East Prairie opens season with strong rivalry win, no-hitter

East Prairie opened its season with a resounding 10-0 victory over Charleston in a Mississippi County rivalry game at H.A. Jones Memorial Park on Friday, March 15.

Rayne Jerrigan dominated on the mound, throwing four shutout innings with six strikeouts and limiting the Blue Jays (0-1) to just six hits.

Ty Wallace and Tate Henderson ignited the offense, each collecting two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs.

East Prairie's Jack Pearson (23) makes a catch during a doubleheader against Ballard County at H.A. Jones Memorial Park in East Prairie, Missouri on Saturday, March 16, 2024.Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

“Our pitchers attacked the strike zone and only issued one walk,” said East Prairie coach Gary Scott. “I was very pleased with their performance today. Offensively we put the ball in play and made some things happen.”

The Eagles (2-2) early momentum was further solidified in the first game of a home doubleheader against Ballard County (1-2) on Saturday, March 16.

Noah Johnson delivered a masterful performance, tossing a complete-game no-hitter in the 6-0 win.

East Prairie's Ty Wallace (6) runs during a doubleheader against Ballard County at H.A. Jones Memorial Park in East Prairie, Missouri on Saturday, March 16, 2024.Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

“[Johnson] did an outstanding job,” Scott said. “He pounded the strike zone, stayed ahead of hitters and kept his pitch count low. He allowed his fielders to be involved in the game. We mixed it up well and did a great job.”

Wallace and Hunter Newton each had multiple timely hits, with Owen Knight adding three RBIs.

“We hit the ball well as a team and put it in a play,” Scott said. “We came through with some clutch hits in the first game, the defense made plays and we did the things necessary to win the game.”

East Prairie's momentum stumbled in the second game, however, resulting in a 3-2 loss. Despite Owen Knight's solid pitching (10 strikeouts over 6.2 innings), offensive struggles sealed the narrow defeat.

“We got content and we’re just going through the motions a little bit,” Scott said. “When we did get hits, [Ballard] made the plays. We just couldn’t get anything going.”

A Monday matchup against Meadow Heights brought another loss, with East Prairie falling 6-4. Jack Pearson pitched 4.1 innings, allowing five earned runs, but ultimately couldn't contain Meadow Heights' offense.

While the back-to-back losses highlight areas for improvement, East Prairie's flashes of brilliance – the dominant opener, Johnson's no-hitter – offer a glimpse of their potential as the season unfolds.

__EAST PRAIRIE 10, CHARLESTON 0, F/5__

Charleston 000 00x x — 0 8 3

E. Prairie 332 02x x — 10 7 0

W—Rayne Jerrigan. L—Bryant Gunn.

__EAST PRAIRIE 6, BALLARD COUNTY 0__

Ballard Co. 000 000 0 — 0 0 5

E. Prairie 240 000 x — 6 8 1

W—Noah Johnson. L— J. Irvin.

__BALLARD COUNTY 3, EAST PRAIRIE 2__

Ballard Co. 003 000 0 — 3 4 4

E. Prairie 020 000 0 — 2 4 3

W—A. Puckett. L—Owen Knight. 2B—East Prairie: Rayne Jerrigan.

__MEADOW HEIGHTS 6, EAST PRAIRIE 4__

E. Prairie 000 103 0 — 4 6 1

M. Heights. 220 020 x — 6 9 5

W—B. Hays. L—Jack Pearson. 2B—Meadow Heights: H. Miller, R. Grindstaff.