Neville Defeats OCS... It was one wild offensive showcase, and in the end Neville left Ouachita Christian’s Micah Harper Field with a 14-5 non-district win Thursday night. Neville (22-11) brought its’ big bats out from the very beginning as they posted a five-run first inning off of OCS ace Aaron George (7-3). After Neville got singles from designated hitter Nick Whitaker, left fielder Thomas Green, and shortstop Brian Barefoot, center fielder Michael Green kicked the offense into high gear with a grand slam to left field. Daniel Eskew later added a RBI on a fielder’s choice. OCS (21-8) did not go away quietly as the Eagles scored three runs and chased Neville starting pitcher Caleb Luffey in the bottom of the first inning. Luffey walked three of the first four batters he faced and left fielder Cade Harper was hit by pitch. When OCS designated hitter Quin Graves drew a bases loaded walk, the Eagles were on the board. First baseman Josh Pennebaker hit a two run double two batters later. The teams then settled in and single runs by Neville in the second and fifth-inning gave the Tigers a 7-3 lead after five innings of play. A pair of runs in the sixth inning when Harper hit a RBI double and third baseman Chance Clowers scored on a pass ball were the only runs in the final six innings for the Eagles. “I was real pleased with our bullpen,” Neville coach Paul Guerriero said. “We got some good innings out of middle relievers.” JT Jackson and David Wiggins combined for 6.3 innings of solid relief work on the mound while giving up just seven hits and two runs. Neville had one of its’ best games this season offensively, and it comes at a time the team is preparing for the playoffs and going up against one of the area’s top pitchers. “I believe this was one of the best offensive performances we have had this season,” Guerriero said. “It gives us momentum, and guys are feeling good, in a groove right now. We just talked to them about we can keep it going or lose all our momentum this weekend (playing at St. Federick Saturday at 2 p.m.).” Michael Green went 4-for-5 with two home runs and six RBIs. OCS might be hurting right now, but the Eagles feel they are a better team for having learned from the experience of going up against one of the hottest teams in the state right now. “Sometimes you throw strikes and the other team just hits the ball,” OCS coach John Parker said. “We always try to put our guys up against the best teams we can play. This will make us a better team heading toward the playoff run.” OCS travels to Benton Saturday at 3 p.m.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Apr 2014 23:00:21 +0000
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