Jr. Wolves have success early against Camden

Lake Hamilton pitcher Brent Davis releases a pitch in the third inning of Thursday’s win over Camden at Lake Hamilton Field. - Photo by James Leigh of The Sentinel-Record
Lake Hamilton pitcher Brent Davis releases a pitch in the third inning of Thursday’s win over Camden at Lake Hamilton Field. - Photo by James Leigh of The Sentinel-Record

PEARCY -- Lake Hamilton held Camden to two hits as the junior American Legion team cruised to a 4-1 victory over Arkansas Pulpwood at Lake Hamilton Field Thursday night. The second game of the doubleheader was called in the middle of the fourth inning due to weather with Camden leading 1-0.

Brent Davis did not give up a single hit in his three innings on the hill for the Wolves as he earned the win.

After striking out the first two batters he faced, Davis saw two runners reach, one on a throwing error by third baseman Dalton Pitts and one on a walk. The pair of baserunners stole to the back side of the diamond before striking out his third batter to avoid the run.

"The first game I think we came out, and we played a lot better than we normally have," said coach Andrew Williams. "Some things came together for us. We had some good pitching, and they really set the tone for the rest of the game. Our errors were limited."

The Wolves appeared to get off on the right foot as shortstop Eden Fite was hit by a pitch before advancing to second, but a textbook double play left the scoreboard vacant going into the second.

After Davis retired three more in the top of the second, Pitts hit a one-out double before reaching third on a balk. Aiden Bellomy then hit an RBI single just over the second baseman's head to give the Wolves a lead they did not relinquish the rest of the night.

"I was happy to see Dalton Pitts get up there and hit a hard ball over the left fielder's head, and that really is what got us going," Williams said. "So that put us up after getting him on and moving him around to third and getting him in, we were able to put something together. ... From there we just kind of pieced together a few more hits.

Lake Hamilton stretched out its lead to three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Riley Harris was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, eventually scoring from second on a two-out single by Kaden Burroughs. A pickoff attempt by catcher Jayden Wilmoth was thrown over the first baseman's head, allowing Burroughs to reach third before scoring on a wild pitch.

Camden's Trenton Gambell led off the top of the sixth with a single, eventually scoring on an error by shortstop Eden Fite to cut Lake Hamilton's lead back to two runs. Kohen Manley hit a grounder up the middle to lead off the Wolves, advancing to second on a line drive single by Bellomy before right fielder Weston Lynch drove the ball above the second baseman's outstretched glove for an RBI single to set the final.

Davis finished with eight strikeouts while walking just two batters in three innings of work. Manley gave up an unearned run off two hits and a hit batter while fanning four in three innings on the mound, and Landon West struck out one in his inning on the hill.

"We had some eighth graders who I wanted to get some more work in, and I really wanted to see them on the mound," Williams noted. "They came in, and they competed. They had the mentality that we're hunting for and we're looking for, and our older guys are starting to get it, but I was really pleased with having three young kids come in there, and they did a really good job on the mound."

Camden's Dylan Wendling collected the loss, giving up three earned runs off four hits, two walks and four hit batters while striking out three in 4 2/3 innings. Trenton Gambell finished out the game, allowing an earned run off three hits and one strikeout.

Bellomy led the Wolves at the plate, going 2 for 3 with one RBI, and Fite, Burroughs, Pitts, Lynch and Manley each got a hit with Burroughs, Pitts and Manley each scoring a run. Burroughs and Lynch also had one RBI each.

"I'm pleased with the way that we were at the plate today," Williams said. "I think we could have hit it harder. That team that we were playing, they're throwing right down the middle, and we've got to attack that fastball, like I said before. So hopefully I think we're getting it.

"We had a lot more help today; we brought in a few other guys that came in and did a job for us, but I was really happy with our plate discipline. I was happy with the fact that we executed plays with bunting guys over, made good baserunning decisions I felt like, had a passed ball at first base that we ended up turning into a little triple. He came over to third and then we had him come in and score. I think that made the difference, just executing what we've been working on in practice."

Lake Hamilton moved to more of its younger players in the second game, looking to give experience to the next batch of Wolf players, but with severe weather moving in, the teams managed just 3 1/2 innings before the game was called.

Daelyn Davis reached on a two-out single up the middle in the bottom of the first after Camden was retired in order, but Grant Bearden was thrown out on a bunt down the left side to end the inning.

Camden's Carson McKinney reached on an error by Fite, eventually scoring the only run of the rain-shortened game.

Grant Bearden gave up the unearned run while fanning six in three innings of work with Bellomy striking out two while giving up a hit in one inning on the mound.

Gambell gave up one hit and one walk while striking out one in two innings of work with Ben McKinney striking out one in his inning on the mound.

Lake Hamilton will face Jacksonville at home on Monday at 6 p.m. with an AA game following.

GAME 1

Camden000 001 0--1 2 1

Lake Hamilton010 021 X--4 7 2

Wendling and Gambell (5). Davis, Manley (4) and West (7). W-Davis. L-Wendling. 2B-LH, Pitts. SB-C, Madison, CMcKinney.

GAME 2 (3.5 inn., called due to weather)

Camden010 0--1 1 0

Lake Hamilton000 X--0 1 1

Gambell and B. McKinney (3). Bearden and Bellomy (4). 2B-C, Howard. SB-C, CMcKinney. LH, Rogers.

Lake Hamilton centerfielder Kaden Burroughs (4) lays down a sacrifice bunt in the third inning of Thursday’s 4-1 win over Camden. - Photo by James Leigh of The Sentinel-Record
Lake Hamilton centerfielder Kaden Burroughs (4) lays down a sacrifice bunt in the third inning of Thursday’s 4-1 win over Camden. - Photo by James Leigh of The Sentinel-Record

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