Caruthersville stymied at conference prelim by Campbell hurler

A Campbell batter fouls one straight back Monday at the Bootheel Conference Tournament preliminary round at Caruthersville.

Photo by Tom Davis

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. - The Caruthersville Tigers (15-7) varsity baseball team virtually played a home game Monday hosting the Campbell Camels (11-6) here at American Legion Park for the preliminary round of the Bootheel Conference Tournament.

The Caruthersville squad bowed to Campbell 7-2 despite a home field advantage and better record.

And Tigers batters ran into a buzz saw named Sam Bunting.

Campbell's Sam Bunting on the mound Monday at Caruthersville. The winning pitcher threw 70 strikes before exiting the game because of max pitch count.

Photo by Tom Davis

On the mound for Campbell, Bunting pitched 6- 2/3 innings of two-run (one earned) baseball on six hits with 14 strikeouts and only three walks surrendered.

Bunting's last three starts dating back to April 18th speak volumes. He is 3-0 going 15 2/3 innings, allowing only four runs (three earned) on just 10 hits with 28 strikeouts, a mere nine walks allowed and posted an incredible 1.34 ERA.

Bunting had to leave the game with two outs in the seventh inning because of pitch count.

But of the 106 pitches he threw Monday, 70 were strikes.

Caruthersville scored first in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single by Ridge McGraw.

Campbell took over 3-1 in the third with a double by Jared Jennings, followed with RBI singles by Tanner Smart, Jackson Melvin and Ben Rowland.

Caruthersville Tigers at bat Monday at home during the preliminary Bootheel Conference Tournament preliminary round at Caruthersville.

Photo by Tom Davis

And the Camels refused to relinquish that two-run lead.

Campbell batters amassed 13 hits along with four walks and one hit by pitch, totaling 18 base runners.

Bunting got the win. Caruthersville's Kam Isbell took the loss going only four innings, surrendering four runs on eight Camel hits and one walk.

Caruthersville Tigers pitcher Kam Isbell took the loss going four innings, surrendering four runs on eight Camel hits and one walk.

Photo by Tim Caldwell

The second game of Monday's semifinals was slated to be Senath-Hornersville (11-5) and the Portageville Bulldogs (22-6), but was rained out.

The postponed semifinal matchup was rescheduled for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, with the championship game to follow at 6:30 p.m. pitting the Camels against the winner of the Senath-Portageville contest.