Cobras club CMS, 14-2, in non-conference bout

The Sentinel-Record/Grace Brown POWER SURGE: Fountain Lake's Montana Carden hits a single during a baseball game Tuesday at Cutter Morning Star's baseball field. Carden had three singles and three RBIs in Fountain Lake's 14-2 win.
The Sentinel-Record/Grace Brown POWER SURGE: Fountain Lake's Montana Carden hits a single during a baseball game Tuesday at Cutter Morning Star's baseball field. Carden had three singles and three RBIs in Fountain Lake's 14-2 win.

A patient approach at the plate gave Fountain Lake the offensive output it was looking for Tuesday night.

The Cobras (5-2) had 12 hits, drew nine walks and struck out only twice in a 14-2 win over Cutter Morning Star (1-2) on the road.

"We just got back to sticking with our approaches and going up there with an approach," Fountain Lake coach Josh Wesson said. "We needed a game like this. Our past few games out, we haven't put any runs on the board. We had great pitching performances during those games, but no run support."

Montana Carden, Stephen Turner and Preston White each drove in one run in the top of the first inning as Fountain Lake raced to a quick 4-0 lead behind three walks and two singles.

Held without a baserunner in the bottom of the first, the Eagles broke up the shutout in the second frame. Daniel Brito, Michael Kimpton and Matt Tims each drew a walk before Mitchell Herron plated two runs with a single to bring Cutter Morning Star within 4-2.

After failing to score in the second and third innings, Fountain Lake broke the game open in the top of the fourth. Kody Moody and White each drew a bases-loaded walk before Carden followed with a two-run single.

Turner kept the inning alive with a two-out single and Daeton Bassett crushed a three-run home run to center field to give the Cobras a commanding 11-2 lead at the end of the frame.

"Today we got back to doing what we do," said Wesson. "Everybody was going up there with an approach and ready to swing it. They swung it pretty well top to bottom today."

Given ample run support, Fountain Lake starter Bryce Stauder bounced back from the shaky second inning with three straight scoreless frames.

The freshman left-hander earned the win with two runs allowed on two hits with five walks and seven strikeouts in five innings pitched.

"I'm proud of him," Wesson said. "He's had a little bit of relief work, but that was his first true outing and he threw very well. He filled up the zone and he stayed ahead. It's a learning curve for him, but we have two great seniors in Montana Carden and Stephen Turner that lead by example.

"Both of them catch as well, which is good for our young pitchers. We have two senior catchers that can get help those young guys get through outs and get through innings."

White, Stauder and Turner each delivered an RBI in the top of the fifth, and Stauder retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game with the Cobras leading by more than 10 runs.

Freshman Sam Moore suffered the loss for the Eagles, allowing five runs on five hits with six walks and two strikeouts in three innings pitched.

Carden finished with three singles, one walk and three RBIs in four plate appearances for Fountain Lake, while White had two singles and three RBIs in three at-bats.

photo

The Sentinel-Record/Grace Brown CAUGHT STEALING: Fountain Lake's Daeton Bassett (34) prepares to apply the tag as Cutter Morning Star's Matt Tims (2) is thrown out trying to steal third base during a baseball game Tuesday at Cutter Morning Star's baseball field. Tims doubled and walked in two plate appearances for the Eagles.

Tims had Cutter Morning Star's lone extra-base hit in the game with a double in the bottom of the fourth, but was later thrown out trying to steal third.

The Eagles travel to Magnet Cove (3-3) Friday. Fountain Lake hosts Magnet Cove Thursday and Bauxite (4-3) Friday to complete a stretch of four games in five days.

"Any win builds confidence," said Wesson. "(Robert) Webb at Magnet Cove does a great job; they are always fundamentally sound. (Michael) Mattox is the same way at Bauxite; they are always great. A game like this is definitely something we can build off of, so hopefully we get after it the rest of the week."

Sports on 03/14/2018

Upcoming Events