Mounties pull away from Van Buren

Rogers High flirted with big innings during the initial three frames of Monday's games but didn't break through early. That changed quickly in the fourth inning. Rogers used a nine-hit, nine-run fourth inning to help pull away against Van Buren in a 15-0 victory in a 7A-West Conference matchup at the Field of Dreams. "When you come here, you know it's going to be a fight," Rogers coach Matt Melson said. "But it kind of snowballed on them this time. I really respect what coach David Loyd does here with his program at Van Buren. This was just our day." Rogers was able to score a lone run in the first three innings of the game but left five runners on base. Van Buren starter Trevor Johnson was able to pitch out of the jams. But his pitch count was rising quickly, having 42 after two innings of work. The Mounties were able to develop the big inning they were looking for in the critical fourth inning. "We saw a lot of pitches early," Melson said. "Even during the first three innings when we only scored one, we hit it well. We worked deep into counts and battled. I think the first three innings set up that big inning." Rogers (13-4, 6-1 7A-West) had all but one hitter in its batting order score during the fourth inning. The Mounties were able to put together five consecutive hits to open the frame, including two extra-base hits. Jay Watson helped cap the scoring outburst with a two-run home run to give Rogers a 10-0 lead heading into the fifth inning against Van Buren (13-2, 4-1). "We kind of ran into a buzzsaw there in the fourth inning," Loyd said. "We had a good game going. You have to give them credit they lined up at the plate and competed." Rogers added to its lead in the fifth, using three hits to score five more runs to make it 15-0. Jaden Uecker came off the bench to plate the final runs of the inning with a three-run double to clear the bases. The Mounties were able to get offensive production from each of their batting order, as all nine scored at least a run in the game. Brandon Husted and Colin McWhorter led the team with three hits each. McKayden Templeton and Uecker each finished with a team-high three RBIs. Van Buren had its scoring chances against Templeton while he was on the mound, but he was able to escape without allowing a run in his four innings of work. Templeton was able to strand six runners in the game. The loss for Van Buren snapped a 10-game winning streak and an undefeated start to conference play. The series between two of the top teams in the 7A-West standings continues today when Van Buren travels to Rogers looking to bounce back on the road. Rogers High 15, Van Buren 0 Rogers High^001^95^--^15^16^1 Van Buren^000^000^0^--^0^4^0

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Van Buren High School Athletics

MOUNTIES PULL AWAY FROM VAN BUREN

HAROLD MCILVAIN

Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette | 4/10/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Van Buren High School Athletics