Pleasant Grove put together an all-around effort to post its 10th win of the season.
Braden Hlavinka hit a two-run home run for the Hawks, and Marshall Oubre and Ryan Galvan combined to pitch a two-hitter to help run-rule Ashdown, 12-1, on Monday at Hawk Field in their final tune-up game before district play begins.
"It was a day-and-night difference from our approach of Saturday's loss to New Diana," Pleasant Grove coach Riley Fincher said. "Our guys know how great of a program Ashdown is as they play with them in summer ball. They've been to the state finals a couple of times in the past few years and have great players and a great coaching staff."
Pleasant Grove's Oubre got off to a rough start before settling down in the first inning.
The junior pitcher walked three of the first four batters to load the bases before pitching the Hawks out of the jam with a pop fly and two strikeouts.
With the momentum in Pleasant Grove's favor from not allowing any runs, the Hawks came out in bottom of the inning and scored the game's first two runs. Carson Cox and Jackson Cobb both delivered singles to get on base and later scored off of two ground balls and a bad pick-off attempt.
"I think the turning point for us was Marshall Oubre in the first inning," Fincher said. "We had bases loaded and no outs, but we got out of it without giving up anything, then come out and score two quick runs. That was huge for us."
Oubre pitched four solid innings and struck out five.
After retiring the side in the second, the Hawks came back out and started where they left off in the first.
Ashdown got two quick outs, but a throwing error and an infield hit gave Pleasant Grove some life. With two on, Cox drilled a double to bring in two runs and was later brought home by a double from Cobb. Ben Harmon then singled up the middle and Keaton Russo was walked before Hlavinka hit an RBI single to give the Hawks an 8-0 lead.
Pleasant Grove's Cobb finished 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and Hlavinka had five RBI. Jaden Hill had a single and a stolen base for the Panthers.
Neither team would score in the third, despite Ashdown having a runner in scoring position with one out. Andrew LeGrand hit a long single to left field but was thrown out at second by Tate Hooper trying to stretch it to a double.
Pleasant Grove would get back on the board in the fourth inning when it scored four runs on three hits.
Cobb led the inning off with a double, followed by a Russo walk. Seth Hopkins drove in Cobb with a single and Hlavinka cleared the bases with a three-run shot over the left field wall to increase the lead to 12-0.
The Panthers scored their first run in the fifth when Braylon Bishop smashed a line-drive, solo home run over Hopkins head in right. After the homer, Galvan forced a groundout and later struck out the final two batters.
"We did a great job today all around I thought," Fincher said. We kept battling and competing. I tell my guys to compete at the plate. When you swing and miss, you can't just get up there and look. You have to attack and that's what we done today. I thought our pitchers filled the zone really well and just kept attacking."
Pleasant Grove (10-3) will travel to Pittsburg on Friday to begin District 14-4A play against the Pirates, and first pitch will be at 6 p.m. Ashdown (8-5) hosts Horatio on Saturday.
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Game called after 4 1/2 innings, 10-run rule.
Brad Bearden, Will Burnett (5) and Alex Day. Marshall Oubre, Ryan Galvan (4) and Keaton Russo. WP-Oubre. LP-Bearden. HR: ASH-Braylon Bishop, 5th, none on. PG-Braden Hlavinka, 4th, 2 on.