Drawing blanks

Drawing blanks

Toppers post second- andthird consecutive shutouts

Sports Editor

The Marion Toppers scored early and often to beat the Memphis Homeschool Association Eagles last night at John Robbins Field.

Riding a wave of momentum that comes with five consecutive wins, including a three-game tournament run at the Paragould Invitational over the weekend, the Toppers overwhelmed their visitors, sweeping a doubleheader 15-0, using just three innings to clinch that win, and followed up with a thrilling 1-0 five-inning victory in the nightcap.

It was the third consecutive shutout spun by Marion pitching, dating back to a 2-0 victory over Paragould in Thursday night’s tournament final. The Toppers pitching staff has not been scored upon in its past 18 innings.

“We had a great weekend swinging the bat and I thought we carried it over into tonight,” said Marion Toppers head coach Junior Weaver. “Tonight was fun because we scored a bunch of runs and backed (Parker) Benson on the hill.”

Benson was the beneficiary of the 15-run scoring bonanza as Marion’s starting pitcher, but he held up his end of the bargain, as well. The West Memphis Christian right-hander faced the minimum nine batters against Memphis Homeschool and spun a nohitter, his second of the summer.

The Toppers got after it early and often, scoring nine times in the first inning. At one point, nine consecutive Toppers reached safely, and all nine scored.

The big blow was a tworun double by designated hitter Matt Fraser, who gave Marion a 6-0 lead with just one out.

The hosts picked up an unearned run in the second when Nolan Smith reached on an error and scored on a Kollin Stone single.

The third inning was an offensive clinic as the Toppers marched nine batters to plate to score five times, while never getting tagged with an out.

Blake Daniels’ two-run home run to right-center field was the slugging first baseman’s second big fly of the summer.

The win improved Marion’s record to 23-4-1 overall in 2016, which is also its best mark of the year.

“That’s great for some guys who have come a long way,” Weaver said of his team’s robust winning percentage. “Trying to learn to play the game at an advanced high level and understand the game within the game, because there’s a lot that these kids didn’t know that they didn’t know. We’re worlds ahead of where we were on May 28, when we started this. We’re light years ahead.”

The 15-0 verdict was Marion’s third win against Memphis Homeschool this summer, along with another two lopsided victories, but the five-inning nightcap was a thriller all the way.

The Eagles and Toppers battled through three-anda- half scoreless innings before Marion broke through when Fraser drove in Nick Alsbrook with a single that would double as the game’s only run.

Marion made a bid to push ahead 2-0, but Fraser was thrown out at home following a Bryce Logan base hit. Nolan Smith picked up the win in the second game, spinning five innings and allowing four hits.

“That’s always significant when your pitching can shut down hitters,” Weaver said of his team’s string of tossing zeroes on the board. “They started a guy in the second game that I’m sitting here wondering why he didn’t start the first game? It was coming out of his hand pretty good. Those are guys we want to face, guys with some velocity and experience.”

The Toppers will host Armorel American Legion tonight at 5:30 in what will be their final home game of the summer and last outing until July 7 when they open their run at the Little Rock Catholic Rocket Summer Showcase.

By Chuck Livingston