Lions outslug Bearcats

Manila completed a successful week on the diamond by outslugging Brookland 12-11 Saturday. Ethan Navarro pitched four innings, allowing just five hits, to pick up the win for Manila. Brett Sweatman earned the save with an inning and a third of no-hit, no-run baseball. Sweatman also blasted a home run and added a double while scoring three times to lead the Lion offense.

Abraham Lopez went 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored, Layne Sims had an RBI single and scored twice while Jeremiah Perez added a pair of RBI.

The Lions kicked off the week routing Osceola 26-0 Monday. Brock Birmingham pitched three innings of one-hit, no-run ball to gain the victory. The freshman fanned six Seminoles. Sweatman doubled, drove in four runs and scored once. David Keys and Brady Clark both went 2-3 with three RBI each and a pair of runs scored apiece. Joel Burrow singled, scored twice and drove in three runs. Perez and Hunter Tarver both had RBI singles and scored runs. Michael Parker had an RBI single and scored twice. Cade Cater had an RBI single while Jacob Tarver added a single and scored twice. Navarro scored four runs and had an RBI. Lopez and Levi Stroud both scored two runs and had an RBI apiece. Birmingham laced a pair of singles while Randy Rosebrock scored twice and had an RBI. Sims scored a run and had one RBI.

The Lions defeated Hoxie 9-4 Tuesday in 3A-3 conference action. Manila trailed 3-0 before scoring five runs in the bottom of the third and four more in the bottom of the fifth to pull out the win.

Lopez tossed 6 1/3 innings to gain the victory. Lopez gave up four runs, five hits and struck out eight. Sims singled, doubled, drove in a pair of runs and scored once. Birmingham had a pair of singles and scored twice while Sweatman had an RBI double and scored a run. Stroud belted an RBI double and scored once. Joel Burrow added a two-run single with a run scored.

Rivercrest downed Manila 10-1 Friday at Wilson, handing the Lions their only defeat of the week. Burrow pitched 3 1/3 innings and took the loss. Burrow gave up six runs, four earned, allowed four hits, fanned three and walked four. Navarro pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing a run on two hits while Sweatman gave up three runs on one hit. Sweatman had Manila's only two hits, a single and an RBI double. Clark scored the Lion's lone run.

Manila returns to action Monday afternoon with a 3A-3 conference game at Piggott. The Lions will travel to Marion for a non-conference contest Friday.