MOUNTIES BATS COME ALIVE IN ROMP

Rogers High coach Matt Melson was looking for anything to change the Mounties' recent offensive struggles in the midst of a four-game losing streak. Rogers' issues looked as though they would continue when Bentonville West scored four times in the top of the first inning on Tuesday afternoon, but the Mounties had an answer. Rogers (7-7, 3-3 6A-West) exploded for a seven-run bottom of the second en route to a 13-4 victory at Veterans Park. The Mounties had scored just one run in 28 innings during their four-game skid, but junior Will Lawing got them going with a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the first. Then they sent 11 batters to the plate in the second inning to take command. Tanner Strickland and Jake Plumley drove in two runs apiece in the big inning. Plumley and Lawing were seeing their first varsity action of the season and came through to help the offense break out, Melson said. They combined for three hits and five RBIs. We changed some things around and I thought those guys gave us a spark," Melson said. "Will Lawing had a big hit and so did Jake Plumley. We love our guys, but sometimes you've got to mix it up and try something different. "Man, it was good to see the bats kinda come alive." Shortstop Sal Jacobo went 4-for-5, scored a run and also drove in one. Tanner Strickland and Lawing added two hits each, while Plumley and Strickland drove in two runs each. That big inning was exactly what Rogers starter Matthew Watson needed to settle down after a rough first inning. He gave up no runs on just two hits over the final six innings. West (9-7, 4-2) loaded the bases in the first inning without a hit as Watson walked the lead-off man and hit consecutive batters. The Wolverines got RBI-singles from Zach Trammell and John McElroy and a sacrifice fly from Seth Schonauer to grab a 4-0 lead. Trammell finished with two of West's four hits. Bentonville West^400^000^0--^4^4^4 Rogers^270^022^x^--^13^13^1 Carter, Bourg (2), Arnold (2), Mayes (5) and Trammell; M. Watson and Lawing. W-Watson. L-Bourg. HRs-None.

MOUNTIES BATS COME ALIVE IN ROMP

PAUL BOYD

Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette | 4/3/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Rogers High School Athletics