Fayetteville breezes by Heritage

Scott Gallagher called off the 'Dogs early in Fayetteville's 11-0 win against Rogers Heritage at Bulldogs Stadium on Tuesday. It was the second five-inning, mercy-rule victory in as many days as the Purple'Dogs won 18-0 at Rogers Heritage on Monday. Gallagher, the Fayetteville coach, began substituting pinch-hitters in the third inning after his team spotted itself a 9-0 lead by batting around twice in the first two innings. Breezing to back-to-back wins was more than welcome after Gallagher watched his team battle to the final at-bat throughout most of the season. "It's been nice to relax a little bit by the fifth inning or so," Gallagher said. "We've played a lot of tight games. We haven't had a lot of run-rules this year, so getting after people with the guys playing well and the guys we've put in playing well is really encouraging." Fayetteville (12-11, 7-1 7A-West) won its seventh straight in conference play after opening the league with a 5-0 loss against Bentonville. The Purple'Dogs are all alone atop the 7A-West standings because Rogers High knocked off Van Buren on Tuesday. "It does feel good, but we've got a tough road ahead," Gallagher said. "They've been really focused the past three weeks or so. They're coming to the ballpark really ready to go every single week." Senior right-hander Hayes Cox, an Arkansas Tech signee, tossed a one-hit shutout. He induced five ground outs and a fly out to go along with six strikeouts. He even struck out the side in order in the second inning. "Hayes did what Hayes does," Gallagher said. "He's so efficient and he struck out more than he usually does. He's usually a ground-ball guy." Fayetteville catcher Alex Blagg said Cox's off-speed pitches made the difference. Cox threw 59 pitches, including 44 for strikes. "He was throwing his curve ball for a strikes and his change up was looking good with a lot of movement on it," Blagg said. "The location of the curve ball and change up was really working for him." With Heritage (5-14, 2-6) starting pitcher and Wichita State pledge Logan Easley sidelined with an injury, Fayetteville jumped on the War Eagles for four runs in the first inning after Jackson Sloan led off with a single up the middle. Grant Southerland, Jeff Sinacore, Blagg and Greydon Turner each drove in a run. In the second, Cox began a five-run inning with a double to right center. Two batters later, Southerland launched a towering three-run homer and Blagg capped it off with an RBI single. In the third inning, a two-run home run by pinch-hitter Mason Shaw rounded out the Purple'Dogs' offense.

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FAYETTEVILLE BREEZES BY HERITAGE

MIKE CAPSHAW

Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette | 4/12/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Fayetteville High School Athletics