Heber’s Post 64 Expos thumped Stuttgart 13-5 in the American Legion (AA) nightcap Monday night at the Heber Springs City Fields, giving them confidence heading into the zone tournament opener in Benton, where Post 64 opens play against the same Stuttgart squad at 8:30 p.m. on Friday.
The younger Expos fell 11-3 in the first game Monday while playing several players in unusual positions, including three pitchers that have seen limited or no action on the mound since Little League.
Heber 13, Stuttgart 5
Post 64 starting pitcher Josh Klapp handcuffed the Ricemen in the first two frames as he didn’t allow a hit while the Expos built a 7-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, Klapp got the offense rolling with a one-out single through the hole on the left side then Tanner Rockwell worked a full-count walk.
Josh Wilkerson scalded a single to center field but Stuttgart pitcher Reid Counce fired back with a strikeout before D’Kotah Douglass pulled a 2 RBI single to left field that scored Klapp and Rockwell, giving the Expos a 2-0 advantage.
Brett Boister reached on a 2-base error that allowed Wilkerson and Douglass to cross as Post 64’s lead grew to 4-0 before Counce got Tyler Reese to bounce out to John Godwin at third base.
Post 64 added three more runs in the bottom of the second as Caleb Brock dropped a perfect bunt single down the third base line then Klapp roped a single to left field.
Rockwell grounded out back to the mound, which moved two runners into scoring position for Wilkerson, who beat out an infield single that scored Brock then Klapp also came around to score after Wilkerson overran first base but dodged a tag on his way to second.
Leading 6-0, Chas Tamburo reached on an error that allowed Wilkerson to score before Stuttgart finally got out of the jam when Douglass flied out to left field.
The Ricemen got to Klapp in the top of the third as Lukas Murray looped a one-out single to short center then Travis Davenport drilled a single through the hole on the left side.
After Logan Ward reached on an error, Counce stroked a 2 RBI single to left field that plated Murray and Davenport, leaving the Expos with a 7-2 lead. Klapp evaded further trouble by getting groundouts to Brock at second and Rockwell at shortstop.
With one down in the bottom half, Reese ripped a one-out single to center field and Janssen Widower reached on an error but Counce pitched out of the jam as Brock flied out to right field and Klapp bounced out to second.
In the top of the fourth, the Ricemen battled back with three runs on three hits. Klapp fanned the leadoff batter but Logan Ballew nailed a single off the base of the center field wall then Godwin drew a walk before Murray singled to left field.
With the bases loaded, Travis Davenport drew an RBI walk that scored Ballew then Ward chopped to Reese at third and he cut down Godwin at the plate.
With two down, Counce delivered a 2 RBI ground-rule double that bounced over the fence in left field as Murray and Davenport came around to score. Klapp got out of the inning when J.J. Kersieck flied out to Widower in right field.
Counce retired the Expos in order in the bottom of the fourth then Post 64 relieved Klapp with Rockwell to start the top of the fifth. Tyler Henderson greeted Rockwell with a single to center field then another Ricebird reached on an infield single before Rockwell fired back with a strikeout.
Facing a 3-2 count, Godwin singled to center field but a Stuttgart runner was caught between second and third then Rockwell escaped with a strikeout, leaving Ricemen stranded at the corners.
Leading 7-5, Post 64 tacked on two runs on two hits in the bottom of the fifth. With one away, Boister crushed a double off the left field fence then Reese drilled an RBI single to center field that scored Boister as Reese took second on the throw home.
Widower reached on an error that advanced Reese to third as Stuttgart relieved Counce with Godwin. Brock’s RBI groundout to second scored Reese then Klapp worked a full-count walk but Godwin struck out the next batter, leaving two Expos stranded at the corners.
Rockwell struck out the first batter he faced in the top of the sixth but Ward beat out an infield single before Counce lined out to Wilkerson in center field. Rockwell fanned the next batters, keeping the Expos 9-5 lead intact.
In the bottom of the sixth, Post 64 scored four runs on three hits to run-rule Stuttgart. Wilkerson laced a single to center field then Tamburo walked to get the Expos rolling as Stuttgart relieved Godwin with Davenport.
After Wilkerson and courtesy runner Michael Ludwig moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, Douglass smashed a 2 RBI single up the middle that scored Wilkerson and Ludwig, extending Post 64’s lead to 11-5.
Douglass advanced to second on the throw home and took third on a wild pitch before Boister pulled an RBI single to left field that plated Douglass.
Reese’s groundout to second moved Boister into scoring position but Davenport notched a strikeout before Boister advanced to third on a wild pitch. After Brock walked and stole second, Boister scored on a wild pitch, giving the Expos a 13-5 victory.
Stuttgart 11, Heber 3
In the first game Monday, Chas Tamburo got the start on the mound and worked around two walks by using a knuckleball for a strikeout then he handled a sharp groundout back to the mound and got a fly-out to Garrett Wheeler in right field.
In the bottom of the first, Post 64 took a 2-0 lead as D’Kotah Douglas took one for the team with one out and stole second then Tanner Rockwell worked a full-count walk.
Josh Klapp reached on an error that loaded the bases then Tamburo ripped a 2 RBI single to center field that plated Douglass and Rockwell. Stuttgart pitcher Tyler Henderson escaped further damage by getting Janssen Widower to fly-out to right field then he recorded a strikeout.
Logan Ballew chopped a single into right field to lead off the second but Rockwell forced Ballew at second after fielding a grounder at third then Davenport walked and moved to second on a balk.
Tamburo responded with a strikeout but Ward walked to load the bases before Tamburo got Counce to pop-out to Douglass at first base.
Post 64 only mustered a two-out single from Tyler Reese in the bottom of the second and Stuttgart took a 3-2 lead in the top of the third.
J.J. Kersieck got the Ricemen going with a leadoff single to left field then a one-out single and throwing error gave Stuttgart two runners in scoring position.
Ballew’s RBI groundout to Rockwell at third scored Henderson then two consecutive walks and a hit batsman allowed Ballew to cross, trying the game at 2-all. Ward drew an RBI walk that scored another run as Stuttgart took a 3-2 lead before Counce sharply grounded out to Rockwell at third.
Post 64 tied it back up in the bottom of the third as Rockwell launched a ground-rule double that bounced over the left field fence before Henderson got two ground ball outs.
Widower’s hot shot towards third base was mishandled as Rockwell scored then Michael Ludwig roped a single to right field but Henderson left two runners in scoring position when Levi Garriott bounced back to the mound.
In the top of the fourth, Stuttgart exploded for eight runs on seven hits off Widower, who relieved Tamburo to start the frame. Kersieck stroked a ground-rule double to the alley in right center then Henderson walked and both runners moved up on a wild pitch.
Kersieck and Henderson scored on a 2 RBI double to left field then Ballew walked before Lukas Murray drove a 2 RBI double into the right center field gap that gave the Ricemen a 7-3 advantage.
Travis Davenport scorched an RBI single to left field that scored Ballew, causing Post 64 to relieve Widower with Douglass, another player who hasn’t pitched since Little League.
After issuing a free pass, Douglass got Ward to pop foul to Tamburo at third then Counce bounced out to Klapp at shortstop but a throwing error allowed two runs to score, giving the Ricemen a 9-3 advantage.
Kersieck roped an RBI single to left field that scored Counce then Henderson lifted a single to right field before Kersieck scored on an infield single, which gave Stuttgart an 11-3 lead. Douglass escaped further damage with a strikeout.
With one down in the bottom of the fourth, Kersieck relieved Henderson and got Reese to fly-out to center field but Douglass kept the Expos alive with a single up the middle. Kersieck got Rockwell to pop-out to short right field as the Ricemen won the A game.
Heber Springs, Ark. —
