John Garner’s command performance both on the mound and at the plate gave Central the kind of leadership the Cougars needed to move past Phillips County rival Barton, 20-9, at the J.R. House Athletic Complex Tuesday night.
Garner pitched into the seventh inning mowing down Barton batters before Central Manager Matt Cummings chose to bring on Trey Carthan in relief.
The Cougars moved their season record to 3-1 with a third straight victory after a season opening on the road at West Memphis.
Central played Clarksdale (Miss.) in a makeup game Thursday on its home turf at Gene Bearden Stadium. Cummings said he would start Kyrin Burrell in that contest against the visiting Wildcats.
After a slow start against Barton, Central’s offense finally came alive in the late innings as the Cougars scored nine runs in the sixth inning and six more runs in the seventh inning.
Cummings was a bit perturbed with Central’s early sluggishness.
“I’d rather see us playing better offensively coming out of the starting gate,” Cummings said. Leftfielder DeAngelo Pittard led the potent offense collecting four hits in six at-bats and driving in four runs.
Garner helped his own cause with three hits in five at-bats and driving in two runs. Carthan pounded out two hits and drove in a run.
Cummings said Central’s pitching staff is coming together. Garner and Burrell are finding the strike zone consistently. Anterio Sloan, the team’s all-around player and Class 5A All-State football player last fall, is comfortable either in the infield or on the mound.
Cummings said if the team has any noticeable weak spots is catching.
“Our Achilles heel is catching,” he said. “We’re trying several players at catching.”
After Clarksdale, Central begins the 5A-East grind with a doubleheader on the road Tuesday at Forrest City.
“Forrest City has a good ball club,” Cummings said. He said one of the Mustangs has already committed to play for Arkansas State.
Cummings agrees that nothing helps a team get better than a good winning streak.
With their three victories the Cougars are breaking out of the doldrums that saw Central go winless in 2008 and 2009.
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John Garner’s command performance both on the mound and at the plate gave Central the kind of leadership the Cougars needed to move past Phillips County rival Barton, 20-9, at the J.R. House Athletic Complex Tuesday night.
Garner pitched into the seventh inning mowing down Barton batters before Central Manager Matt Cummings chose to bring on Trey Carthan in relief.
The Cougars moved their season record to 3-1 with a third straight victory after a season opening on the road at West Memphis.
Central played Clarksdale (Miss.) in a makeup game Thursday on its home turf at Gene Bearden Stadium. Cummings said he would start Kyrin Burrell in that contest against the visiting Wildcats.
After a slow start against Barton, Central’s offense finally came alive in the late innings as the Cougars scored nine runs in the sixth inning and six more runs in the seventh inning.
Cummings was a bit perturbed with Central’s early sluggishness.
“I’d rather see us playing better offensively coming out of the starting gate,” Cummings said. Leftfielder DeAngelo Pittard led the potent offense collecting four hits in six at-bats and driving in four runs.
Garner helped his own cause with three hits in five at-bats and driving in two runs. Carthan pounded out two hits and drove in a run.
Cummings said Central’s pitching staff is coming together. Garner and Burrell are finding the strike zone consistently. Anterio Sloan, the team’s all-around player and Class 5A All-State football player last fall, is comfortable either in the infield or on the mound.
Cummings said if the team has any noticeable weak spots is catching.
“Our Achilles heel is catching,” he said. “We’re trying several players at catching.”
After Clarksdale, Central begins the 5A-East grind with a doubleheader on the road Tuesday at Forrest City.
“Forrest City has a good ball club,” Cummings said. He said one of the Mustangs has already committed to play for Arkansas State.
Cummings agrees that nothing helps a team get better than a good winning streak.
With their three victories the Cougars are breaking out of the doldrums that saw Central go winless in 2008 and 2009.
