No rust for Toppers in opener

No rust for Toppers in opener

Marion plays big doubleheader today in Little Rock

Sports Editor It had been 11 days since the Marion Toppers had played an actual baseball game, but you couldn’t tell it yesterday afternoon.

Playing its first game of at least three at the Little Rock Catholic Rocket Summer Showcase at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the Toppers struck for five runs in the top of the first and coasted to a 13-0 win to move to 26-4-1 in 2016.

Marion pounded out 13 hits in the game, including three-hit performances from Gavin Stone (3-4, 3 runs), Blake Daniels (3-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Nick Alsbrook (3-4, 2 runs, RBI) and Kollin Stone (34, 2 runs RBI).

That offensive explosion was more than enough for right-hander Parker Benson, who went four innings, allowing six hits and striking two batters out. Left-hander Price Watson hurled a perfect final inning for Marion with a strikeout.

Gavin Stone started the action early on when he singled to start the game and scored on a Daniels hit.

Daniels would come around on an error and Alsbrook scored on a Nolan Smith hit. Smith was plated on a Kollin Stone triple, and Stone scored on a Trent Johns hit for a 5-0 lead.

That was the advantage until the third when Marion tacked on its sixth run when Kollin Stone scored on a Matt Fraser sacrifice fly.

A Blake Daniels ground out scored Gavin Stone in the fourth for a 7-0 lead.

Fraser would score on a wild pitch, Gavin Stone came home on a Daniels triple and Alsbrook scored Daniels for a 10-0.

That lead grew to 12-0 when Kollin Stone singled to score Alsbrook and Evin Cooper came across on a Peyton McElroy double.

Marion has an opportunity to clinch a first-round bye in the knockout round if it splits its two games today.

In the lid-lifter, they face Arkansas Express before moving to the historic Lamar Porter Field to play El Sticks at 3:45.

The elimination round will begin Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

By Chuck Livingston