Baseball: Pleimann returns to form for first-place Fayetteville

Miller Pleimann (22) of Fayetteville pitches against Springdale Monday, April 24, 2017 at Bob Lyall Field in Springdale. The Purple Dogs won 3-2.
Miller Pleimann (22) of Fayetteville pitches against Springdale Monday, April 24, 2017 at Bob Lyall Field in Springdale. The Purple Dogs won 3-2.

SPRINGDALE -- Miller Pleimann didn't let a bad game from last week linger.

Grant Southerland provided run support with a home run and run-scoring single for Fayetteville (14-12, 9-2), which leads the conference standings.

Pleimann was roughed up during a 7-2 loss to Springdale Har-Ber last week. But the junior right-hander returned to form with a strong performance against Springdale, which placed runners in scoring position the last three innings.

"Miller was rusty last week, and that was our fault after we shut him down for a bit," Fayetteville coach Scott Gallagher said. "But he was back to being the guy who's pitched so well for us all year. He had command of his fastball and really had all three pitches going for him."

It was another close loss for Springdale (12-12, 4-7), which had opportunities to tie or take the lead in the late innings. Springdale had runners on first and third in the fifth when Pleimann struck out No. 3 hitter Ben Roberts to end the inning.

Springdale looked like it was going to tie the game in the seventh when Michael Harrington lined a pitch headed toward left field. But shortstop Hayes Cox leaped and caught the ball for the end to an exciting game.

"It's been that way for us all year," Springdale coach Scott Johnson said. "We've faced a lot of adversity. But if we keep playing and coming out to the ballpark with a positive attitude, some of those breaks are eventually going to go our way."

Both teams scored early before the game evolved into a strong pitching matchup between Pleimann and Tyler Turner for Springdale. Southerland hit a home run to right field and Barrett Banister added a one-out single in the first inning.

Springdale answered with two runs with the help of an error, a single by Andrew Roach and a double from Ryne Whitaker. Fayetteville regained the lead and held on a two-out single by Southerland in the second inning.

Springdale will travel to Fayetteville today for a rematch.

Bentonville High 30, Rogers Heritage 2

Tyler Johnson had a three-run home run and Kam'ron Mays-Hunt added a bases-loaded triple during a 10-run second inning as Bentonville routed Heritage during Monday's game at Veterans Park.

Mays-Hunt was 5-of-6 and drove in five runs to lead the Tigers (12-10, 7-4), which had 25 hits to go with seven walks and added nine runs in the fourth and seven in the fifth. Karson Coffee had two hits and drove in five runs, while three other Bentonville players drove in three runs apiece.

Jacob Williams had a no-hitter going until pinch-hitter Colton Secrist belted a single to right with two out in the fifth. Heritage picked up two runs on a bases-loaded walk and an error.

Rogers High 9, Bentonville West 5

McKaden Templeton belted a two-run home run and Max Horton blasted a grand slam during Rogers' six-run fifth inning as the Mounties held off West to take a 7A-West victory Monday at the Wolverine Athletic Complex.

Templeton's home run came on the first pitch he saw in the first inning, and Rogers added another run in the second before its big inning. He also allowed no hits through five innings with eight strikeouts.

West broke up the Mounties' no-hit bid when Jason Gloeckler singled to lead off the sixth, and the Wolverines did all their scoring in that inning. Jaron Jenkins had a two-run triple, while Will Jarrett and Gloeckler each had an RBI single.

Sports on 04/25/2017

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