Hawks shut out Brownsboro, 4-0

SHREVEPORT, La.— On a night when hits were hard to come by, Pleasant Grove turned to one of its strengths, base running, to claw out enough runs to drop Brownsboro, 4-0, in Game 1 of the teams’ three-game arearound playoff series.

Only two of the Hawks’ six hits against Brownsboro starter Jake Conner reached the outfield. PG used seven stolen bases—three by Connor Lemmerhirt—and some nifty bat work to put the ball in play and round the bases Friday at Shehee Stadium at Centenary College. Game 2, originally scheduled for 2 p.m. today, has been pushed back to 4 p.m. at the same site.

“We stress base running as much as we stress hitting and pitching,” Pleasant Grove coach Riley Fincher said. “We’re going to keep trying to push it and go.”

Only one of PG’s RBI came as a result of a base hit. The others came on a sacrifice fly or on infield outs hit where plays at the plate were impossible.

And that was enough because Jarod Bayless dealt a three-hit, complete-game shutout.

“Jarod definitely gave us a chance to stay in the ball game and scratch some runs out,” Fincher said.

Though he didn’t have his best stuff, uncharacteristically walking runners in back-to-back innings, he did a typical Bayless thing, growing stronger as the game progressed,

In the final three innings, Bayless (9-0) put down 9 of 10 hitters, including the final eight in a row. He struck out seven and allowed just the two walks, out dueling Conner, who struck out two, walked two and hit one.

For the second time in as many playoff games, PG’s defense was error-free.

PG broke the ice with a two-spot in the top of the second.

Leading off, catcher Mark Ashby surprised the Bears with a bunt that died a few feet from the plate. The third baseman’s throw was off-line and the Hawks had their first base runner of the night.

Blake Roberts’ attempted sacrifice bunt found a hole between first and second and became bunt single.

With Connor Lemmerhirt running running for Ashby, PG pulled off a double steal. Joe Pearlman brought in Lemmerhirt with a sacrifice fly to deep center.

Roberts came home on a ground out to the pitcher, who checked the runner, who faked going back to third. When Conner turned to throw to first, Roberts broke for the plate and scored easily to make it 2-0.

Landon Russo led off the sixth with a sharp single to left. He advanced to second when Roberts was called for a balk. Bayless helped his own cause with a single to bring in Russo.

The Hawks added another run in the seventh. A.J. Snyder led off with an infield single. He stole second and went to third on a passed ball. He scored when Jacob Smith hit a slow roller up the right side and was put out by the first baseman.

PG will go with Cheyne Brown (6-0) in Game 2. Pleasant Grove 002 001 1—4 6 0 Brownsboro 000 000 0—0 3 3

Jarod Bayless and Mark Ashby; Jake Conner and Caleb Seale. WP-Bayless (9-0). LP-Seale.