Johnson delivers for Vipers

Little Rock’s Dylan Chilcote (left) watches as teammate Markus Bracey makes a diving catch during their game
against Jacksonville on Monday in the American Legion state tournament. Little Rock pulled away for a 12-5 victory.
Little Rock’s Dylan Chilcote (left) watches as teammate Markus Bracey makes a diving catch during their game against Jacksonville on Monday in the American Legion state tournament. Little Rock pulled away for a 12-5 victory.

CONWAY -- Gavin Johnson carried the Little Rock Vipers for as long as he could on a muggy Monday afternoon. It turned out to be good enough.

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Little Rock’s Lance Harville-Thomas is tagged out by Jacksonville’s Tyson Flowers as he slides into third base during Jacksonville’s 12-5 loss to Little Rock Monday in the American Legion State Tournament.

Johnson allowed only 1 hit and 2 base runners through 5 innings in an elimination game at the American Legion AAA state tournament as the Vipers built a five-run advantage against Jacksonville Gwatney at the Hendrix College field. Little Rock held on for a 12-5 victory to become one of six teams remaining for the second weekend of the double-elimination tournament.

"Gavin knew this was his day to start and he did exactly what we were looking for," Vipers assistant coach Jim Allison said. "He did a super job."

The Vipers will play another elimination game Friday against the Fort Smith Sportsman at Hendrix. Paragould and North Little Rock will also play in an elimination game Friday.

Johnson set Jacksonville down order in the second, third and fifth innings, but could not retire Gwatney outfielder Mike Havard. Havard singled in the first, reached on an error to start the fourth inning and was hit by a pitch with two outs in the sixth.

After Havard reached base with two outs in the sixth, Caleb McMunn singled and back-to-back walks to Brandon Hickingbotham and Jordan Wickersham chased Johnson. From there, the Vipers pieced together enough outs to stay alive.

"We have caught the 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. game every day of this tournament," Allison said. "And you could tell it there at the end for both teams. They were feeling the wear and tear of the week."

Jacksonville had 16 batters reach base -- three on hits, one hit batter and 12 on walks -- in the final four innings, but Gwatney left nine runners stranded.

Little Rock collected 10 hits against five Jacksonville pitchers. Centerfielder Dylan Chilcote singled three times and drove in a run. Left fielder Markcus Bracey singled, doubled, walked twice and drove in run. Third baseman Dakota Stafford drove in two runs with a single in the first and with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Three of Jacksonville's runs came on bases-loaded walks, another came on a balk and another on a ground out.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK 7, ROGERS 1

Christian Goshen came up big on the mound and at the plate as the North Little Rock Colts tamed Rogers in Monday's early game.

Goshen struck out 4, walked 2 and allowed only 1 unearned run in pitching a complete-game nine hitter. Goshen also had a run-scoring double and drove in another run with a fifth-inning single.

"That's kind of how this tournament has gone for us," North Little Rock assistant coach Ryan Mahoney said. "The other night [shortstop/pitcher] Mackenzie Seats did the same thing. He came out and was lights out on the mound, and he also carried us with his bat. ... We tend to get one guy who leads us and we all jump on his back and go the whole way with him."

Centerfielder Chance Harger scored three runs, was hit by a pitch three times and singled for North Little Rock. First baseman Lawson Dulin drove in two runs with a single in the fifth and with a hit by pitch in the seventh. Julian Gonzalez also provided a run-scoring single in the seventh.

Rogers scored its lone run in the fourth inning when North Little Rock committed three errors. Max Horton picked up the RBI with a ground ball. Rogers left 10 runners stranded.

"[Goshen] is our No. 1 and he's been our No. 1 all year," Mahoney said. "He always goes out there and keeps us in the game. He gives us a chance to win the game. When he's on, he's lights out and today he gave us one of those lights out games despite the heat. We can't ask for anything more."

Sports on 07/19/2016

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