The Van Buren Pointers didn’t miss a beat in their 2019 season opener.

Noah Lipe hit a three-run homer and Connor Johnson pitched a two-hit shutout in the Pointers’ 11-0 win over Booneville in the first round of the PBR Tournament.

Johnson also struck out 11, walked one and threw just 88 pitches in six solid innings of work.

Lipe, Landry Wilkerson, Seth Humphrey and Grant Shankle had two hits apiece for the winners. Wilkerson scored three times.

Humphrey and Dakota Peters drove in two runs.

Mikey Hesson went three innings, allowing one earned run run in three innings for the Bearcats.

Johnson was hit by a pitch and Shankle drew a four-pitch walk to open the sixth. Lipe followed with a home run to extend the lead to 9-0.

Van Buren 8, Greenwood 1


Trevor Johnson struck out 11 and allowed three hits and no earned runs Monday as the Pointers beat Greenwood, 8-1, in the PBR Tournament.

Johnson also drove in the Pointers’ first run. Landry Wilkerson, who scored three runs in the opener, scored twice and drove in a run for the Pointers (2-0).

Bryce Waters had two hits and scored a run. Jackson Hurst added an RBI double.

Landry Jureka was tagged with the loss. Greenwood pitchers allowed just two earned runs over six innings.