ARMA — Marmaton Valley High rallied, but came up just short Friday in the first game of its doubleheader with Northeast-Arma Friday.
The Wildcats had no such trouble in Game 2.
Marmaton Valley rallied for six runs in the top of the fifth, including Ty Lord’s RBI single to break an 8-8 deadlock, giving the Wildcats their first victory of the 2024 season, 9-8.
Marmaton Valley was back in action Monday at home vs. Southeast-Cherokee, but results were not available by press time.
Marmaton Valley trailed, 8-0, before Mason Ferguson got the Wildcats on the board with a two-run single in the top of the fourth. Brendon Newman and Ty Lord followed with singles to make it 8-3.
The rally was a primer for the fifth-inning outburst.
Dominic Smith singled, Brayden Lawson walked and Daniel Fewins ripped a line drive single to left, driving home Smith. Garrett Morrison followed with a run-scoring single, and Brevyn Campbell’s hit loaded the bases for Mason Ferguson, whose two-run double pulled Marmaton Valley to within 8-7. Newman singled on the next pitch, tying the score, setting the stage for Lord’s single on the next pitch, pushing the Wildcats on top.
That was enough for Smith, who shut down the Vikings over the final three innings, striking out two and allowing one single. Smith retired Northeast in order in both the fifth and sixth innings,
Northeast’s rally in the bottom of the seventh short-circuited after a baserunner was thrown out at third base for the second out of the inning. Smith ended the threat, and the game with an infield pop-up.
Ferguson paced the offense with a single and double and four RBIs. Lord, Fewins and Morrison all had two singles. Smith, Lawson and Campbell added singles. Kele Michael got the start on the mound, going 1.2 innings with two hits and a strikeout. Lawson pitched 2.1 innings, striking out two and allowing a hit.
FRIDAY’S opener followed a similar pattern.
Fewins doubled and scored on Lord’s two-out double in the top of the third to knot the score at 1-1.
The Vikings responded with four in the third and two in the fourth to take a 7-1 lead.
Marmaton Valley made things interesting in the top of the sixth. Lawson and Smith opened the frame with singles before Campbell walked with one out to load the bases. Fewins doubled to center field, clearing the bases, making it 7-4.
But he was stranded, and Marmaton Valley could not take advantage of Lord’s leadoff single in the seventh.
