Once Beebe’s head coach quit arguing a petty non-call, Quitman left little doubt about which team is better Monday night in the losers’ bracket semifinals of the 12-under district tournament, downing Beebe 10-2 at the Quitman Sports Complex.
After Beebe scored one run in the top of the first, Quitman took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom half. Hayden Stovall drew a leadoff walk and stole his way around to third but was cut down at the plate as Matt Chambers walked and stole second.
Trey McGhee followed with a full-count walk and he swiped second after Chambers took third on a wild pickoff attempt. Beebe’s pitcher responded with a strikeout but Chambers scored on a wild pickoff then Nathaniel Reynolds and Rodey Burford worked a pair of full-count walks.
With the bases loaded, DJ McVay beat out an infield single that scored McGhee as Quitman took a 2-1 lead before Beebe got out of the jam with a strikeout.
Burford, Quitman’s pitcher, tossed a scoreless second with the help of an inning-ending double play turned by McVay at third. In the bottom half, Quitman added an insurance run as Trevor Watts walked, took second on a passed ball and skirted to third on a wild pitch.
Stovall’s RBI single scored Watts but Beebe limited the damage by retiring two of the next three batters.
Burford worked a scoreless third before Quitman exploded with seven runs in the bottom of the third. Reynolds led off with a walk then Burford ripped a single up the middle. McVay worked a free pass before Walker Johnson nailed a 2 RBI single to center field that scored Reynolds and Burford, extending Quitman’s lead to 5-1.
Watts added an RBI grounder that scored McVay but Watts was cut down at second on the play. After Johnson scored on a wild pitch, Beebe switched pitchers and immediately got a strikeout.
With two down, Stovall reached on an error, stole second and moved to third on an errant throw before Chambers drilled an RBI double to deep left field that plated Stovall, giving Quitman an 8-1 advantage.
Following balk, Beebe switched pitchers again but McGhee drew a full-count walk and swiped second then Larry Pool pulled a 2 RBI single past shortstop that scored Chambers and McGhee as Quitman’s lead grew to 10-1 before Beebe got out of the frame.
Beebe added one run off Pool, who relieved Burford to start the top of the fourth, setting the final at 10-2.
Quitman, Ark. —
