Central baseball team takes early lead, beats NMCC

The Central baseball teamed jumped out to a quick lead and didn't allow visiting New Madrid County Central to rally Tuesday.

The Tigers held on for the 3-1 victory.

"We're an inconsistent ballclub right now," NMCC coach Joseph McClarty said. "We weren't ready to play the first two or three innings, and we were never ready to hit."

The Tigers wasted little time in jumping out on top by taking advantage of a pair of hit batters and an error to load the bases. Batting cleanup Ryan Seibert hit a line drive to left-center field that scored leadoff hitter Christian Cavaness.

Aaron Wendel's ground out pushed Central's lead to 2-0 later in the inning.

Ethan Dambach scored on a dropped fly ball in the outfield in the second inning for the Tigers' third run.

NMCC (8-4) tried to claw back into it when four consecutive batters reached base safely with one out in the third inning.

A single up the middle from Jimmy Ash was followed up by a hit by Denton Daugherty and walk to Kyle Harris to load the bases. Gabe Smith's single past the shortstop drove in the Eagles' only run of the contest while leaving the bases loaded.

But Central starting pitcher Chase Hagerty collected two straight strikeouts to end the threat.

"It's OK to give up a run or two, you just kind of minimize the damage," Central coach Steve Williams said. "Don't let a one- or two-run inning turn in to a five- or six-run inning. He kept them off at one run at that really helped."

Hagerty picked up the win by going all seven innings to help the Tigers improve to 3-10 this season. He allowed one run on seven hits and a walk while striking out 10, including the side in the second.

"He did a real good job," Williams said. "He deserved to win today, and not that their guy didn't, but Chase battled and made some big pitches when he needed to get us out of innings. I was real proud of him today."

NMCC's JaShawn McDaniel allowed three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out eight and hitting three batters over six innings.

NMCC 001 000 0 -- 1 7 2

Central 210 000 x -- 3 3 1

WP -- Chase Hagerty. LP -- JaShawn McDaniel. 2B -- Kyle Harris (NMCC), Ryan Seibert (C). Multiple hits -- NMCC: Denton Daugherty 3-4; Central: Ryan Seibert 2-3.