SHERIDAN -- Hot Springs Village picked up its first win of the season as it downed Conway 9-4 in the Sheridan Wood Bat Tournament Thursday night.
Following a pair of strikeouts, Mount Ida grad Cade Jackson allowed three walks before shutting down Conway with another swinging strikeout before Graves Sports stepped to the plate. Ben Slate and Joey Kilzer both reached on walks before eventually scoring to give the Garland County-based team a 2-0 lead.
After Conway was shut down in the top of the second, Cooper Pearson and Slate both hit singles with both making it across the plate before three outs for a 4-0 lead.
Conway finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth as just one runner reached to pull within 4-1. Kilzer and Jackson both scored in the bottom of the inning for a 6-1 lead.
Conway finally got its bats going in the top of the fifth as three players found their way around all four corners to cut Hot Springs Village's lead to 6-4. Slate picked up his third run in the bottom of the fifth, and Conner Cheek and Cade Payton both scored in the bottom of the sixth to secure the win.
Slate, a Hot Springs grad who recently finished his freshman year at Central Baptist, went 2 for 4 with three runs. Kilzer went 3 for 4 with two runs, Jackson was 3 for 5 with one run, Cheek and Payton both went 1 for 2 with one run and Pearson was 1 for 3 with one run.
Jackson got a no decision with 1 2/3 innings on the mound with four walks and four strikeouts. Stephen Turner finished out the game, giving up four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four to collect the win.
Hot Springs Village will face El Dorado today at 1:30 p.m. to round out pool play. The semifinals and finals will be played Sunday afternoon.
Sports on 06/15/2019