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.