Sports

Scrappers move to 4-0 March 1, 2005 - Jay Strasner - (Editor)

The Scrappers improved to 4-0 on the young baseball season after three wins this weekend.

Nashville opened the home slate at Wilson Park Saturday with a double-header sweep of the Dover Pirates.

In the first game, Haydon Arnold picked up his second win of the year as he pitched the Scrappers past the Pirates. Arnold tossed five innings of four-hit baseball and struck out six batters while walking none.

“It was a typical Haydon Arnold start,” Coach Kyle Slayton said. “He was a little sharper than he was against Horatio. He threw three pitches and had command of all of them.”

Caleb Jamison led the charge at the plate with a double and three runs batted in. Jonathan Davidson knocked in a pair of runs, while Derek Cox had a single, a run and an RBI. Second baseman A.J. Whitmore scored two runs with an RBI.

“We put the ball in play and Dover kicked it around a little bit,” Slayton said. “Dover’s coach said he expects them to be a state tournament team, but we took advantage of their mistakes.”

NHS 9, Dover 1

Ryan Scott and Whitmore teamed up to shut down the Pirate bats as the Scrappers cruised to the win in the nightcap.

Scott tossed five innings of five-hit baseball and allowed no runs while walking one. He struck out five batters.

Whitmore pitched the final two innings in relief and allowed one run on three hits and two Ks.

At the plate, D.J. Graham led the way with a 2-of-3 performance. The sophomore first baseman currently leads the team with a .400 batting average and has a pair of home runs.

“He’s got a good stick,” Slayton said. “He puts the ball in play and has done a good job at first base. He’s gotten stronger and I kinda expected him to have a good year.”

Scott helped his cause at the plate with a 2-4 day with three RBIs. Arnold went 2-3 with a double, two runs and a stolen base. Jamison, Davidson and Aaron Cooley each knocked in a run, while Davidson scored three runs.

NHS 8, Gurdon 0

GURDON—Cooley was impressive in his first varsity start, tossing six innings of five-hit ball and striking out 11 batters with no walks and no runs allowed.
“Cooley looked pretty good out there,” Slayton said. “He was confident and threw strikes.”

On the weekend, Scrapper pitchers struck out 25 batters in 19 innings and walked only one.

“That’s what we were looking for out of our guys on the mound,” Slayton said. “You keep doing that and you’ll win a lotta ballgames.”

At the plate, Justin Rodgers was 2-3 with a two RBIs. Graham went 2-4 with a double and two runs scored while Whitmore was 2-4 with a triple, two runs, two RBIs and a pair of stolen bases. Tyler Floyd knocked in a run with a double.

Ralph Gross Memorial Tournament

Wilson Park will be the host site for the Ralph Gross Memorial Baseball Tournament, beginning Thursday.

The late Ralph Gross was considered one of the best athletes to ever don the Orange and Black. He was a five-sport letterman in the early 1950’s who scored more than 1,000 points on the basketball court and captain of the Scrapper football team. He was also a standout in baseball and track. Gross won 10 letters during his time at NHS.

Lafayette County, De Queen, Horatio, Pleasant Grove, Texas, Hope, Ashdown and Arkadelphia will join the Scrappers in the 8-team field.

Nashville will play Hope at 8:30 p.m. Thursday in the first round.

“We’re excited about hosting it,” Slayton said. “The Gross family came to us this summer with the idea of hosting a tournament. With some really good teams and all the improvements to Wilson Park, it should be a treat.”

Gross’s son, Jeff, president of Pro-Day baseball camps, will throw out the first pitch before the Nashville/Hope game Thursday evening.

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