Texarkana rallies, staves off elimination in tourney
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — An All-star performance from Logan Ward propelled Sheridan into Championship Saturday while Texarkana and Conway advanced in the elimination bracket, Thursday at the American Legion Seniors State Tournament at Majestic Park.
SHERIDAN 6, BRYANT 1
Logan Ward picked up a complete game victory on the mound and helped his cause at the plate in leading Sheridan to a 6-1 win over Bryant.
Ward broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth-inning with a three-run homer to left field to put Sheridan on top 4-1. The right-hander struck out seven batters and scattered seven hits on 109 pitches to pick up the win on the mound.
Sheridan added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh with the aid of a run-scoring double by John Woodmansee. The second run of the frame came on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Zach Carson.
Woodmansee went 3-for-4 at the plate, while Jase Ham led Bryant going 2-for-3 with a run batted in.
Sheridan advances to championship Saturday and will await its opponent. Saturday’s American Legion Championship game is set for 5 p.m. with a second game following if necessary.
TEXARKANA 7, GREENWOOD 6 (GREENWOOD ELIMINATED)
Texarkana overcame a 6-0 deficit and rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth to beat Greenwood 7-6.
After Greenwood jumped out to a 6-0 lead with the help of two run-scoring singles by both Gannon Shackleford and Jayden Campbell, Texarkana started to put things together scoring three runs in the bottom of the third.
The Razorbacks combined for four hits in the frame, including RBI singles by Carsen Summerlin and Ryan Wardlaw.
Trailing 6-3 in the sixth, the Razorbacks exploded for four runs with the big blow being a Nate Wall single to center field that scored two runs to tie the game at 6-6.
Summerlin provided the eventual game winning hit when he singled through the left side scoring Jack Johnson who reached earlier on a walk.
The Yard Goats were held in check for the final four innings managing just three hits.
Reliever Jonathan Garcia picked up the win and Kannon Dempsey got the save as the two both allowed just one base runner each in the final two innings.
Summerlin ended the day with three hits and a pair of runs batted in. Wall contributed to the Razorback nine hit attack with two hits and 2 RBI.
CONWAY 8, PARAGOULD 4 (PARAGOULD ELIMINATED)
Conway rallied from a 3-1 deficit and clubbed 13 hits to eliminate defending champion Paragould 8-4.
Paragould took the lead in the opening inning as Kayson Becker and Matthew Gardner opened with back-to-back singles.
With one out, Ashton Williams turned on Peyton Coffman’s offering and took it deep over the left field wall.
Conway gained the lead in the fifth inning with the assistance of Lucas Carner’s run-scoring double to left that scored Joseph Kordsmeier who led off with a free pass.
Ty Ruby plated Maddox Berry with a single of his own to tie the score and chase Paragould starting pitcher Asher Griffin.
After the pitching change, Carson Zachary gave Conway the lead with the team’s fourth hit of the inning, followed by a ground out by Kaden Brooks that scored the final run of the frame.
Conway continued to slug out hits, putting together four straight to in the sixth inning with Maddox Berry and Lucas Carner both driving in runs to increase the lead to 7-3.
Zachary led Conway’s hit parade going 3-for-4, while Carner, Ty Ruby, Joseph Kordsmeier and Maddox Berry each had two hits.
Williams led Paragould with two hits and three runs batted in.
Texarkana will take on Conway in an elimination game Friday at 5 p.m. The winner will play Bryant at 7:30 p.m. for a right to advance to Championship Saturday to face Sheridan.