By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
It was going to happen. It was just a matter of when it would happen.
The "when" happened Monday night, in the Bambino 11-12 League, where the chase for the league has been as closely contested as anyone can remember in recent youth seasons.
Lucas Trucking knocked off Pearson Insurance 9-4 to create a four-way tie for first place with four playing dates remaining on the schedule -- Thursday's final season game plus three rain out dates -- which now, will have to played.
The Lucas victory leaves the team at 8-2 along with Pearson and Taco Bell, a 19-2 winner over H&H and Wholesale Metal, who slipped past a much-improved Rideout team, 6-5.
The top four teams have been picking each other off since the leagues opening day back on May 1.
Pearson took the first meeting against Lucas on May 19.
And the road to the league title still has some twists and curves to be negotiated.
Pearson and Wholesale Metal will face off Thursday night -- the second meeting between the two teams this season. Wholesale won the first meeting back on May 22, handing Pearson its first loss of the year.
Taco Bell has two games against Lucas Trucking remaining to be played as well as one against Pearson.
Wholesale Metal has Vaccaro twice, Pearson and Houser.
Monday night, both Lucas and Pearson scored twice in the first inning to start the second inning tied at 2-2.
Lucas sent all nine batters to the plate in the top of the inning to score six runs on seven hits off Pearson starter Mark Machen and Chance Pearson, who came on midway through the inning.
That left Lucas holding an 8-2 lead. Pearson got two runs back in the third to cut Lucas' lead to 8-4 but Lucas closed out the win with a single run in the fourth and then striking out the Pearson side in the bottom of the inning, bunched around a single and a walk, to end the game.
Jim Bailey went four innings for Lucas with a little help from Markese Ware, to get the victory.
Bruce Hurd scored three runs to lead Lucas while Louis Driver, Bailey, Darry Banks, Jacob Hoskins, Jerome McDaniel and Tyler Paulman scored single runs.
Chance Pearson scored twice for Pearson while T.J. McFadden and Machen added single runs.
Wholesale Metal trailed Rideout 5-4 going into the sixth inning and rallied for two runs to take the 6-5 win Monday night.
Rideout led 3-2 after one inning and 4-2 after two innings. Wholesale tied the game at 4-4 with a two-run third and Rideout regained the advantage at 5-4 with a single run in the bottom of the fifth.
Henry Henderson started the Wholesale sixth by reaching base and Barrett Beshears followed. Both runners came around to score to complete the rally.
Beshears took the mound in the bottom of the sixth to get the final three outs preserving the Wholesale win.
Jacoby Cooley, Lee Smith and Chad Hogue all scored for Rideout.
Taco Bell exploded for 13 runs in the top of the fourth inning to power past H&H.
Tevin Hughes scored four runs to lead Taco Bell while Evan Daugherty, Seth Smith and James Humphrey scored three runs each. Chris Smith scored twice while William White and Hunter McMahand added single runs.
Ryan Thompson and DeAndre Leak scored single runs for H&H.
Finally, Vaccaro got three runs from DeMario Peters and Caleb Talley in their 14-4 win over Houser.
Gerald Williams homered for Vaccaro.
Houser got runs from Dylan Pinegar, Jeffrey Siler, Kennon Haynie and Dendric McCoy.
* In the Minor League Monday, Devazier Brothers moved to 7-2 for the year and stayed in second place by defeating JB Sports 15-0.
T&J Properties continues to lead the league as the only unbeaten team.
Hill's Delta Concrete picked up their second straight win to improve to 4-5 for the year when they were awarded a forfeit win over Giffin's Grins.
T&J will be back in action tonight when they take on Easley Law at 7:45 p.m. The team will try to close out a perfect season on Friday, when they take on JB Sports.
*The girls' 10-under slow pitch league returns to action tonight after being idled last Friday by the district tournament.
The 12-under and 16-under fast pitch leagues have completed their seasons.
Forrest City Airtherm and Food Giant finished first and third respectively in the district to qualify for the upcoming state tournaments on June 27-29.
*The postseason T-Ball tournament started play Monday night and will continue tonight at the Sports Complex.
Monday's winners included M&T, Hartman Diesel, Boar's Head, SWilson CPA, Farm Credit, Western Auto and Imboden.
Wynne pitching shut down Forrest City 3-0 Monday night as the two American Legion teams battled at the Sports Complex.
Not only was Forrest City held scoreless for the second time in the last three games, the team managed just four hits while suffering four strikeouts. Forrest City put two runners on by Wynne miscues in the field.
None of the six Forrest City runners got farther than second base.
The loss leaves the home team at 6-9 for the year.
Dustin Gore, the Forrest City starting pitcher, took the loss, giving up the three Wynne runs on 12 hits while walking one.
Wynne plated two runs in the top of the first and added their third and final run in the top of the fifth.
Forrest City will host Jonesboro tonight at 5 p.m.
The second annual 'Ralph" charity golf tournament will be played Monday, June 30, at the Forrest City Country Club.
The tournament, named in honor of the late Ralph Thompson, helps raise money to benefit the East Arkansas Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).
For more information contact Mallory Parker at 870-633-3505.
This year, the tournament will include a tennis tournament and a 9-hole shootout to be played late late Sunday and a silent auction.
The tournament raised $10,000 last year.