WMCS explodes, sweeps home DH against DeSoto

WMCS explodes, sweeps home DH against DeSoto

Holloway spins threeinning perfect game in

nightcap

Sports Editor Just a few minutes after his team completed a varsity doubleheader sweep of DeSoto County Christian, second-year West Memphis Christian head coach Gary Cordell was asked if he was surprised that his roster of 10 Black Knights were able to take down wins of 18-0 and 120 at Tilden Rodgers Park.

“Well, yes,” said Cordell with a smile.

He had plenty to smile about. His team had scored 30 runs, while also getting a pair of shutout wins from starting pitchers Parker Benson and Brady Holloway. Holloway’s performance was a threeinning perfect game.

Those performances helped West Memphis Christian get to 5-5 overall ahead of its district-opening game on Tuesday at Marshall Academy.

“They’re (DeSoto County Christian) young like we were last year,” Cordell explained after his team’s win in the opener. “But I played five 7th-graders myself. We’re young too, and we’ve been playing these bigger schools, and I think it’s helped make us a lot better so far.”

West Memphis Christian wasted no time in getting the offense jump-started against the Angels.

The Black Knights posted a gaudy first inning, sending 18 batters to the plate in that frame, while scoring 15 runs on seven hits, while also being aided by five DeSoto County errors. The first nine West Memphis Christian batters reached base, and scored for a 9-0 lead before the first Black Knight batter was retired.

Following that out, the next six West Memphis Christian batters reached base and scored before an infield fly-out and a rundown got the visitors out of the inning.

In that first inning, Jaiden Ryals (2-2, 3 runs, RBI), Benson (3-3, 3 runs, 2 RBI, 2 stolen bases), Evin Cooper (2-2, 3 runs scored, 3 RBI, 2 stolen bases), Holloway (1-2, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI), Charlie Farr (3-3, 2 runs scored, 3 RBI) and Jacob Phillips (01, 2 runs scored) all scored at least two runs.

While the offense was working overtime, Benson put in some good work on the mound. The freshman pitched all three innings of the run-rule-shortened decision, allowing just a single hit and one walk, while striking seven hitters out.

West Memphis Christian stayed hot at the plate in the second inning, notching three more runs on four hits.

Armed with that 18-0 lead, Benson recorded his only 1-2-3 inning of the day on just eight pitches to clinch the opening win.

Benson was extremely effective in the 4 p.m.

game, but Holloway found a way to be just as effective in the nightcap. The left-handed 7th-grader pitched all three innings and did not allow a baserunner, while also striking out six batters.

He set the tone by striking the side out in the top of the first and his team struck for six runs in the home-half of the frame.

That rally started with lead-off man Jacob Hatcher (0-1, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI) getting hit with a pitch and scoring when Cooper struck out, but reached on a passed ball by the catcher. Benson would score on a Holloway ground-out.

The big hit of the inning was a two-run double off the bat of 7th-grader Garrott Waller for a 6-0 advantage.

Holloway again fanned the side in the top of the second, facing just one full count in the frame.

The Black Knights added five more runs on in the second. With one out, four consecutive singles plated three of those tallies. Ryals scored on a Benson hit and Cooper chased Benson in with a hit of his own.

First baseman Charlie Farr chased in Cooper and Holloway with a single for a 10-0 lead. Farr came in when Waller reached on a single.

Holloway recorded the next three batters in order on ground-outs and when Hatcher scored the game’s final run on a Cooper single, the lefty had completed a solid start.

“I think it’s important to work ahead on the mound because you don’t want the batters to have the advantage on you,” Cordell explained after the game.

“He threw a good game and Benson pitched well in the opener. They can really throw the ball.”

West Memphis Christian will open district play in Holly Springs, Mississippi against Marshall Academy on Tuesday before hosting the Patriots of Marshall Academy on Thursday at 4 p.m. at Tilden Rodgers Park.

By Chuck Livingston