CABOT OUTLASTS TEXARKANA TO REACH AMERICAN LEGION SEMIFINAL
July 17, 2024
by Troy Mitchell
HOT SPRINGS – For the second time, Cabot beat Texarkana 3-2, Wednesday at American Legion Junior (17U) State Tournament at Majestic Park in Hot Springs.
The RailCats beat the Razorbacks in the opening round of the championship bracket on Monday 4-1. With the win, Cabot advances to the elimination bracket finals to face Conway on Thursday at 5 p.m. The winner advances to face Stuttgart for the state championship on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Cabot’s only loss of the tournament was a 16-2 setback Tuesday.
Rylan Smith provided a one-out sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh to give Cabot the win after Texarkana tied the score in the top half of the inning.
Harrison Fry started off the Cabot seventh with a single to left field followed by a single by Miguel Homsher singled down the left field line. With one out, Smith stepped to plate and was given the chance to be the hero after both runners advance on a wild pitch. Smith took the very next pitch to deep right field to drive in Fry for the win.
Jake Steelman pitched six complete inning before exiting due reaching the pitch count limit. Steelman struck out five batters and gave up just one run on four hits.
Nathan Fitch entered the game in the seventh and struck out the first two batters he faced before giving up the tying run, but would record the win.
CABOT 2, TEXARKANA 1
Texarkana 001 000 1 2-6-2
Cabot 002 000 1 3-4-4
Win – Nathan Fitch. Loss – Cade McLeod. Save – None. WP – Cade McLeod 2(2); Caden Criner(1); Dylan Nabors(3). HBP – by Caden Criner (T. Mansfield).
E – Cade McLeod(1); Ahmed Moore(1); M. Homsher(3); William Poe(1); Bryce Naquin(1); T. Mansfield(1). DP – Cabot 2. LOB – Tex. Rivers 8; Cabot 8. 2B – Caden Criner(3). 3B – William Poe(3). HBP – T. Mansfield. SF – Rylan Smith(2). SB – M. Moore(3); Dylan Nabors(4). CS – Ahmed Moore(1).
STUTTGART ADVANCES TO AMERICAN LEGION STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH 2-1 WIN OVER CONWAY
July 17, 2024
by Troy Mitchell
HOT SPRINGS – Dominant pitching was the story in the battle of the unbeatens as Stuttgart edged Conway 2-1, Wednesday at the American Legion Juniors (17U) State Tournament at Majestic Park in Hot Springs, Ark.
Stuttgart improved to 7-0 in tournament play and will play in Thursday’s championship game at 7:30 p.m. Conway will play in the elimination bracket final at 5 p.m. against the winner of the Cabot/Texarkana game. The winner will advance to play Stuttgart in the championship.
Stuttgart’s Beau Barnes picked up his second win of the tournament with a complete game performance. Barnes scattered seven hits, struck out three batters with Conway’s lone run being unearned.
Stuttgart plated its first run in the bottom of the first-inning as JD Hertzog drove home Cam Rogers who singled and stole second to lead off the inning.
Conway tied things in the third as Malik Simpson reached on an error and later score on Trendon Moseley’s sacrifice fly.
The eventual game-winning run occurred in the Stuttgart fifth with two outs as Hertzog collected his second hit of the game when he singled to left field.
Dagan Duncan followed with a single of his own, advancing Hertzog to third. Harper Feilk provided the game-winner with a single to center field to score Hertzog.
Conway had the tying run on third with two-outs as Moseley singled, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Moseley, however, was stranded as Barnes struck out Carter Crow to end the game.
STUTTGART 2, CONWAY 1
Conway 001 000 0 1-6-0
Stuttgart 100 010 x 2-7-1
Win – Beau Barnes (2-0). Loss – Wes Edwards (0-1). Save – None. WP – Keyan Brown(1); Beau Barnes(1). HBP – by Beau Barnes (Carter Crow); by Wes Edwards (Harper Feilk).
E – C. Scalfe(1). LOB – Conway 10; Stuttgart 8. HBP – Carter Crow; Harper Feilk. SF – T. Moseley(2). SB – T. Moseley 2(7); C. Rogers(4); H. Prine(1)
CABOT, TEXARKANA ADVANCE, FACE OFF IN REMATCH AT THE AMERICAN LEGION STATE TOURNAMENT
July 17, 2024
by Troy Mitchell
HOT SPRINGS – Texarkana took advantage of five Arkadelphia errors which led to six unearned runs, while Cabot’s Wes Bell pitched a gem against Lake Hamilton in the elimination bracket of the 2024 American Legion Juniors State Tournament at Majestic Park in Hot Springs.
Texarkana opened Wednesday’s play with an 11-6 victory, while Cabot scored the only run of the game in the first-inning to beat the Wolves 1-0.
The two teams will play an elimination game Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. with the winner advancing to play the loser of Conway and Stuttgart Thursday.
The game will be a rematch from an opening round contest where Cabot won 4-1 just two days ago.
GAME 9: TEXARKANA 11, ARKADELPHIA 6
(Arkadelphia Eliminated)
Texarkana showed why it is one of the top scoring teams in the tournament as the Razorbacks had seven different players with hits and runs scored in the win over Arkadelphia.
Caden Criner and Maddax Moore had two hits each with Criner having a double, two runs batted in and scored twice. Moore also had a RBI and scored.
Josh Scoggins started the game on the mound for Texarkana pitching three innings, scattering three hits and not allowing a run. Whitt Haynes entered the game in a relief role and completed the game giving up six runs on seven hits.
Arkadelphia was led offensively by Carson Brawley and Cash Stricklin who had two hits each.
GAME 10: CABOT 1, LAKE HAMILTON 0
(Lake Hamilton Eliminated)
Wes Bell pitched a two-hit shutout, striking out seven and not allowing a walk to eliminate Lake Hamilton.
Bell retired 13 of the next 14 batters he faced following a double by Kaden Pranter, and finished the game retiring the final six batters in order including striking out three.
The only run of the game was unearned by Cabot in the bottom of the first-inning.
The frame began when Harrison Fry singled up the middle and stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error on the play. William Poe delivered a one-out single to plate Fry for the game’s only run.
Coy Autry was tagged with a tough loss, despite striking out eight batters and allowing just one unearned run in 5 1/3 innings of work.
CONWAY CRUISES TO 16-2 WIN OVER CABOT AT THE AMERICAN LEGION STATE TOURNAMENT
July 16, 2024
by Troy Mitchell
HOT SPRINGS – Conway used an explosive offensive attack led by Trendon Moseley to run-rule Cabot 16-2, Tuesday at the American Legion Juniors (17U) State Tournament at Majestic Park in Hot Springs, Ark.
Moseley was 4-for-4 at the plate with a triple and four RBI.
Teammate Keyan Brown added two hits with a double and 2 RBI, with Malik Simpson also having two hits and a run batted in.
Conway scored six runs in the initial frame with the help of four hits and four walks to set the tone for the game.
Nathan Wanamaker pitched 4 1/3 innings for Conway. Wanamaker gave up one unearned runs on three hits and struckout a pair of Cabot hitters.
Conway will face Stuttgart in the battle of the lone unbeaten teams Wednesday at 5 p.m.
CONWAY 16, CABOT 2
Cabot 010 00 2-6-1
Conway 611 8x 16-10-1
WP- Nathan Wanamaker
LP- Rylan Smith
LOB- Cabot 3, Conway 5
2B- Cabot: Carson Sipes. Conway: Keyan Brown
3B – Conway: Trendo Moseley
STUTTGART DOWNS ARKADELPHIA 9-1 IN AMERICAN LEGION STATE TOURNAMENT
July 16, 2024
by Troy Mitchell
HOT SPRINGS – Axtan McCrea recorded a complete game win as Stuttgart downed Arkadelphia 9-1, Tuesday at the American Legion Juniors (17U) State Tournament at Majestic Park in Hot Springs.
With the win, Stuttgart is a perfect 5-0 in the past two weeks and will face the Cabot/Conway winner, Wednesday at 5 p.m.
McCrea allowed a single run in the first-inning while striking out three batters to pick up the win.
Once again Arkadelphia got out of the gate quickly as Dillon Rogers doubled to right center to lead off the game and later score on a Axtan McCrea wild pitch.
Stuttgart answered in the bottom half of the inning as Arkadelphia pitcher Gabe Owens had trouble finding the strike zone walking four batters in the inning to allow the Ricemen to tie the score at 1-1.
The Ricemen took the lead the very next inning scoring two runs courtesy of a two-run single by JD Hertzog to center field to make the score 3-1 after two innings.
Hertzog struck again in the fifth-inning as he laced a double to right field to bring home Austin Fontenot who reached on a leadoff walk.
Just to make sure there was doubt in the outcome, the Riceman added five runs in the sixth, highlighted by an inside-the-park hom run by Cameron Rogers which scored three runs.
Arkadelphia will face Texarkana in an elimination game at Noon Wednesday.
STUTTGART 8, ARKADELPHIA 7
Arkadelphia 100 000 0 1-3-0
Stuttgart 120 001 5 9-5-1
WP- Axtan McCrea
LP- Tyler White
LOB- Arkadelphia 5, Stuttgart 3
2B- Arkadelphia: Dillon Rogers Stuttgart: JD Hertzog. HR- Cam Rogers
LAKE HAMILTON, TEXARKANA REBOUND FROM OPEN ROUND LOSSES
July 16, 2024
by Troy Mitchell
Lake Hamilton and Texarkana rebounded from opening round losses to advance in the 2024 American Legion Juniors (17U) State Championship, Tuesday at Majestic Park in Hot Springs.
Both teams took advantage of its opponents miscues as Little Rock committed four errors against the Wolves, while Bryant recorded a total of six errors against Texarkana.
GAME 5 – Lake Hamilton 3, Little Rock Warriors 1
(Little Rock Eliminated)
Ashur Gregory pitched 5 2/3 inning in a relief role to lead Lake Hamilton to a 3-1 win over the Little Rock Warriors.
Gregory entered the game for starter Coy Autry in the second-inning, striking out four and scattering six hits to get the win.
Autry was intrumental in scoring the first run of the game as he belted a one-out double to centerfield and would score on a passed ball in the third-inning.
The Wolves scored two more runs in the fifth with the help of a RBI single by Zayde Cox and a Texarkana fielding error.
Little Rock’s lone run came in the sixth-inning as the Warriors strung together three hits with Stephen Dilliman providing the RBI safety to rightfield.
Gregory worked his way out of the jam as he forced Ricky Halbert to ground out and struckout Everett Woodard to end the inning.
Lake Hamilton will next play an elimination game Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
GAME 6 – Texarkana Rivers 8, Bryant 7
(Bryant Eliminated)
Texarkana took advantage of four Bryant errors in the final two innings to erase a four run deficit to beat the Black Sox 8-7 in an elimination game.
The Razorbacks scored three runs in the bottom half of the six without the use of a single hit, then rallied for three more runs in the seventh with the help of an error while also putting together three hits.
Deon Carson led the Texarkana hit attack with a double, triple and a pair of runs batted in, including the game-winning two-run double in the bottom of the seventh.
Caden Criner and Dylan Nabors also had a solid day at the plate, both having two hits, with Criner also blasting a double.
Terrance Ellis had a pair of doubles for Bryant including 3 RBI. Jonathan Carter was 2-for-4 with three runs scored in losing cause.
Texarkana will play at Noon on Wednesday against either Stuttgart or Arkadelphia.
LAKE HAMILTON 3, LITTLE ROCK 1
Little Rock 000 000 1 1-6-4
L. Hamilton 001 020 0 3-5-1
WP- Ashur Gregory
LP- Stephen Dillman
LOB-Little Rock 5, Lake Hamilton 9.
2B-Lake Hamilton: Coy Autry
TEXARKANA 8, BRYANT 7
Bryant 010 050 1 7-8-6
Texarkana 001 103 3 8-8-1
WP- Gunnarv Keith
LP- Zabree Russell
LOB- Bryant 8, Texarkana 10
2B- Bryant: Terrance Ellis (2), Dante Hernandez. Texarkana: Deon Carson.
3B- Deon Carson.
PITCHING DOMINATES OPENING DAY OF AMERICAN LEGION JUNIORS STATE TOURNAMENT
July 15, 2024
by Troy Mitchell
Pitching was at a premium on day one of the 2024 American Legion Juniors (17U) State Championships at Majestic Park in Hot Springs, Ark.
The first three games totaled just 15 runs with only 10 being earned, while offenses totaled just 26 hits.
Conway, Cabot, and Stuttgart all remained perfect in tournament play as all four teams went unbeaten in the preliminary rounds last week.
In the nightcap, defending champion Lake Hamilton was upended by Arkadelphia 6-2 to suffer its first loss of tournament play.
GAME 1 – Conway 3, Bryant 2
Silas Cicero struck out 11 batters and allowed just two hits as Conway outlasted Bryant 3-2.
Silas took a no-hitter into the seventh-inning before Terrance Ellis blasted a one-out double. Barrett Royal followed with a double to right field to score Grant Daves who was hit by a pitch to begin the inning.
Barrett later scored on a ground out before Cicero struck out Luke Andrews to end the game and pick up the complete game victory.
Conway put together three hits in the third-inning to take an early 1-0 lead before adding two runs in the following frame with the help of a double to right field by Keyan Brown to load the bases.
Conway would score on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Malik Simpson to make the score 3-0 through four-innings.
Brown led Conway going 2-for-3 at the plate, with Carter Crow contributing with two hit of his own.
GAME 2 – Cabot 4, Texarkana Rivers 1
Miguel Homsher collected three hits with Rylan Smith adding two safeties to lead Cabot to a 4-1 win over Texarkana.
Cabot jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first-inning as Harrison Fry took Tyson Blalock’s first offering down the leftfield line for a double. Fry then scored when Homsher singled to left.
After William Poe reached on an error to score Homsher, Rylan Smith singled to advance Poe to third, with Poe scoring on a Nathan Fitch ground out for the final run of the inning.
Texarkana manufactured a run in the bottom half of the fifth as Whit Haynes led off with a single and would score on a Cad McLeod fielder’s choice.
Cabot added an insurance run in the seventh with the help of two hit batters and a pair of walks.
Poe pitched 5.2 innings, allowing just one runs and scattering four hits to pick up the win. Chris Fowler finished the game for Cabot to pick up the save.
Tyson Blalock was tabbed with the loss.
GAME 3 – Stuttgart 3, Little Rock Warriors 2
JD Hertzog laced a shot past third baseman Everett Woodard to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh-inning to lift Stuttgart past Little Rock 3-2.
Warrior pitcher Brady Penick cruised into the seventh frame before walking Caiden Scalfe to lead off the inning and then surrendered just his third hit of the game to pinch hitter Austin Fontenot.
After a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, Stuttgart loaded the bases when Little Rock intentionally walked Cam Rogers.
Hertzog then delivered his one out blow which went off the glove of Woodard and brought home the winning runs.
Little Rock scored its only two runs in the fourth-inning benefitting from three walks and a hit batter. The lone hit of the inning was a leadoff single by Connor Smith.
Stuttgart cut the lead in half with a single run in the bottom half of the inning when Dagan Duncan led things off with a double to right-center field and later scored on a double steal.
Scalfe picked up the win in relief, pitching the final three innings not allowing a hit and just one base runner.
GAME 4 – Arkadelphia 6, Lake Hamilton 2
Arkadelphia used a four-run third-inning, stringing together four hits to upset Lake Hamilton 6-2.
Arkadelphia didn’t hesitate to get things started plating two runs in the first-inning as Maddox Fendley doubled to score Dillon Rogers who led off the game with a single to left field.
Fendley would later score on a sacrifice fly to right field by Cash Stricklin to give the home team an early 2-0 advantage.
Lake Hamilton countered with a run in the top of the second as Zayde Cox smacked a double to right-center field to begin things. However, Cox was tagged out in a run-down on a Ashur Gregory fielder’s choice.
Gregory would advance to second on a ground out, and score on a Brody Fountain single to right.
Arkadelphia exploded for four runs in the third inning with the big blow being a two-run double by Cooper Stephenson to increase the lead to 6-1.
The Wolves scored a single run in the sixth-inning as Kaden Pranter belted a leadoff triple and scored on Cox’s ground out to short.
Cash Stricklin picked up the win on the mound for Arkadelphia and pitched 5.2 innings, striking out eight batters before reaching his pitching limit and having to be relieved.
Tuesday’s docket will begin with two elimination games as Little Rock will take on Lake Hamilton at Noon, followed by Bryant facing off against Texarkana with the first pitch set for 2:30 p.m.
In the winner’s bracket, Arkadelphia will play Stuttgart at 5 p.m. followed by
Conway and Cabot will battle in the final game of the day scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
For complete scores, updates and statistics, go to arkansasamericanlegionbaseball.com
CONWAY 3, BRYANT 2
Conway 001 200 0 3-6-0
Bryant 000 000 2 2-2-0
WP- Silas Cicero
LP- Jackson Trusty
DP- Bryant 1. LOB-Conway 9, Bryant 3.
2B-Conway: Keyan Brown. Bryant: Terrance Ellis, Barrett Royal
CABOT 3, TEXARKANA RIVERS 0
Cabot 300 000 1 4-7-0
Texarkana 000 010 0 1-5-3
WP- William Poe
LP- Tyson Blalock
Save- Chris Fowler
LOB- Cabot 10, Texarkana 9
2B- Cabot: Harrison Fry.
STUTTGART 3, LITTLE ROCK WARRIORS 2
Little Rock 000 200 0 2-2-1
Stuttgart 000 100 2 3-4-2
WP- Caiden Scalfe
LP- Brady Penick
LOB- LR: 4, Stuttgart 7
2B- Stuttgart: Dagan Duncan
ARKADELPHIA 6, LAKE HAMILTON 2
Lake Hamilton 010 001 0 2-6-1
Arkadelphia 204 000 X 6-6-0
WP- Cash Stricklin
LP- Myers Manatt
LOB- Lake Hamilton 6, Arkadelphia 1
2B- Arkadelphia: Maddox Fendley, Cooper Stephenson; Lake Hamilton: Zayde Cox. 3B- Lake Hamilton: Kaden Pranter
Luke Matheson has been covering high school sports in Arkansas since 2005. Before then he served in the United States Army for 8 years. Email Luke at Luke@NaturalStateSports.com