Road to Baum: State Tournament Updates Day 4

May 15, 2017

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

Monday, May 15^th, 2017 there were 4 classifications finishing up their state tournaments, with 8 teams punching their tickets to Baum Stadium.

Sheridan 1 vs Greenwood 0
Jonesboro 5 vs Benton 0

Magnolia 5 vs Greenbrier 4
Vilonia 7 vs Little Rock Christian 6

Nashville 4 vs Monticello 3
Shiloh Christian 3 vs Malvern 2

Woodlawn 6 vs Dierks 2
Taylor 2 vs Mount Vernon Enola 1

Game Notes

Sheridan 1 vs Greenwood 0; the game that everyone has wanted to see, finally happened, and it lived up to the hype. 2018 RHP Connor Noland vs 2018 RHP Tyler Cleveland clashed in a true pitchers dual, which Cleveland came up on the winning side. Cleveland finished the game with 7 innings pitched allowing just one hit while striking out 8 in the win. Noland took the loss allowing 5 hits with 8 strike outs and 1 walk.

Three of those hits came in the top of the 6^th when 2018 MIF Hunter Hicks singled to start the inning, followed by 2017 DH David Rainwater’s single, 2017 CIF/RHP David Rainwater slashed a line drive over the right-fielder’s head for a double off the wall for the lone RBI. Noland worked out of the jam, holding the Yellow jackets to 1 run.

Greenwood, had one chance off Cleveland in the third, but he worked his way through it inducing ground balls and a big strike out. After the third Cleveland went to another level keeping hitters off balance with a steady three pitch mix, using his slider to put hitters away.

Sheridan advanced to the 6A State Championship Game on Saturday, May 20^th at 10:00 AM.

Jonesboro 5 vs Benton 0; Jonesboro is the 2016 6A State Champion, their last obstacle in their way was, the Benton Panthers, and they put them away early moving them to a state title showdown with Sheridan.

The Hurricane scored 4 runs in the first and cruised to victory adding an insurance run in the next 5 at bats. In the bottom of the 2017 MIF Will Batson walked to lead off the game, 2017 OF Sam Edwards hit a 2 run homer, they piled on 2 more runs before Benton could regain composure and work out of the big innings.

The game went to a battle of the pitchers for the next few innings. 2018 MIF/RHP Will Batson threw 4 1/3 innings for Jonesboro to pick up the win allowing 5 hits and striking out 4. He was relieved by 2018 RHP Thomas Fletcher who threw the final 2 2/3 innings to complete the shut out.

Jonesboro pushed their lead to 5-0 when 2018 OF Cameron Polston hit a double to drive in a run.

The Hurricanes made a difficult task look simple, and will meet Sheridan in the State Championship Game Saturday May 20^th at 10:00 AM.

Road to Baum: State Tournament Updates Day 4

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