Class 1A Arkansas high school baseball championship: Taylor runs by Mount Ida for back-to-back titles
By Nate Olson | Photos by Tommy Land
Expectations are always high for the Taylor baseball program but after winning the 2022 Class 1A state championship, they may have been at an all-time high. The Tigers responded with a dominating 2023 that ended with a 9-3 win against Mount Ida Thursday morning in the 1A state championship game at Bear Field on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.
The win gave the Tigers 18 straight victories to end the season. The championship was Taylor’s 7th in school history – all in the 2000s.
“Each one is definitely special,” Taylor head coach Brian Fowler said. “Getting back last year when no one thought much of us – that was definitely special. But, this year, it was harder on the guys. They came in preseason (SBLive Super 7) number one, and expectations through the roof. That isn’t anyting new at Taylor, but statewide there was a lot of pressure on them from the outside. They just came to work every day. They got better and better and competed their tails’ off.”
Mount Ida took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first inning but after tying the game in the second, the Tigers took the lead for good in the bottom of the third on a two-run double by junior Waylon Woodell that fueled a four-run frame.
“During this little win streak, we didn’t trail a lot, but [in the state tournament, Nemo Vista got up on us, and we had to fight through it a little bit there,” Fowler said. “It was just last weekend we were behind. We have had to claw back before, but even though we have won several in a row, it wasn’t easy. I think that really helped us today, the kids knowing they had a shot to do it.”
Woodell, nabbed MVP honors going 2-for-3 with a double and five RBI. No. 3 hole hitter Preston Smith reached on three walks, including once intentionally, and Woodell, a transfer from Texas, made the Lions pay.
“It was huge,” Fowler said. “I love giving out awards like that, but if we don’t have guys getting on in front of him. If we don’t have guys behind him … He got pitches to hit, and that was a good plan and good baseball. It just worked out that Waylon had some good at-bats and good things. A lot of times those things don’t pan out. We put guys on, and the next guy beats us. They played it right, but Waylon did what he was supposed to.”
Mount Ida, making their first appearance in the state finals in school history was held to four hits.
“They are great team and a great program,” Mount Ida head coach TJ Wilson said. “We knew we were going to have to hit the ball, and they weren’t going to beat themselves. We just couldn’t get some of those timely hits when we needed them. Early in the game, if we could have gotten some of those big-time timely hits, that could have made a big difference in the ballgame. That is baseball.”
In the third inning, Peyton Smith, the game’s winning pitcher, doubled with one out. Mason Lindsey was hit by a pitch, and Preston Smith, Peyton’s brother, walked. Woodell then singled to right-center scoring Peyton Smith and Lindsey. Preston Smith moved to third and Woodell advanced to second on the throw. Later, Austin Aycock drove in a run on a fielder’s choice an throwing error when Mount Ida third baseman Cade McCullough’s throw home was wild and Woodell also scored on the play. Taylor then led 5-1.
The teams traded runs in the fourth inning and Mount Ida cut the lead to 6-3 in the top of the fifth when when Ramsey Gilbert’s sacrifice fly scored Karter Rowton.
Taylor put the game away in the sixth inning when Woodell slammed a two-run, two-out double. Jessie Umphries, who was was 2-for-3, drove in the final run of the inning with a single up the middle to make the score 9-3.
Peyton Smith picked up the win giving up two hits, four walks and striking out one in four innings. Umphries gave up two hits and only one run in three innings of relief.
“Peyton has been our guy all year,” Fowler said. “He has been our dude, and him and his brother both aren’t pitchers in a true sense, but they had to do that for us this year which made them perfect team guys. Peyton has given us quality starts every time out, and Jessie has been big for us and was the same guy finishing on the mound last year. He is only a sophomore, so hopefully he has some big things to come.”
Mount Ida starter Caleb White pitched six innings giving up six hits, nine runs and walking five.
Cain McCullough and Albert Petty each had two hits for the Lions (17-9).
Mount Ida caps this year off with an historic title-game appearance after reaching the semifinals for the first time in school history last season on the shoulders of seven seniors.
“It’s been a big two years,” Wilson said. “These guys have really elevated our program.”
