Back-to-back run rules on Monday

Purcell had breakout games offensively on Monday when they hosted Harding Prep for a double header, winning both games by run-rules.

In the opening contest, Purcell shut out the Eagles, 10-0.

Deaken Dobbins and Kash Knowles combined to throw six innings of one-hit baseball.

“Both pitchers did a good job throwing strikes and attacking the zone all day,” head coach Cole Sharp said.

Parker Page, Carter Goldston and Jett Tyler led the Dragons with two hits each.

Page had a team-leading three RBIs.

“We hit the ball really well as a team,” Sharp continued. “Carter Golston is swinging the bat well for us.

“We played good defense, pitched well and hit the ball good throughout the day.  We needed this to get back on the right track.”

In the nightcap, the Dragons pounded the Eagles12-2.

Led by Goldston’s 2-3 outing at the plate, Purcell  finished with seven hits.

Casey Billingsley, Kash Knowles, Page, Dobbins and Bryson Perkins all had hits in the contest.

Meanwhile, pitchers Bryce Blair, Page and Preston Kane limited the Eagles to just a pair of hits while only walking three batters.

“All three of them did a tremendous job working the hitters and making them swing the bats and throwing strikes,” Sharp confirmed.

Errors and quiet bats plagued the Dragons in three losses in the Southeast Shootout in Broken Bow over Spring Break.

In losses to Durant, 2-1, Panama, 13-5 and Hartshorne,15-4, the Dragons managed only 13 hits while committing a dozen errors.

Dobbins pitched seven innings of three-hit ball against the Lions. He took the one run-loss when Durant pushed across a run in the bottom of the eighth off freshman reliever Kash Knowles.

Cash Cook, Billingsley and Selman had Purcell’s three hits in the game.

“I thought this was Deaken’s best outing of the season despite the loss,” Sharp said. “He competed on the mound and challenged Durant’s hitters all game long.  Kash Knowles came in relief and did a great job throwing strikes.

“Our hitting was quiet for the most part.  We just couldn’t get that timely hit when we needed it,” the coach said.

Despite four errors, Sharp said overall he thought his team played pretty well for the most part and gave themselves a chance to win at the end.

The Dragons committed six errors in the Panama loss and were out-hit 8-4.

Billingsley, Goldston, Cole Smedley, Dobbins and Selman all had singles in the game.

Boston Knowles took the pitching loss. He was relieved by Kane. Blair tossed the final 4 2/3 innings.

“We had some trouble throwing strikes during the game,” Sharp said. “I thought Bryce came in and threw strikes and did a great job. Mistakes in the field got us in trouble.”

Purcell limited its errors in the Hartshorne contest but the No. 15 team in 2A pinned a run-rule loss on the Dragons.

Billingsley took the pitching loss with Smedley and Selman leading the offense with two hits each.

A total of 19 walks issued by Dragon pitchers also added fuel to the losses.

Purcell is 6-12 on the year.

The Dragons are scheduled to tangle with Vanoss at home Friday and travel to Cache next Monday. They will host those same Bulldogs next Tuesday with both games starting at 5 p.m.