Rogers Mounties rally past Fayetteville

Rogers High wasn't bothered by a four-run deficit against Fayetteville on Tuesday. The Mounties took over in the later innings and defeated the Bulldogs 8-5 in 7A-West Conference action at Veterans Park. The teams will play a each other again today at Fayetteville. Fayetteville (10-6-1, 3-2) was cruising with a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning. But the Mounties (11-4, 4-1) tied the game with two runs in each the fourth and fifth innings before surging ahead with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. McKaden Templeton had a two-run double in the sixth, followed by a two-run home run from Matthew Watson to highlight the rally. Watson then pitched the seventh inning to earn the save. "This is the true definition of a team win," Rogers coach Matt Melson said. "There was no panic in the dugout and I was proud of that. We never stopped fighting. We had some good at-bats and put together some runs." Rogers' rally came after Mason Shaw put the Bulldogs back ahead 5-4 with a home run off sophomore reliever Jay Watson. Watson got off to a good start in the sixth inning when he struck out Matthew Magre and Jeff Sinacore. But Shaw, the No. 9 hitter, lifted a home run to left field. Fayetteville's celebration was brief, and Rogers overtook the Bulldogs with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Templeton, who started the game on the mound for Rogers, put the Mounties ahead with a line-drive double past third base that scored two runs. Watson then launched a two-run home run to center field on a cold and blustery day. "(Templeton) didn't have his best stuff on the mound, but he sure had a big hit in the sixth when we needed it," Melson said. Jackson Down put Fayetteville ahead 1-0 lead with a home run in the second inning. Fayetteville added three runs in the fourth inning to chase Templeton. The Bulldogs had three hits in the inning, including run-scoring singles by Magre and Sinacore. Rogers cut the Fayetteville lead to 4-2 in the fourth with the help of a double from Jay Watson, a single by Sal Jacobo and a two-out error by the Bulldogs. Fayetteville loaded the bases in the third inning but did not score after Luke Davenport hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

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ROGERS MOUNTIES RALLY PAST FAYETTEVILLE

RICK FIRES

Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette | 4/4/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Fayetteville High School Athletics