East Prairie tosses combined no-hitter in season opener against Meadow Heights

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Peyton Hodges, Owen Knight and Noah Johnson combined to throw a no-hitter for East Prairie in the Eagles’ 3-0 season-opening win over Meadow Heights on Monday, March 20.

“I thought we did a good job today,” said East Prairie coach Gary Scott. “Meadow Heights threw a couple of good pitchers at us and we found a way to scrap out three runs. The key to getting the win was our pitching. We were dominant on the mound today. Starting the year off with a combined no-hitter is awesome. I’m very happy with how our guys competed.”

Hodges earned the win after starting the game. He pitched 3.1 innings, striking out nine batters and walking two.

Knight pitched the next 2.2 innings. He finished with five strikeouts and walked four batters.

Owen Knight throws a pitch during East Prairie's 21-0 win at Scott County Central on Monday, March 28. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

Johnson pitched the final inning and earned the save after striking out two.

The Eagles' (1-0) top players at the plate were Johnson, Knight, Ty Wallace, Rayne Jernigan and Hodges.

Johnson led the team with two hits. He also had an RBI and scored a run.

Noah Johnson throws a pitch during Valley Park's 6-5 win over East Prairie in the MSHSAA Class 3 Quarterfinals at H.A. Jones Park in East Prairie, Mo., on Thursday, May 26. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

Wallace, Hodges and Jernigan each had a hit. Wallace and Hodges each scored a run, and Knight was responsible for an RBI.

East Prairie is scheduled to travel to Kelly (0-1) on Thursday, March 23.

__EAST PRAIRIE 3, MEADOW HEIGHTS 1__

M. Heights 000 000 0 - 0 0 3

E. Prairie 002 001 x - 3 5 1

W—Peyton Hodges. L—Grindstaff. 2B-East Prairie: Noah Johnson, Hodges.