Chicks fall to Piggott

SPORTSPLEX--The Blytheville Chickasaws lost a 7-2 five inning decision to the Piggott Mowhawks in a non-conference matchup Saturday afternoon on a cool and blustery day at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex.

Senior Josh Pankey led the Chicks offense with two doubles, a single and an RBI. Blytheville starting pitcher, Dalton Pruett, didn't allow an earned run in four innings of work for the Chicks. The sophomore right hander allowed just two hits while striking out four in the Chicks final home game of the season.

Piggott scored two runs in the second, three more in the fourth and added a pair in the fifth.

Blytheville scored a run in the bottom of the third on Pankey's RBI double scoring Keontray Wilkerson. The Chicks plated another run in the fourth thanks to the legs of Jamal Washington. Washington made it from first to third on a sacrifice bunt from Kyle Jackson and later scored on a wild pitch.

While most people who were there Saturday will probably not remember the final score, they will remember the final two innings and the performance of Blytheville ninth grader, DeOndre Atterbury.

Atterbury has been the team's dugout manager this year but on Saturday, he was the teams shining star. Atterbury pitched two innings, struck out four consecutive batters and didn't allow a hit. He even picked off a runner at first. At the plate, Atterbury picked up a hit and stole second base and home much to the delight of the Chickasaw faithful and Piggott fans who made the trip to Blytheville.

"The kid has the sweetest soul that a human being can have," said Chickasaw head coach Bret Kirk. "He's been the heart and soul of this team all year. I told the kids, DeOndre's been behind you guys all year. It's time we all get behind DeOndre. It made for a good memory in what's been mostly a tough year."

Former Blytheville Chickasaw and current Piggott Mowhawk head coach, Shawn Hearn, agreed with the sentiment.

"It was an honor to do it," said Hearn. "I told my players, God rewards good deeds and everyone of you out there will be rewarded but the one who was probably rewarded the most was DeOndre. It reminds our kids that sometimes in life there are things bigger than baseball."

The Chicks head to Greene County Tech on Tuesday to take on the Eagles and finish up the season at Beebe on Tuesday, May 1.

afitzpatrick@blythevillecourier.com