Sports

JACKSON MARVELS ON MOUND FOR PBNB AGAINST BRAVES

By Sean Saunders/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Friday, July 3, 2009 12:09 AM CDT

Former Dollarway right-hander Elliot Jackson had the numbers for one of the top pitchers in Southeast Arkansas during the high school season. In Senior Babe Ruth ball, Jackson showed Thursday all the tools that made him effective on a team that went 8-18.

Jackson pitched a nine-inning two-hitter to lead Pine Bluff National Bank to a 4-0 win over the state tournament-bound Pine Bluff Braves at Taylor Field.

“He did his job. That’s what he’s out there for, to do his job,” PBNB coach Johnny Skillen said. “He pitched for Dollarway, and coach (Greg) Cleveland pitched him in a lot of ballgames. So I haven’t used him a whole lot, but every time I’ve put him out there, he’s done a super job.”

Jackson appeared to get stronger as the game wore on. During a stretch from the sixth to the ninth innings, he retired seven batters in a row and faced the minimum in the final three frames because of a pair of failed steal attempts.

That was after he had to work around a few jams in the previous frames. He allowed the leadoff man to reach in four consecutive innings starting in the third. But he preserved his shutout by getting the Braves to go 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

“Things have gone south for us the last few ballgames,” Braves coach Terry Washington said. “If we keep playing like this, we’re going to be two-and-out at state for sure.”

Jackson also managed to outduel Braves starter Sebastian Stargell for seven innings. Stargell was almost as stingy, giving up only one unearned run on one hit, four walks and a hit batsman. He also dealt 13 strikeouts.

PBNB got on the scoreboard in the third when Lawrence Baker led off the inning with a walk. He stole second as the throw went into center field, allowing him to make it to third. Stargell’s only wild pitch led to his only run.

PBNB got to Braves reliever Cameron Luckett in the ninth.

Tyler Peters drove in the first run of the inning in the form of Jackson with a base hit to right.

After a single and a walk loaded the bases, Logan Cheatwood hit a two-run single to right to set the final margin.

“That was really big. No coach wants to go into the bottom of the ninth inning with a 1-0 lead against the Pine Bluff Braves because they have a pretty good ballclub,” Skillen said. “That really helped out with Elliot because he knew he had a little more room to play with.”

Luckett’s three runs given up were all unearned.

Five of his six recorded outs came on strikeouts.

Rashard Brunson ended Jackson’s hope for a no-hit bid early by leading off the third with a base hit.

Stargell had the other hit in the seventh.

PBNB had a pair of players reach base twice.

Cheatwood’s hit in the ninth was his second time on base, and Todd Taylor reached on a walk and hit by pitch.

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