MONTICELLO, Ark. (4/27/23) – Junior pitcher Ervin Rivera spun a complete-game gem and Warren’s top five hitters recorded all of the hits and RBIs as the Lumberjacks triumphed over rival Monticello by a score of 6-2 Thursday evening.
The Jacks finish the regular season with an 8-9 record and 5-7 mark in 4A-8 Conference play, while the Billies fall to 14-10 overall and 5-6 in league play with one more game to go.
By Dennen Cuthbertson
Saline River Chronicle Contributor
This Lumberjack Baseball game report is brought to you by:
Warren started the game quickly after two walks and a hit loaded the bases with one out for Bryson Harris. The sophomore designated hitter fell behind 0-2, but fouled several pitches off before swatting a run-scoring single. However, a strikeout and pickoff sent the game to the bottom of the first with Warren ahead 1-0.
Monticello didn’t score in the first and retired Warren in order in the second inning. The Billies recorded a one-out single in the bottom of the second frame, but the runner was eventually caught stealing third base by Jude Cathey. However, a walk and a steal preceded a two-out base knock that tied the contest at 1-1.
The Orange and Black wasted little time in retaking the lead as Nathan Spears singled and Kolby Pope walked to set up Maddox Lassiter in the third inning. The senior delivered with a two-run double he ripped past the first baseman down the right-field line to put the Jacks back in front 3-1. However, Lassiter was left stranded to end the threat and Monticello pushed across a run in the bottom half on a sacrifice fly to get within 3-2.
The top of the fourth began with a walk by Ren Reep and sacrifice bunt by Cathey to advance Reep to second. Spears singled to put runners on the corners for Pope and the sophomore fell behind 0-2, but ripped an RBI single to center field to score Reep to put Warren ahead 4-2. Lassiter followed with a run-scoring hit to extend the lead to 5-2 and Delfino Rivera capped the scoring with a perfectly executed safety squeeze to make the score 6-2.
Those three insurance runs proved to not be needed by Ervin Rivera as he only allowed three baserunners the rest of the contest and Warren cruised to the 6-2 victory. His complete game made him the Greg Harton Shelter Insurance Player of the Game. He allowed two runs on four hits with four strikeouts against two walks and only gave up one hit, one walk, and one hit batter in the final four frames of the contest.
Lassiter led Warren at the plate with 4-for-4 effort and three RBIs that was a worthy consideration for the Player of the Game award. His four hits accounted for half of the Orange and Black’s base knocks during the game and he had the only extra base hit with a two-run double in the third.
Spears was productive out of the leadoff spot with two hits, a walk, and three runs scored. Pope followed Spears in the order with a solid game as well as the shortstop registered an RBI single, walk, sacrifice bunt, and two runs scored. Harris had the Jacks’ other hit and an RBI along with two intentional walks. Delfino Rivera drove in the other run for Warren with his sacrifice bunt on a safety squeeze.