News-Times Staff
SHERIDAN - Three players had three-hit games as part of a 15-hit barrage, as the El Dorado Oilers knocked off Texarkana 9-5 in the opening round of the Arkansas American Legion AAA Area 4 Zone Tournament Friday night.
The Oilers will play at noon today in the winner's bracket final.
If the Oilers win, they will clinch a spot in the state tournament and play for the championship at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
If the Oilers fall, they will play in an elimination game at 5 p.m. needing a win to keep their season alive.
The Oilers trailed 2-1 in the third when they scored three runs to take the lead for good.
The Oilers scored two in the fourth and three in the fifth to take a 9-3 lead before winning by the final margin.
In the third, the Oilers opened the frame with four straight singles from Leighton Turbeville, Robbie Roberson, Jacob Boshears and Charles Hoof with Boshears and Hoof collecting RBIs on their base hits.
Chase Webb later added an RBI single of his own in the frame.
Boshears went 3-for-4 with four RBIs along with a triple and two runs scored for the Oilers.
Turbeville also had a triple in finishing 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Hoof was the final Oiler with three hits, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs.
Roberson, Webb, Cade Schibler, Bryce Ware, Connor Cates and Reed Stone all had one hit in the win for the Oilers.
Schibler joined Webb with one RBI in the game, while Roberson added a sacrifice bunt and Ware drew three walks.
Cates and Stone each had one stolen base and one run scored.
Reece Griffin was the beneficiary of the Oilers' offensive onslaught, allowing three runs with two being earned in five innings of work to pick up the win.
He gave up seven hits, walked three and struck out four.
Garrett Jeans struck out three while allowing one hit in a scoreless inning in relief.
Turbeville allowed two runs in the seventh. He allowed one hit, walked three and struck out one.