Blue Devils fall to Wynne

Blue Devils fall to Wynne

AWM back at home on Friday against Forrest City

WM School District The West Memphis baseball Blue Devils made up eight runs in a week’s time as they played their home opener Monday at Tilden Rodgers Complex.

Wynne drubbed the Blue Devils 11-1 in a benefit game last week, which won’t count on the regularseason record. On Monday, the Blue Devils brought solid pitching and defense but this time fell just 3-1 to the Yellowjackets.

Senior Trevor Wise, the starting pitcher, worked five innings and yielded only three hits, giving up two runs, one of which was tainted. Wise also got some dazzling glove work from center fielder Pookie McGee, who made a diving catch and Connor Allen, who backed up a play in the outfield and gunned down a Wynne runner at second.

“We came out and made the plays you're supposed to make and when you do that you give yourself a chance to stay in the game,” said West Memphis interim head coach Jonathan Crymes. “We also had two spectacular plays.”

Wynne scored a cheap run off Wise in the first inning off only one hit, a double down the third-base line to put runners at second and third with no outs. Wise was able to escape the jam with only minimal damage as catcher Taylor Roeder forced the lead runner at third on a sacrifice bunt attempt for the first out.

McGee then followed with his diving grab, which saved at least one run, and then Wise induced the next hitter to ground weakly to first base.

Wise also worked out of another jam in the second with no runs scoring, despite the bases being full with two outs.

The Blue Devils (0-2) had a chance to at least tie the game in the seventh when they got the right hitter at the plate in junior shortstop Nick Alsbrook, with runners at first and second and two outs. Alsbrook got a good swing on a fastball and lofted a fly to deep right-center to end the game.

“We want Nick up to bat in that situation and I guarantee the next time he comes up in that situation it’ll be a different outcome,” Crymes added. “He’ll succeed in that situation more times than not.”

By Billy Woods