CONWAY -- Grayson Pinkett produced a timely hit to send the East to a 3-1 victory over the West in the first game of a doubleheader in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game at Bear Stadium on Tuesday.
The East managed only three singles against four West pitchers, but Pinkett -- a catcher from hometown Conway -- provided the biggest blow with his one-out liner to center in the top of the fourth inning.
"I saw a fastball, and I got a good swing on the pitch," said Pinkett, who was selected as the doubleheader's MVP. "We got two runs out of it, and it helped my team win this game."
In the second game, Benton brothers Colten and Chase Nix combined to drive in five runs in a 13-13 tie. The 26 combined runs are the most since the baseball all-star game was added to the AHSCA schedule. The previous high was 24 in 2003. The series is now tied at 13-13-2.
Tuesday's first game was dominated by the pitching staffs of both teams. There were a combined eight hits -- all singles -- between the two teams.
Winning pitcher Dylan Thompson of Little Rock Catholic allowed 2 hits and struck out 4 in his 3 innings of work. Thompson is headed to the University of Arkansas this fall.
"Usually when I'm pitching, I'm trying to go all seven [innings]," Thompson said. "I'll try to be consistent all seven, but when I'm going only three, I'll throw a little harder. When you're only going three, you want to showcase what you've got."
Horatio's Cole Boyd reached with one out in the second when his high pop fly fell for a single in left-center field. A double play ended the inning.
Springdale's Carson Johnson singled with two outs in the third, but the West rally died with the last of Thompson's four strikeouts.
"I really had to locate my pitches in this game," Thompson said. "They got that one hit in the outfield they shouldn't have, but that can happen in baseball. I just tried to compete and locate all three of my pitches."
Prior to Pinkett's hit, Reagan Cates of Parkers Chapel had drawn a leadoff walk, and Evan Lee of Bryant was hit by a one-out pitch. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Pinkett followed with his single up the middle on a two-ball, two-strike offering to drive in two.
The West cut into the East lead in the sixth when Drew Young of Bentonville stroked a one-out single to left to score Chase Nix of Benton. But back-to-back strikeouts by Searcy pitcher Bryce Bartlett ended the West rally.
The East got the run back in the seventh when Blake McLelland of Junction City was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on back-to-back errors.
McLelland turned in the defensive play of the game when he made a diving catch of a deep fly ball to center by Boyd to record the final out of the fourth inning. His catch saved at least one run.
"When he hit it, I just knew they were going to score that run," said Pinkett, who is headed to Independence County Community College in Kansas. "When he made that diving catch, I jumped up so high in the dugout. I was so happy."
Bartlett struck out 4 and walked 3 in his 3 innings of work. Conway's Collin Cahill worked the final inning, getting a double play to end the game, for the save.
Young started for the West, striking out one and giving up a hit in his two innings. Tyler Gilbert of Murfreesboro took the loss, going two innings while walking one and allowing Pinkett's hit. Justin Swecker of Genoa Central gave up a hit and a walk in his two innings on the mound. Logan Gragg of Prairie Grove struck out two and gave up an unearned run in the seventh.
WEST 13, EAST 13
Colten Nix belted a two-run home run and Chase Nix clubbed a two-run triple for the West. Caleb Carr of White Hall also drove in two runs for the West while Arkadelphia's Ty Kosters had a game-high three hits, including two doubles.
Pinkett collected two more RBI for the East in the second game, giving him four for the day. Lee of Bryant and MacKenzie Seats of Sylvan Hills each drove in two runs in the second game.
Dakota Stafford of Little Rock Central led the East with three hits in the second game.
GAME ONE
EAST;000;200;1 -- 3 3 2
WEST;000;001;0 -- 1 5 3
Thompson, Bartlett (4), Cahill (7) and Pinkett, Stafford (5); Young, Gilbert (3), Swecker (5), Gragg (7) and Boyd, Young (5). W -- Thompson. L -- Gilbert.
GAME TWO
WEST;004;421;0 -- 13 10 4
EAST;015;5020;0 -- 13 13 3
Cross, Youngblood (3), Wade (4), Henry (5), Heffley (6) and Gragg; Allen, Mills (4), Welch (6), Lee (7) and Stafford, Daniels (4). HR - Colten Nix.
All-Star schedule
University of Central Arkansas, Conway
TUESDAY
BASEBALL East 3-13, West 1-13
SOFTBALL East 6-12, West 2-6
TONIGHT
GIRLS SOCCER Estes Stadium, 5 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER Estes Stadium, 7 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL Farris Center, 6 p.m.
THURSDAY
GIRLS BASKETBALL Farris Center, 6 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL Farris Center, 8 p.m.
FRIDAY
FOOTBALL Estes Stadium, 7 p.m.
Sports on 06/22/2016