The Siloam Springs American Legion Post 29 baseball team opened its home schedule on Wednesday at James Butts Baseball Park and learned some lessons at the same time.
A costly error in the bottom of the sixth inning led to two Springdale runs and the Panthers finished with a 2-2 tie in seven innings.
Siloam Springs left some runners on base in the early innings and the mistakes late led to the tie. The game was called after seven innings because there was another doubleheader to be played afterward.
"We're still young," said Post 29 head coach Alan Hardcastle. "We've got a lot of kids that have not played a lot of ball at this level. Springdale, that's going to be their returning varsity team, minus three or four kids. But the future's bright in Siloam Springs. We've got a good core of kids. We've got a group of kids that want to learn and they come hungry every day to the ballpark and they're real respectful."
The game opened with a pre-game ceremony, which included the American Legion color guard for the national anthem and the American Legion baseball oath.
Several American Legion state officials were there, and state commander J.W. Smith of Siloam Springs announced on the public address that it was the 91st season of American Legion baseball in Arkansas.
Once the game got started, Springdale had a tough time figuring out Post 29 starting pitcher L.T. Ellis.
Ellis, who will be a junior this fall, blew through the Springdale batting order in the first and second innings, retiring the Springdale side in order with three strikeouts.
The Siloam Springs right-hander hit a batter on an 0-2 count in the third inning, but he pitched around it as well as walks in the fourth and fifth innings.
Ellis did not allow a hit in five innings of work and finished with eight strikeouts.
"I think the future's bright with (Ellis)," Hardcastle said. "He's going to be a stud quarterback with football this year and he's a true leader. He's a natural leader. Just being a junior, it's a bright future for him."
Ellis was relieved on the mound to start the sixth inning with the Panthers leading 2-0.
Siloam Springs got on the board in the first inning when Tanner Broyles singled to open the frame, stole second base and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Landon Nickell.
The Panthers could have gotten more in the first as they had the bases loaded with nobody out but were only able to score the one run.
Siloam Springs squandered a pair of runners in the second inning, but they cashed in on a Springdale error in the third to go up 2-0.
Ellis led off with a single and eventually scored on an error.
The Siloam Springs bats went quiet afterward though, going hitless over the last four innings.
Springdale meanwhile got a pair of infield hits by J.P. Hignite and Josh Brady to open the sixth inning, but pitcher Landon Nickell got the next two outs and Post 29 had a chance to get out of the inning with the lead. An error by Reed Wilbanks at shortstop led to two runs to tie the game.
Nickell pitched a scoreless seventh inning for Siloam Springs, which was aided by catcher Jacob Rowe throwing out his second base-stealer of the game. The first one came in the fourth inning.
In game two, the Panthers took advantage of a slew of errors from RBI Baseball Academy out of Bentonville to build a 13-2 lead. Post 29 held on for a 13-10 victory.
"The future's bright," Hardcastle said. "We've just got to put on a little bit of muscle, get the kids in the weight room and just some reps."
With the results of Wednesday's doubleheader, Siloam Springs' record was 2-2-1. Post 29 dropped a 15-5 loss at Rogers on Tuesday.
Post 29 was scheduled to return to action on Saturday and Sunday at a tournament in Springdale. Results were not available at presstime.
Siloam Springs is scheduled to play at Prairie Grove on Tuesday before returning home to James Butts Baseball Park on Wednesday to face the same Springdale team at 6 p.m. Springdale and RBI Baseball Academy are scheduled to play afterward.
Siloam Springs Post 29
2017 schedule
Date^Opponent^Time/Results
May 30^at Lincoln^ppd
June 2^vs. Batesville*^W, 13-7
June 3^vs. Tri-County*^L, 15-2
June 6^at Rogers^L, 15-5
June 7^Springdale^T, 2-2
June 7^RBI Baseball Academy^W, 13-10
June 9-11^at Springdale Tournament^(n)
June 13^at Prairie Grove^5:30/7 p.m.
June 14^Springdale^6 p.m.
June 15^at Lincoln^5:30/7:30 p.m.
June 17^at Russellville^2/4 p.m.
June 20^at Rogers^6 p.m.
June 21^RBI Baseball Academy^8 p.m.
June 24^at Ozark^5:30/7 p.m.
June 27^at Prairie Grove^5:30/7 p.m.
June 28^Springdale^6 p.m.
June 28^RBI Baseball Academy^8 p.m.
July 1^at Clarksville^10:30 a.m./1 p.m.
* Tournament played in Harrison
Sports on 06/11/2017