Knight, East Prairie top Twin Rivers

Owen Knight (11) throws a pitch during a 6-1 win over Twin Rivers at H.A. Jones Memorial Park on Friday, April 19, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — In a battle of district rivals with playoff-seeding implications, East Prairie turned a pitcher's duel with Twin Rivers into a statement win.

Owen Knight dazzled on the mound, backed by timely hitting, as the Eagles (11-9) took down a tough Royals (10-5) squad, 6-1, on Friday, April 19.

Knight went six strong innings, painting the corners and keeping Twin Rivers hitters off-balance with a mix of well-placed fastballs and a biting curveball. He struck out 10, walking four, and allowing just a single earned run.

East Prairie coach Gary Scott talks with his team during a 6-1 win over Twin Rivers at H.A. Jones Memorial Park on Friday, April 19, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

“It was his best outing of the year," said East Prairie coach Gary Scott. "He commanded the zone and competed every pitch. When he's throwing like that, we're a tough team to beat."

The game was scoreless through two innings, a testament to both Knight and his Twin Rivers’ counterpart Luke Hester.

However, in the bottom of the third inning East Prairie broke through with Ty Wallace and Hunter Newton scampered home on Winfield White's sharp single, staking the Eagles to a 2-0 lead.

Rayne Jerrigan (22) bats during a 6-1 win over Twin Rivers at H.A. Jones Memorial Park on Friday, April 19, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

An inning later, Rayne Jerrigan added to the advantage, his hit plating Tate Henderson for a 3-0 cushion.

Twin Rivers refused to go quietly, loading the bases in the top of the fifth and pushing a run across on a walk. But Knight bore down, ending the threat with a crucial strikeout.

The Eagles responded in the bottom half of the inning when Keagan Tyler ripped a single, bringing home White and Wallace to extend the lead to 5-1.

Noah Johnson (7) throws a pitch during a 6-1 win over Twin Rivers at H.A. Jones Memorial Park on Friday, April 19, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

"We needed those two-out hits today,” Scott said. "That's the difference in close games, putting the pressure on the defense."

East Prairie tacked on another run in the sixth, Johnson singling in White for the 6-1 final margin.

Johnson then took the mound in the seventh, closing things out in style by striking out the side.

Johnson was a force at the plate as well, going 3-for-4 with a double, while White finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

“Both of them hit the ball hard today,” Scott said. “They were ready to hit strikes and did a good job of putting the ball in play.”

Despite the solid victory, East Prairie knows there's room for improvement. A few missed bunts and baserunning miscues are reminders that even in wins, the little things matter.

“We’re getting better,” Scott said. “If we can play well in all phases like we did today, we could be tough out. We just have to keep working hard and getting better at the little things.”

East Prairie (11-9) welcomes another district foe, Caruthersville (13-6), on Thursday, April 25.

EAST PRAIRIE 6, TWIN RIVERS 1

W—Owen Knight. L—Jake Hester. 2B—East Prairie: Noah Johnson.