Camels knock North Pem from ranks of undefeated

Campbell's Cote Harralston (3) slides into home unchallenged as North Pemiscot catcher Phillip Palmer awaits the throw during Tuesday's baseball game at Campbell. [Click to enlarge]

CAMPBELL, Mo. -- With North Pemiscot and Cooter getting the lion's share of attention in the Tri-County Conference, the Campbell Camels have quietly put together a great spring.

"It's better being the underdog because nobody expects you to do nothing," Campbell pitcher Dustin Crane said. "You just go out and play hard, work hard and beat them."

And that's exactly what the Camels have done, taking a 21-3 victory over Cooter earlier this month and downing North Pemiscot, 6-1, here Tuesday, handing the Mustangs their first loss of the spring.

Southland's Rachel Williams takes a swing at a pitch during Tuesday's softball game against North Pemiscot at Arbyrd. [Click to enlarge]

In other area baseball games Tuesday, it was Malden 7, Senath-Hornersville 4; and South Pemiscot 3, Caruthersville 1.

In area softball Tuesday, it was Southland 18, North Pemiscot 2; Senath-Hornersville 10, Campbell 3; and Holcomb 16, Gideon 1.

At Campbell, Crane turned in his best performance of the spring, tossing seven innings of seven-hit, no earned-run baseball while striking out 10 and walking three to earn the win.

"He struggled a little bit at the beginning of the year (but) we worked on a few things and he's made an adjustment," Campbell coach Justin Shell said. "In his last four outings, he's been the pitcher that we thought he would be this year."

After struggling to a 5-10 record in an injury-plagued fall, the Camels may have been overlooked a little entering the spring season.

Not anymore.

"We all knew that we didn't play to our capability (in the fall)," said Shell. "We've come out this year and kind of focused on doing the little things right as far as running the bases well, putting the baseball in play and getting back to pitching and defense. That's helped us win some games this spring."

Campbell (9-3) scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take control of Tuesday's game.

Sam Bader and Cale Weeks started the rally with one-out singles, then Zach Jackson singled home Bader to put the Camels ahead to stay. Weeks later scored on a grounder by Crane and Jackson came home on a passed ball.

That was all the support Crane would need, as he shut out the Mustangs (11-1) the rest of the way.

"Dustin threw the baseball extremely well today," North Pemiscot coach Jamie Johnson said. "He mixed his pitches up very well and kept us offbalance."

Said Crane: "I just want to thank God for letting me do good and my team for backing me up. They hit the ball well."

Bader went 4-for-4 to pace the Camels, while Jackson was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Parker Watkins was 3-for-4 for North Pemiscot, while Josh Tomlin was 2-for-4.

"We beat a good baseball team today," Shell said. "They're well-coached and they got some kids that can play at a very high level. ... If you can keep them off base and keep North Pem to one run, you've done a pretty good job."

Both teams are in action Friday, as Campbell heads to Portageville and the Mustangs host South Pemiscot.

"I wasn't pleased with our effort," said Johnson. "But, I think maybe we were due for a day like this. Hopefully we learn from it and get better."

Malden 7,

Senath-H'ville 4

At Malden, the visiting Lions jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Malden tied the score in the bottom of the inning to seize the momentum and pull out a Bootheel Conference victory.

The Green Wave scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning -- two coming on a key error -- to take the lead for good.

Dustin Hunter was 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs to pace Senath-Hornersville (10-5, 2-3 Bootheel).

The Lions head to Hayti Thursday to take on conference foe Portageville at 6:30 p.m.

Softball

Southland 18,

North Pemiscot 2

At Arbyrd, the Lady Rebels erupted for 14 runs in the third and fourth innings to improve to 8-3 on the season and 5-1 in the Tri-County Conference.

Darcy McMinn was 2-for-2 with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs to lead Southland, while Becca Bakich tossed four innings of no-walk, no-earned-run ball to pick up the win.

Amber Arrington was 2-for-3 with a leadoff home run to pace the Lady Mustangs.

Senath-H'ville 10, Campbell 3

At Campbell, Hannah Kennedy struck out 10 and walked none as the Lady Lions improved to 6-3 on the spring.

Kennedy helped her own cause at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs, while Megan Smith was also 2-for-4, hitting a three-run homer over the left-centerfield fence in the top of the seventh inning.