The Van Buren Pointers keep finding ways to win baseball games.


The Pointers' Bryson Patrick drew a two-out, bases loaded walk Thursday to score Conner Catron with the winning run as Van Buren defeated Wister, 4-3, to remain unbeaten on the season.

Catron had two hits and raised his season average to .357. He singled to start the seventh. After a sacrifice moved him to second, Ethan Rauser reached on an error and Jeremiah Douglas walked to load the bases. Wildcat pitcher Bryar Ward struck out Evan Jones on three pitches but lost Patrick after running the count full.

The Pointers (4-0) open 7A-West play Monday at Bentonville West.

Trevor Johnson threw one pitch and earned the win in relief of Dalton Reeves. Reeves struck out five and scattered eight hits. He gave way to Johnson after allowing a walk with one in the seventh. Johnson then got Keith McBeth to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the Wildcats' seventh.

Van Buren took a 3-0 lead in the first as Landry Wilkerson, Ethan Holmes and Catron scored. The Wildcats tied the game with three unearned runs in the second.