mound who threw a fantastic game, and their guy competed too.”

Mountain Home started Ryan Czanstkowski, and he also pitched a complete game and looked good for a shutout until Marion’s late rally.

That rally made a winner out of Moore, who won his second consecutive start, dating back to a 7-3 win against West Memphis last Tuesday at Tilden Rodgers Park.

“We didn’t want to give up at all,” Moore said after the game. “Today, we just wanted to win really bad.”

Moore extended the Marion sixth-inning rally with a ringing single to centerfield that moved Hayden Hodge to third base with just one out.

However, when Tyler Steele struck out, Marion’s scoring opportunity looked to be in peril.

That situation grew even more dire when Czanstkowski got ahead of Skipper 1-2, but Skipper shot one to the right side of the diamond and into right field for a hit that would plate Hodge and courtesy runner Cody Smith with the game’s eventual winning run.

“He’s a good hitter,” said Kelley of Skipper. “Peyton Moore pitched well too.

We got a performance from our pitcher, defensively we limited our errors and then we got a timely hit when we had to have it. I like close games.

I don’t know any other way to coach ‘em.”

In addition to his winning hit yesterday, Skipper also came up with an RBI single against Mountain Home last year that also doubled as the game’s winning run.

So, what is it about Mountain Home that brings out the best in Skipper?

“No idea,” said Skipper with a big smile. “Just hitting against this team, I guess.”

Marion and Mountain Home will play again on Friday in Mountain Home at 4:30 p.m.

By Chuck Livingston