Between games of his team's final Zone 2 doubleheader Monday evening, Taylor Ambulance Coach Michael Long talked with his team about playing to their capabilities and having "a little fun."
For the first time in three weeks, his merry band of baseball brethren relaxed and had a little fun as they pounded out a 12-1 victory over Armorel.
"You know, I don't care if we win or lose this game," Long said during the contest, "I'm just glad they're having some fun."
He needn't worry as Colton Shadwick took care of the defense pitching a five-inning complete game allowing only one run on five hits while striking out nine and walking one.
Taylor Ambulance scored in every inning en route to the victory and with it got the monkey off their back as they ended their 11-game losing streak.
"I'm proud of the kids for never giving up," Long said, "we didn't always play well in those games, but we played hard and finally some good things happened."
A red-hot Ryan McGaughey led the way offensively as he went 4-4 including his third homerun of the week and drove in two. He also scored three times. Shadwick and Aaron Coots had two hits and an RBI each for Newport. Michael Reynolds, Matthew Duvall and Devante Neal also had a hit in the victory.
Armorel 7
Taylor Ambulance 4
When it rains it pours and the AA-JR Taylor Ambulance squad have been getting doused lately.
Losing games every way imaginable, Taylor Ambulance extended their losing streak to 11 games Monday night with a 7-4 defeat at the hands of Armorel.
Falling behind 7-0 after two and a-half innings, Newport scored twice in the third and twice more in the sixth innings, yet would get no closer.
Leadoff hitter Michael Reynolds drew a two-out walk to start the third inning for Newport and Jim DuPree followed with a single. Following a wild pitch, both runners scored on a throwing error by Armorel to cut the lead to 7-2.
In the sixth inning, Grant Black and Aaron Coots singled to begin the inning. Black was safe at third on a ground ball hit by Devante Neal to load the bases. Gage Weaver drew a bases loaded walk to score Black while a ground out by Reynolds plated Coots for the final run of the night for Taylor Ambulance.
Zack McArthur took the loss for Newport as he pitched seven innings allowing seven runs on seven hits and struck out six while walking four.
DuPree, Matthew Duvall, Colton Shadwick, Black and Coots had one hit each for Newport.
Paragould 9, 9
Taylor Ambulance 8, 3
A bad-hop single erased a Newport lead and left the Taylor Ambulance team scratching their heads as they fell 9-8 in the bottom of the seventh inning to Glen Sain Motors.
The emotional first game loss carried over into the nightcap as Taylor Ambulance sluggishly moved through the motions striking out a season-high 15 times in a 9-3 loss to complete the doubleheader sweep.
In the opener, Newport built a 3-0 lead only to fall behind, 4-3 heading into the fifth inning, but two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth had Newport ahead 8-5.
However, Paragould cut the lead to 8-7 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and scored the game-winner when a line drive single to center field took a bad bounce over the head of Ryan McGaughey allowing the game-winning run to score.
McGaughey was the the hitting star for Newport as he had three hits - including a homerun - scored three runs and drove in two. Jim DuPree also had three hits, a walk, scored four runs and drove in one. Grant Black had a two-run base hit, while Matthew Duvall and Devante Neal had one hit and one RBI each. Michael Reynolds and McArthur also had one hit each.
In the nightcap, Paragould scored two runs in the top of the first inning, one more in the second and third and were never threatened as they pulled away for a 9-3 victory.
McGaughey suffered the loss for Newport on the mound as he worked three innings allowing four runs on four hits and walked four while fanning one. Duvall pitched 1.1 innings allowing five runs on one hit and walked five while striking out one. Gage Weaver pitched 2.2 innings of relief allowing two hits and two walks while striking out two.
Jonesboro 14, 8
Taylor Ambulance 8, 6
While the offense had struggled of late, the bats woke up finally only to find themselves staring at one of the Zone's most potent lineups, Fat City.
Despite piling up 14 runs on 15 hits in the doubleheader, Newport dropped both contests to their Zone 2 counterparts.
In the opener, Newport cut the Fat City lead to 9-8 after six innings before Jonesboro added four insurance runs in the seventh inning to take the wind out of the Taylor Ambulance sails and hold on for a 14-8 victory.
Jonesboro scored three times in the top of the first inning, before Newport cut the lead to 3-2 in the home half. Both teams settled down after the shaky opening frame before Jonesboro took advantage of the Newport defense for a five-run fifth inning.
Taylor Ambulance scored twice in the home half of the fifth and four more times in the sixth to cut the lead to 9-8.
Colton Shadwick suffered the loss for Newport as he allowed 14 runs on 13 hits and walked six. His defense also committed six errors behind him in the loss.
Shadwick also led the offense for Taylor Ambulance as he collected three hits and drove in four runs. Matthew Duvall had one hit, walked twice and scored three runs, while Ryan McGaughey had one hit - a double - a walk, drove in two and scored two. Devante Neal, Aaron Coots and Zack McArthur also had a hit each for Newport.
The second game saw Fat City break open a 3-3 tie with five runs in the bottom of the fourth and hang on for an 8-6 win.
Coots, in relief of Duvall, suffered the loss as he allowed four runs on five hits and one walk in one-third of an inning. McArthur worked 2.2 innings allowing three hits while striking out one. Duvall started and pitched three innings allowing three runs on four hits and walking three while striking out one.
Taylor Ambulance begins play tomorrow night in the Zone 2 tournament to be held at Paragould. Log onto www.newportindependent.com for game times and schedules as they become available.
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Between games of his team's final Zone 2 doubleheader Monday evening, Taylor Ambulance Coach Michael Long talked with his team about playing to their capabilities and having "a little fun."
For the first time in three weeks, his merry band of baseball brethren relaxed and had a little fun as they pounded out a 12-1 victory over Armorel.
"You know, I don't care if we win or lose this game," Long said during the contest, "I'm just glad they're having some fun."
He needn't worry as Colton Shadwick took care of the defense pitching a five-inning complete game allowing only one run on five hits while striking out nine and walking one.
Taylor Ambulance scored in every inning en route to the victory and with it got the monkey off their back as they ended their 11-game losing streak.
"I'm proud of the kids for never giving up," Long said, "we didn't always play well in those games, but we played hard and finally some good things happened."
A red-hot Ryan McGaughey led the way offensively as he went 4-4 including his third homerun of the week and drove in two. He also scored three times. Shadwick and Aaron Coots had two hits and an RBI each for Newport. Michael Reynolds, Matthew Duvall and Devante Neal also had a hit in the victory.
Armorel 7
Taylor Ambulance 4
When it rains it pours and the AA-JR Taylor Ambulance squad have been getting doused lately.
Losing games every way imaginable, Taylor Ambulance extended their losing streak to 11 games Monday night with a 7-4 defeat at the hands of Armorel.
Falling behind 7-0 after two and a-half innings, Newport scored twice in the third and twice more in the sixth innings, yet would get no closer.
Leadoff hitter Michael Reynolds drew a two-out walk to start the third inning for Newport and Jim DuPree followed with a single. Following a wild pitch, both runners scored on a throwing error by Armorel to cut the lead to 7-2.
In the sixth inning, Grant Black and Aaron Coots singled to begin the inning. Black was safe at third on a ground ball hit by Devante Neal to load the bases. Gage Weaver drew a bases loaded walk to score Black while a ground out by Reynolds plated Coots for the final run of the night for Taylor Ambulance.
Zack McArthur took the loss for Newport as he pitched seven innings allowing seven runs on seven hits and struck out six while walking four.
DuPree, Matthew Duvall, Colton Shadwick, Black and Coots had one hit each for Newport.
Paragould 9, 9
Taylor Ambulance 8, 3
A bad-hop single erased a Newport lead and left the Taylor Ambulance team scratching their heads as they fell 9-8 in the bottom of the seventh inning to Glen Sain Motors.
The emotional first game loss carried over into the nightcap as Taylor Ambulance sluggishly moved through the motions striking out a season-high 15 times in a 9-3 loss to complete the doubleheader sweep.
In the opener, Newport built a 3-0 lead only to fall behind, 4-3 heading into the fifth inning, but two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth had Newport ahead 8-5.
However, Paragould cut the lead to 8-7 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and scored the game-winner when a line drive single to center field took a bad bounce over the head of Ryan McGaughey allowing the game-winning run to score.
McGaughey was the the hitting star for Newport as he had three hits - including a homerun - scored three runs and drove in two. Jim DuPree also had three hits, a walk, scored four runs and drove in one. Grant Black had a two-run base hit, while Matthew Duvall and Devante Neal had one hit and one RBI each. Michael Reynolds and McArthur also had one hit each.
In the nightcap, Paragould scored two runs in the top of the first inning, one more in the second and third and were never threatened as they pulled away for a 9-3 victory.
McGaughey suffered the loss for Newport on the mound as he worked three innings allowing four runs on four hits and walked four while fanning one. Duvall pitched 1.1 innings allowing five runs on one hit and walked five while striking out one. Gage Weaver pitched 2.2 innings of relief allowing two hits and two walks while striking out two.
Jonesboro 14, 8
Taylor Ambulance 8, 6
While the offense had struggled of late, the bats woke up finally only to find themselves staring at one of the Zone's most potent lineups, Fat City.
Despite piling up 14 runs on 15 hits in the doubleheader, Newport dropped both contests to their Zone 2 counterparts.
In the opener, Newport cut the Fat City lead to 9-8 after six innings before Jonesboro added four insurance runs in the seventh inning to take the wind out of the Taylor Ambulance sails and hold on for a 14-8 victory.
Jonesboro scored three times in the top of the first inning, before Newport cut the lead to 3-2 in the home half. Both teams settled down after the shaky opening frame before Jonesboro took advantage of the Newport defense for a five-run fifth inning.
Taylor Ambulance scored twice in the home half of the fifth and four more times in the sixth to cut the lead to 9-8.
Colton Shadwick suffered the loss for Newport as he allowed 14 runs on 13 hits and walked six. His defense also committed six errors behind him in the loss.
Shadwick also led the offense for Taylor Ambulance as he collected three hits and drove in four runs. Matthew Duvall had one hit, walked twice and scored three runs, while Ryan McGaughey had one hit - a double - a walk, drove in two and scored two. Devante Neal, Aaron Coots and Zack McArthur also had a hit each for Newport.
The second game saw Fat City break open a 3-3 tie with five runs in the bottom of the fourth and hang on for an 8-6 win.
Coots, in relief of Duvall, suffered the loss as he allowed four runs on five hits and one walk in one-third of an inning. McArthur worked 2.2 innings allowing three hits while striking out one. Duvall started and pitched three innings allowing three runs on four hits and walking three while striking out one.
Taylor Ambulance begins play tomorrow night in the Zone 2 tournament to be held at Paragould. Log onto www.newportindependent.com for game times and schedules as they become available.
