Pleimann excels on the mound and at the plate for Fayetteville

Poor defense has cost the Purple Bulldogs (16-9-1) some games this season, so Fayetteville coach Scott Gallagher admitted that's been a focal point in practice lately. "We've played better and as a result we haven't given up a whole lot of runs," Gallagher said. "I think we made one error in the last three games and that came when we were up 11-1. We've hit it and pitched pretty consistently. But fielding is the one thing that's been most inconsistent." Fayetteville swept Springdale High this week and will now get set for a big two-game set against Van Buren beginning on Monday. The Pointers are 7-3 in 7A-West conference play with four games remaining and are currently third, while Fayetteville is 7-5 with only two left and is fourth. "It's big since it gives us a chance to flip-flop the standings and we can get the tiebreaker on them if we can sweep," Gallagher said. "It's big for us to keep momentum going into the state tournament." Senior Miller Pleimann, who has signed with Wichita State, has been an anchor on the mound, going 4-2 with a 1.95 ERA, but he's also been a surprise at the plate, Gallagher said. Pleimann plays first base when he's not pitching. "I don't know if he had an at-bat for us last year," Gallagher said. "We hit him all the time now and he's been a catalyst for us hitting in the two hole. We started him in the seven- or eight-hole. Going into (Tuesday) he was hitting .350. He's really been Mr. Consistency for us." Junior Jackson Down is another player, who has caught fire with the bat recently, and is close with Pleimann for the team lead in batting average. "He didn't have a varsity at-bat last year and was spot playing early," Gallagher said. "But he's a kid who works the count and started down in the order, but we've been hitting him in the three-hole the last couple weeks."

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
BULLDOG

PLEIMANN EXCELS ON THE MOUND AND AT THE PLATE FOR FAYETTEVILLE

STAFF

Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette | 4/26/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Jason Ivester