by Malcolm Butler
Freshman Eli Slocum provided the Cedar Creek baseball team a shot in the arm Thursday night.
Slocum tossed 4.2 solid innings and senior JB Robinson came on in relief to throw 2.1 scoreless frames as Cedar Creek defeated Many 8-4 in the first night of the Lakeside Tournament.
“Eli gave us a good start on the mound which we’ve needed badly,” said head coach Chad Yates. “JB came on in relief and has continued to pitch very well. We were able to put together some good at bats and got some big two-out hits.”
Slocum (1-1) picked up the win, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out five and walking just one. Robinson allowed just one run and one walk in 2.1 innings of action.
Freshman Cason Floyd got the Cougars off to a good start at the plate, driving in a pair of runs in the first inning with a two-run double.
“Cason had a big two-out, two-run double in the first,” said Yates.
Junior Brett Bell continued the two-out production for Creek in the sixth inning with an RBI single.
Connor Yates registered a pair of hits and three stolen bases while Kaleb Negrotto added two singles.
“This was a big win to snap our four-game losing skid,” said Yates.
Cedar Creek has played some tough competition to open the year, suffering setbacks against Central Private, Riverside Academy, North DeSoto and Benton.
“We played some pretty good baseball against Calvary Baptist,” said Yates. “But over these last (seven) games we had a little bit of a spin. We really haven’t put together some good innings, and it usually starts on the mound.
“We’ve had some guys we are putting out there to see what we are going to get, and we just haven’t gotten off to a good start.
“The bats have been cold which typically early in the year they are, especially with the weather we have had. We just haven’t strung together enough competitive at bats consistently to give ourselves a chance.
“We have played a couple of good teams that we will see there at the end. (Central Private and Riverside) are playoff teams in our division. It seems like we are running up against everybody’s No. 1 pitcher. We have seen quality arms every time out.
“We just have to string together some better pitching and better defense. That is what we are centered around.”
The Cougars (4-6) will continue the tournament by facing Byrd at 4 p.m. and Lakeside at 6 p.m. Saturday.
