Arkansas 1A-5A baseball state tournament roundup: Details on Friday's quarterfinal games

By Kevin Bohannon | Photo by Tommy Land 

Friday is Arkansas high school baseball’s version of “moving day” as the stakes are a little higher and intensity is magnified. There were more epic performances by some of the state’s best players as teams look to punch their ticket to the semifinals.

Class 5A

Van Buren 4, Jonesboro 3

In a rematch of last year’s championship game, the Canes jumped out to an early lead thanks to the bat of Ty Rhoades and the arm of Lance Davis. Davis went four innings allowing five hits and one earned run before turning the game over to the bullpen. The Pointers (25-5) had their backs against the wall in the seventh after a 4-6-3 double play by Jonesboro, but a balk was called on Jonesboro to tie the game and send the game to extra innings. The story of the game was Pointers Senior Devin Gattis as he threw a complete game and got the game winning double in the eighth inning. The Pointers will play Batesville in tomorrow’s semi-final game.

Batesville 13, Sylvan Hills 8

Batesville (21-7) scored seven runs in the first two innings and held on for the victory setting up a semi-final showdown with Van Buren. Gage Wood and Thomas Morgan each tripled in the first inning to get the scoring started. Leadoff hitter Tyas Rush went 3-for-4 and scored four runs to lead the Pioneers. Wood was 2-for-3 with two runs batted in on the day. Caleb Teague battled through five walks to get the win on the mound allowing three earned runs while collecting six strikeouts. The teams combined for sixteen walks and six errors, five of which were committed by Sylvan Hills.

Sheridan 8, Mountain Home 0

Brennan Jarreau hurled a second straight complete game for Sheridan in the 8-0 win. The junior righty was masterful and efficient scattering four hits, walking one with five strikeouts. The offense did just enough and scored their eight runs on only four hits. Caleb Patrick, Evan Ward, Ashton Branson and Jarrett Atchley had one hit a piece.

Marion 5 Benton 0

The Patriots (27-5) got a complete game performance from Ben Gerard to eliminate the Panthers. Marion is a physical team with talent from top to bottom ,and it was on full display tonight. Gerard only needed 83 pitches on the night that saw Benton end their season with a shutout for the fourth straight season.

Class 4A

Shiloh Christian 4, Lonoke 0

Saints Senior Caleb Anderson took a perfect game into the seventh inning before Jaxson Ingle broke it up with a single to center field. Anderson racked up eight strikeouts on 79 pitches. Dakota Goble led the offense with three runs batted in. Ben Baker added an RBI as well. The Saints (17-12) have been one of the hottest teams in 4A since Spring Break with Anderson being a big reason for the emergence as he has quickly become one of the top big game pitchers in the state. Lonoke finishes 29-6 on the season with plenty of talent coming back in 2023 for another state championship run.

Valley View 12, Arkadelphia 5

Valley View (28-6) picked up where they left off on Thursday with their offense as hot as the Wilson Park turf. The Blazers ended Arkadelphia’s 13-game winning streak jumping out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning and never looked back. Their offense has put up 25 runs in the last eight innings. Valley View will face Shiloh Christian on Saturday in a rematch of last year’s semifinal game the Blazers won 11-4.

Huntsville 7, Robinson 6

Kolton Reynolds gave the Eagles the lead they needed with a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth. Robinson gave it their all and almost came back after a three-run double from Jack Cleveland. He was thrown out in a rundown to end the game.

Harrison 4 Pulaski, Academy 3

The Goblins pulled off the upset in the night cap to become the third team from the 1-4A conference in Saturday’s semifinals. They will take on Huntsville at 2:30. The Goblins scored their first run off of a balk and the go ahead run in the fifth inning on a wild pitch completing the comeback from being down 3-0.

Class 3A

Harding Academy 10, CAC 0

The Wildcats (29-3) wasted no time in collecting their second mercy rule in as many days. Sophomore Kyler Hoover stepped up and got the complete game shutout on the mound allowing two hits on the day. This sets up University of Arkansas commit Kade Smith to take the mound for tomorrow’s semi-final game. The Wildcats were led offensively by Hoover and Levi Lang with three hits each. Eli Wallis chipped in with two runs batted in.

Paris 13, Prescott 10

Paris (20-4) scored early and often but Prescott proved to be a tough out. The Curly Wolves rallied for six runs in the top of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough as the Eagles advanced to the semifinals to take on Harding Academy. Prescott got within one run in the fourth inning then Duke Walker took over. The senior knocked in two runs on a blistering single up the middle to extend the Eagles lead to 6-3. Walker, a University of Missouri signee, ended the day with three hits and was a homer un short of the cycle.

Ashdown 6, Elkins 2

Ashdown (25-6) looks like the team that may have the best chance to beat Harding Academy after ending the Elks season Friday.

Haskell Harmony Grove 11, Danville 3

The Cardinals (17-11) are back in the semi-finals and will take on Ashdown Saturday afternoon. Offense was the name of the game as they scored early and often.

Class 2A

Bigelow 11, Rector 1

Bigelow (14-8) followed up their upset of top -eeded Dierks with a dominant 11-1 win over Rector to advance to the semi-finals. Beau Billeck got the job done on the mound going the distance allowing four hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. He was also 2-for-4 with two runs batted in at the plate. Carter Alexander was 3-3 with a homerun, double and four runs batted in. Hunter Alexander added a double and two runs batted in for the Panthers.

Woodlawn 7, Riverside 3

Clock struck midnight for the Cinderella Rebels, but they did not go down without a fight. Holding Woodlawn to seven runs after they put up fifteen on Thursday was big and gave the Rebels a chance but didn’t have enough magic in the end. Cale Edmonds was even better on Friday in his second game back from injury going 3-4 with a triple and got the save on the mound. Woodlawn (25-6 now advances to the semi-finals once again as they make their bid for back-to-back titles.

McCrory 15, Horatio 6

The Jaguars (24-5-1) continue their bid for the football/baseball double championships with a convincing win. Each team delivered some early shots but McCrory’s Cason Campbell delivered the knockout punch with a towering homerun that was part of the Jaguars’ six run inning. Campbell was the quarterback for the championship team in the fall and has signed with Arkansas State to play baseball next year.

Buffalo Island Central 3, Melbourne 2

The Mustangs continue their dream season and improve to 20-2 with a big win over Melbourne (21-6). BIC will face Woodlawn in Saturday's semi-final game at 2:30.

Class 1A

Ouachita 11, County Line 1

The Warriors (25-7) didn’t let the change in game time affect them too much as they capitalized on free passes with timely hitting to make quick work of the Cougars. The game was originally scheduled for 5:30 but due to graduation, it had to be moved to first thing in the morning. Junior Kelton Fowler had two doubles and two runs batted in. He went 1 2/3 innings allowing one hit with one walk. Junior Kaden Fulmer went 2-2 with two walks and scored three runs. Junior Hunter Rook also went 1 2/3 innings and didn’t allow a baserunner.

Mount Ida 9, Hillcrest 1

Mount Ida (18-5) came into the season as a team capable of making a run to the state title and they are living up to the hype after dismantling their first two opponents by a combined 21-3 for their fourth win in a row.

Taylor 11, West Side 9

The Taylor Tigers shocked the state on Friday afternoon taking out the favorite Eagles in Arkadelphia. The Tigers (17-5-2) advanced to take Region 4 foe Mount Ida in a rematch from last week’s semi-final where the Tigers held on 5-4. Taylor did a great job of working counts in their favor and wearing the Eagles starter. A couple of uncharacteristic errors by the Eagles ultimately decided the game in the sixth inning.

Nemo Vista 8, Izard County 6

What a difference a day makes. After projecting Region 2 to dominate the rest of the tournament, Nemo Vista completed the sweep with an 8 -6 walk off win. The Red Hawks (18-9) jumped out to a 5-0 lead only to see it erased going into the bottom of the seventh inning. After getting two runners on base, they had their “One Shining Moment” with a three-run walk-off homerun by Christian Rodelo to win 8-6. Nemo Vista will take on host Ouachita in the semi-finals Saturday at 2:30.