Sports

SIMMONS FALLS TO LITTLE ROCK EXPRESS IN EXTRAS

By The Commercial Staff
Friday, July 3, 2009 12:09 AM CDT

The Pine Bluff Simmons AAA American Legion team overcame a 6-0 lead only to fall to Little Rock Express 8-7 in extra innings in American Legion South Zone play Wednesday at Arkansas-Little Rock’s Gary Hogan Field.

Jeffrey Hayes finally got Simmons (17-8, 3-3) on the board in the sixth with a three-run home run. Nick Cox drove in the first run of the seventh before Brandon Arnold and Cox evened the game when Jesse Blackstock reached safely on an error with two outs.

Landon Hardin scored the go-ahead run on a one-out grounder by Blake Sorey in the 11th. But Express tied the game with a base-loaded walk before winning on a walk-off single.

Michael Newby settled down after giving up five runs in the first, three of which came on a bases-loaded triple. Newby pitched all 11 innings, giving up 10 hits, two walks and three hit batsmen. He also struck out 15 batters while throwing 175 pitches.

Cox led the way for Simmons by going 4-for-6 with a double and two runs scored. Matt Harbison was 3-for-6 after getting hits in his final three at-bats. Arnold and Hayes had two hits each.

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