The Beggs junior high baseball team recently battled through a tough late-March stretch, dropping four games to Preston, NOAH, Hilldale and Checotah.

— Preston JH explodes for 15-run inning in rout of Beggs

The Preston Pirates junior high baseball team delivered a dominant performance on March 23, defeating the Beggs Demons 181. The Pirates’ explosive offense was highlighted by a remarkable 15-run second inning that put the game out of reach early.

Preston wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the first inning. Kadrian Carter singled to left field to drive in a run, while Terrell Dewberry followed with a fielder’s choice that plated another. Bryson Fuqua added to the early momentum by drawing a walk with the bases loaded, bringing in a third run.

The second inning proved decisive, as the Pirates erupted for 15 runs on nine hits. Wesley Cope led the surge with a tworun single, while A.K. Hurst added an RBI single. Aggressive baserunning contributed as well, including a steal of home that brought in two runs. Maverick Stubblefield, Brody Bailey, Jax Hurt and Carter each contributed key hits, combining for multiple RBIs during the inning. The Pirates also capitalized on walks and a wild pitch to extend their lead.

On the mound, Paxton McCart earned the win with a strong outing, allowing just one hit and one unearned run over three innings while striking out nine batters without issuing a walk.

Offensively, Preston tallied 10 hits, with Hurt, Hurst, Bailey and Carter each recording two. The team also showcased speed on the base paths, stealing 19 bases in the game.

Hunter Driver accounted for Beggs’ lone hit and also stole two bases in the loss.

— Big second inning sinks Beggs JH in loss to NOAH The Beggs Junior High Demons baseball saw an early lead slip away on March 26, falling 11-5 to NOAH Jaguars JH Black after a decisive second inning at Hilldale High School.

Beggs struck first in the opening inning when Max delivered an RBI single to give the Demons a 1-0 lead. However, NOAH quickly answered in the bottom half, using a string of singles from Evan Dodd, Jensen Shores and Andrew Jameson to take a 4-1 advantage.

The Demons responded in the top of the second inning with a rally of their own. Beggs capitalized on patience at the plate, as Brendon Bush was hit by a pitch and Max, Hunter Driver and Bowen each drew walks, all forcing in runs to push Beggs back in front, 5-4.

That lead was short-lived. NOAH turned the game around in the bottom of the second inning, erupting for seven runs to take control. Despite recording just two hits in the frame, NOAH took advantage of walks and key situations, with Eli Zimmerman delivering a pivotal groundout that drove in two runs and highlighted the inning.

Max started on the mound for Beggs, allowing five hits and 11 runs – though only three were earned – over one and two-thirds innings. He also struck out one and walked three. Benton Young started for NOAH and surrendered five runs, just one earned, over one and two-thirds innings while striking out three and walking four.

Offensively, Max led Beggs with two RBIs, going 1-for-1 from the three spot in the lineup.

NOAH finished with five hits, with Shores, Zimmerman, Henry Jameson, Dodd and Andrew Jameson each recording one. The Jaguars also applied pressure on the base paths, stealing nine bases in the game.

Despite a strong showing of plate discipline early, Beggs was unable to recover from NOAH’s big second inning, which proved to be the difference in the contest.

— JH Demons fall to Hilldale The Beggs Junior High Demons were unable to recover from a big second inning by Hilldale, falling 11-1 on March 27.

After Hilldale opened the scoring in the first inning on a fielder’s choice, Beggs responded in the top of the second. Matthew worked a walk to bring in a run, tying the game at 1-1 and briefly shifting momentum.

However, Hilldale quickly took control in the bottom half of the inning, erupting for six runs to break the game open. The Hornets capitalized on a mix of timely hitting, walks and defensive miscues. Bear Nail started the rally with an RBI single, while additional runs came from walks, an error, a groundout and a passed ball, giving Hilldale a commanding lead.

Hilldale continued to add on in the third inning, scoring four more runs with the help of Beggs errors, extending the advantage to 11-1.

Hunter Driver started on the mound for Beggs, allowing four hits and 11 runs – four of them earned – over two innings. He struck out two and walked six. Despite the loss, Driver made an impact on the base paths, stealing three bases.

Offensively, Beggs was limited throughout the game, as Hilldale pitcher Jaxton Wofford held the Demons hitless over three innings while striking out six.

Hilldale finished with four hits but took advantage of six walks and aggressive baserunning, stealing nine bases in the game. The Hornets also played a clean defensive game, committing no errors.

While Beggs showed early promise by tying the game in the second inning, Hilldale’s explosive response proved to be the difference.

— Early deficit too much for Beggs JH in loss to Checotah The Beggs Junior High Demons fell behind early and could not recover, dropping a 9-0 decision to the Checotah Middle School Wildcats on March 27 at Hilldale High School.

Checotah set the tone in the opening inning, erupting for six runs to take immediate control of the game. The Wildcats capitalized on a combination of walks, timely hits and a Beggs error. Taggart Duvall drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the first run, followed by a two-run single from Wyatt Powell. Kanaan Lovett and Keegan Hollingshed each added RBI singles, while another run scored on a defensive miscue.

The Wildcats continued to build on their lead in the second inning, adding three more runs. Tristen Palmer delivered an RBI double down the left field line, while Lovett added another run-scoring single. Hollingshed later drew a walk to push the lead to 9-0.

Beggs struggled to generate offense against Checotah pitcher Bentley Freeman, who allowed just one hit over two innings while striking out three and walking one. Max accounted for the Demons’ lone hit, finishing 1-for-1 at the plate.

On the mound, Bowen started for Beggs and worked one and one-third innings, allowing five hits and nine runs – seven of them earned – while striking out three and walking four.

Despite the loss, Beggs showed some defensive effort, turning a double play during the game.

Checotah was led offensively by Lovett, who collected two hits and drove in two runs, while Hollingshed also contributed two RBIs.

The early surge by Checotah proved to be the difference, as Beggs was unable to recover after the first-inning deficit.