Top stars, best performances from Arkansas baseball state championship games

By Jeff Halpern | Photo by Jimmy Jones 

Below are some of the top stars and best performances from last week’s state championship games.

CLASS 6A

Austin Rainey, Conway

The senior did not allow a run in two stints totaling 5 2/3 innings in the Wampus Cats’ 10-7 victory over Bentonville in the Class 6A state championship while earning state finals MVP honors. He started the first two innings and didn’t allow a run before moving to center field. He came back in the third inning after Bentonville closed to 9-6 and did not allow a run the rest of the game, retiring 10 of the final 14 batters he faced.

Will Thompson, Conway

The sophomore went 2-for-3 with 4 RBI and hit a 3-run home run in the first inning the Wampus Cats’ 10-7 victory over Bentonville in the Class 6A state championship.

Sam Gregg, Conway

The junior went 1-for-2 with 2 RBI in the Wampus Cats’ 10-7 victory over Bentonville in the Class 6A state championship.

Preston Prock, Conway

The junior went 1-for-2 with a double in the Wampus Cats’ 10-7 victory over Bentonville in the Class 6A state championship.

Luke Crumpler, Bentonville

The senior went 1-for-3 with a double and 3 RBI in the Tigers’ 10-7 loss to Conway in the Class 6A state championship.

Stephon Gryskiewicz, Bentonville

The junior went 1-for-3 with 3 RBI in the Tigers’ 10-7 loss to Conway in the Class 6A state championship.

CLASS 5A

Benjamin Gerrard, Marion

The senior pitcher allowed 1 run over the final 5 2/3 innings on 100 pitches with 6 strikeouts and 3 walks to earn MVP honors of the Class 5A state championship game in a 11-6 victory over Van Buren.

Connor Taylor, Marion

The junior went 2-for-4 and scored 2 runs in the Patriots’ 11-6 victory over Van Buren in the Class 5A state championship.

Connor Brady, Van Buren

The senior pitched 5 scoreless innings in relief an went 2-for-4 at the plate in the Pointers’ 11-6 loss to Marion in the Class 5A state championship.

Eli Gilreath, Van Buren

The senior went 2-for-4 at the plate with 3 RBI with a 2-run home run in the Pointers’ 11-6 loss to Marion in the Class 5A state championship.

CLASS 4A

Logan Plumlee, Harrison

The senior pitched 3 scoreless innings in relief to earn state finals MVP honors in helping Harrison beat Valley View 10-9 for the Class 4A state championship.

Cylan Madden, Harrison

The senior delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly to score Sloan Barrett in the 10th inning in the Goblins’ 10-9 victory over Valley View in the Class 4A state championship.

Dylan Block, Harrison

The senior went 4-for-5, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI in the Goblins’ 10-9 victory over Valley View in the Class 4A state championship.

Sloan Barrett, Harrison

The senior went 2-for-5 with a triple and scored 2 runs, including the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning in the Goblins’ 10-9 victory over Valley View in the Class 4A state championship.

Slade Caldwell, Valley View

The sophomore went 3-for-4 with 2 walks and 2 RBI and scored 1 run in the Blazers’ 10-9 loss to Harrison in the Class 4A state championship.

Cooper Lutz, Valley View

The senior went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI and score 1 run in the Blazers’ 10-9 loss to Harrison in the Class 4A state championship.

Tyler Hoskins, Valley View

The junior went 2-for-5 with a RBI and scored twice in the Blazers’ 10-9 loss to Harrison in the Class 4A state championship.

Carter Saulsbury, Valley View

The junior went 2-for-5 with an RBI in the Blazers’ 10-9 loss to Harrison in the Class 4A state championship.

Jackson Stouts, Valley View

The senior went 2-for-5 and scored 1 run in the Blazers’ 10-9 loss to Harrison in the Class 4A state championship.

CLASS 3A

Gavin Alveti, Harding Academy

The senior allowed 2 runs on 3 hits in 5 innings while striking out 9 and walking 1 and going 2-for-3 with an RBI in the Wildcats’ 4-2 victory over Ashdown in the Class 3A state championship.

Kade Smith, Harding Academy

The senior and Arkansas Razorback commit pitched 2 scoreless innings in the Wildcats’ 4-2 victory over Ashdown in the Class 3A state championship.

Alex Keilbach, Ashdown

The senior allowed 1 earned run in 5 innings and went 1-for-3 in the Panthers’ 4-2 loss to Harding Academy in the Class 3A state championship.

Derek Hilton, Ashdown

The junior went 1-for-3 with 2 RBI in the Panthers’ 4-2 loss to Harding Academy in the Class 3A state championship.

CLASS 2A

Cale Edmonds, Woodlawn

The senior, who had not pitched since the third game of the regular season because of Tommy John surgery on his non-throwing arm, was named MVP of the state finals after allowing 2 runs on 7 hits in 7 innings with 8 strikeouts and 1 walk while throwing 111 pitches in a 7-2 victory over Bigelow for the Class 2A state title.

Jaxson Case, Woodlawn

The senior went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the Bears’ 7-2 victory over Bigelow in the Class 2A state championship.

Owen Stover, Woodlawn

The junior went 1-for-2 with 2 RBI in the Bears’ 7-2 victory over Bigelow in the Class 2A state championship.

Evan Ragan, Bigelow

The sophomore went 2-for-3 in the Panthers’ 7-2 loss to Woodlawn in the Class 2A state championship.

CLASS 1A

Rayne Cranford, Taylor

The senior went 4-for-5 with 2 RBI and scored 3 runs and was named MVP of the state finals in a 10-4 victory over Nemo Vista for the Class 1A state championship.

Mason Lindsey, Taylor

The sophomore went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the Tigers’ 10-4 victory over Nemo Vista in the Class 1A state championship.

Peyton Smith, Taylor

The junior went 2-for-2, scored 3 runs and reached base 5 times in the Tigers’ 10-4 victory over Nemo Vista in the Class 1A state championship.

Preston Smith, Taylor

The junior went 1-for-2 with 2 RBI, walked twice and scored 1 run in the Tigers’ 10-4 victory over Nemo Vista in the Class 1A state championship.