By By Brian Craig Robinson / staff writer
August 3, 2002
JPRD East (La.) methodically disposed of a determined El Dorado (Ark.) squad by demonstrating sound fundamental skills to take a 7-2 win in the 2002 Babe Ruth 14-Year-Old Southwestern Regional.
El Dorado drew first blood in the top of the second by playing little ball. Brette Pittard slapped a lead-off single to left field and later stole second to reach scoring position. Mason McCurdy showed discipline at the plate by working the count, eventually moving the runner to third on a slow bouncer to the shortstop. Pete Miller was retired, but plated McCurdy on a ball fisted in-between the mound and second base to make it 1-0.
After a strike out to began the bottom of the third, Jefferson's Ryan Scott battled back from an 0-2 count to earn first base via a walk. Brett Arcardo followed with a single to left to put runners on first and second with one out. With the pitch count rising, Cannon Lester retired Duboc on a screamer to left, but Jacob Kreiter drove a ball to the wall for a double. Matt Mann continued the onslaught by putting a charge into the baseball, plating two more runs on a double to make it 3-1.
Louisiana erupted for two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, fueled by aggressive baserunning which pressed the South Arkansas defense causing two errors. South Arkansas showed character by igniting a rally in the top of the sixth. The El Dorado team capitalized on a hit batsman and passed ball when Tyler Anglin singled, scoring Arkansas' second run to draw the game closer at 5-2.
With the game seemingly in hand, due to two insurance runs being plated by Louisiana in the bottom of the sixth, South Arkansas summoned their inner strength for one more attempt at victory.
JPRD East moves into the winners bracket and gets a day off. Jefferson will play at 2 p.m. Sunday against the winner of Saturday's Meridian-Nederland game.
El Dorado moves into the losers bracket and plays at 5 p.m. today in an elimination game against the loser of today's 11 a.m. game between Nederland and Meridian.