PRAIRIE GROVE -- After receiving the plaque for winning the 4A-1 conference regular season title, the Lincoln Wolves put themselves in position to win the 4A-1 district tournament crown after defeating the Pea Ridge Blackhawks 5-4 in the tournament semifinals held at Prairie Grove's Rieff Park.
The Wolves overcame an early two-run deficit to take a 4-2 lead in the fourth inning, but then watched the 'Hawks score a single run in both the sixth and seventh stanzas to tie the contest at 4-4. Lincoln took advantage of a pair of Pea Ridge miscues to score the winning run in their last at-bat.
The Wolves (16-6) had two potential runs negated by a pair of "suspiciously" close calls that went against them on plays at the plate, including a play in which the Blackhawk catcher dropped the ball on the tag. They also had a "chalk line hugging" bunt called fair for Pea Ridge in the first inning which helped the Blackhawks score two runs in the frame.
However, the Wolves' efforts were rewarded as their persistency helped momentum turn in their favor when they scored a pair of runs after the Blackhawk right fielder "comically" mis-played a fly in the fourth inning, and then when Emilio Marrufo scored the winning run after a fly-ball to shallow left field was dropped by the Pea Ridge player after it seemed like he lost his footing trying to get under the ball.
Wolves' pitcher Tyler Cummings struggled a little in the opening frame, allowing the Blackhawks to tally five hits and score two runs. However, Cummings would find his groove, giving up just four hits and one earned run over the final six frames.
A two-out error helped Pea Ridge score a run in the sixth inning, cutting the lead to 4-3. Then in the top of the seventh stanza, Cummings administered a base-on-balls followed by a Tristen Trundle RBI double which tied the score at 4-4.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Marrufo earned a base-on-balls, then proceeded to move to third base with a steal of second and with an error by the Blackhawks shortstop on the throw to try to get him at second base. After a pair of walks loaded the bases, Maddox stepped to the plate with only one-out in the inning. Maddox lifted a shallow fly-ball to left field which probably would have been too short for Marrufo to tag up, however while settling under the ball the Blackhawk left fielder lost his footing which contributed to the ball popping out of his glove, allowing Marrufo to sprint home for the game-winning run.
Sports on 05/07/2014