ARCOLA - Braving a cold north wind and bundled in blankets Deer Creek Warriors baseball fans headed to the warmth of their vehicles after a 20-13 victory of the Briarfield Academy Rebels Thursday afternoon.
After giving up a big lead, Deer Creek played seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The eventual game winner came when right fielder Whitt Parker dropped a fly ball off the bat of Deer Creek’s Clayton Kilgore.
“It was good to get a win,” said Deer Creek head coach Benny McLendon. “We don’t handle success or failure real well right now.”
After trailing for most of the game and scratching a run here and there due to Deer Creek errors and walks, Briarfield broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning with nine runs. With the bases loaded Rebels left fielder Carter Coullard lined a two RBI double down the third base line given his team an 8-7 lead. After scoring nine runs in the frame, Briarfield led 13-7.
The Warriors opened a commanding lead in the bottom of the second inning by sending 12 batters to the plate and scoring all seven of their runs with two outs. Braden Smith led the big inning with a two RBI single. Warriors starting pitcher Noah Allegrezza lined a wicked shot off Briarfield starting pitcher Ben Coullard’s leg prompting a pitching change and a collective “woo!” from the crowd as they reacted to the sound.
The Rebels loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fourth inning and pushed two runs across. Allegrezza walked in a run and gave up an RBI ground out to Webb Landon but kept Briarfield out of a big inning.
