BENTON — Colby Johnson would like to see his team take an extra step or two in this weekend’s Class 6A state tournament.
Johnson, a four-year starter for the Benton Panthers, has been a part of three teams that compiled impressive records only to flame out in the state semifinals. Two of those losses — in 2012 and 2013 — were by one run. Johnson admits the Panthers’ semifinal losses have been frustrating but educational.
“The biggest thing in the last couple of years we’ve gotten off to such a great start that it tends to make us think it’s just going to happen for us,” said Johnson, a middle infielder who is batting .268 this season. “We’ve worked hard, but maybe we haven’t worked as hard as we needed to. This year we’ve tried as hard as we could to stay on task and not get complacent.”
Johnson is hoping his final season will be one to remember. The Class 6A state tournament begins today at Texarkana. Johnson and the 6A-South champion Panthers (22-5) earned a first-round bye and will play in a noon quarterfinal game Friday.
Benton’s baseball program has produced 19 consecutive winning seasons. The Panthers have won seven conference titles, won more than 20 games during a season 15 times and have made eight semifinal appearances since the program started in 1990. The Panthers have reached the state championship game twice, winning it all in 2009. Since 2010, Benton has been in the state semifinals four times.
“I think we were good enough to have won it all every one of those [four] years,” said Mark Balisterri, the program’s head coach the past 21 years. “But the format that we play in the state tournament, one bad game and it’s over. … I think it’s harder to win a state championship in Arkansas than it is in most other states. There are a lot states where they have a playoff series, but if you have one bad day here, you’re done.”
Injuries have played a key role in the Panthers’ recent fortunes. Two weeks prior to the 2013 state tournament, Benton lost pitcher Coulton Lee to injury. Lee had given up only one earned run in 37 2/3 innings before his injury. The Panthers’ state title hopes ended with a 6-5 loss to Jonesboro in the state semifinals.
“With Lee on the mound, I don’t think we would have given up six runs,” Balisterri said. “That was a killer, but that’s baseball. That’s life. That’s sports in general.”
The Panthers were beset with injuries two weeks ago when twins Colten and Chase Nix were injured in consecutive games. Colten (.400 batting average, 30 RBI) suffered an ankle injury and should be at full strength for this weekend’s tournament. Balisterri said Chase (.382, 16 RBI) may have suffered a “bad bruise” or a “strain” to his shoulder.
“It’s a setback, but if [Chase] can’t play, then it’s ‘next man up,’ ” Balisterri said.
Along with the injuries, Benton must also deal with a recent cold streak. The Panthers enter the state tournament having lost two of its final three conference games.
The Panthers have put together another solid season with a team batting average of .349 and 2.05 earned run average, but those statistics will take a backseat to what the team does this weekend.
“The more years we go by being so close and being the team that should have won, it definitely adds pressure to what we’re doing,” Colten Nix said. “But I feel like we can overcome the pressure. … We have more game experience than what we had last year. We’re confident but hopefully we won’t be too confident.”
Defending champion Russellville, which beat Benton 5-1 in the 2014 semifinals, is the No. 1 seed from the 6A-Central. Jonesboro, the 2013 state champion, claimed the No. 1 seed from the 6A-East.
“We can see their records and what they’ve done, but we really know nothing about them,” Johnson said. “We don’t know what to expect, so we’ve got to be at our best.”
BASEBALL CAPSULES
CLASS 7A SITE Bentonville, Fayetteville CONFERENCE WINNERS Fayetteville (West), Conway (Central), Cabot (East) CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 3 p.m. Friday, May 22, Baum Stadium, Fayetteville 2014 TITLE GAME Bryant 10, Fayetteville 0
CLASS 6A SITE Texarkana CONFERENCE WINNERS Benton (South), Russellville (Central), Jonesboro (East) CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 3 p.m. Saturday, May 23, Baum Stadium, Fayetteville 2014 TITLE GAME Russellville 3, Marion 0
CLASS 5A SITE Harrison CONFERENCE WINNERS Jacksonville (Central), Greene County Tech (East), Vilonia (West), Watson Chapel (South) CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 12;30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, Baum Stadium, Fayetteville 2014 TITLE GAME White Hall 3, Pulaski Academy 1
CLASS 4A SITE Gosnell REGIONAL WINNERS Lonoke (East), Hamburg (South), Pea Ridge (North) CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 10 a.m. Friday, May 22, Baum Stadium, Fayetteville 2014 TITLE GAME Arkadelphia 15, Ashdown 1
CLASS 3A SITE Genoa Central REGIONAL WINNERS Genoa Central (Region 4), Rivercrest (Region 3), Harding Academy (Region 2), Lavaca (Region 1) CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 10 a.m. Saturday, May 23, Baum Stadium, Fayetteville 2014 TITLE GAME Genoa Central 3, Fordyce 0
CLASS 2A SITE Marked Tree REGIONAL WINNERS Conway Christian (West), Riverside (North), Ouachita (East), Junction City (South) CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 22, Baum Stadium, Fayetteville 2014 TITLE GAME Junction City 13, Walnut Ridge 2
CLASS 1A SITE Taylor REGIONAL WINNERS Armorel (Region 2), Sacred Heart (Region 3), Scranton (Region 1), Taylor (Region 4) CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 12:30 p.m. Friday, May 22, Baum Stadium, Fayetteville 2014 TITLE GAME Southside Bee Branch 7, Armorel 3
SOFTBALL CAPSULES
CLASS 7A SITE Rogers CONFERENCE WINNERS Rogers (West), Bryant (Central), Cabot (East) CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 10 a.m. Friday, May 22, Bogle Park, Fayetteville 2014 TITLE GAME North Little Rock 2, Bentonville 1
CLASS 6A SITE Marion CONFERENCE WINNERS Benton (South), Greenwood (Central), Marion (East) CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 10 a.m. Saturday, May 23, Bogle Park, Fayetteville 2014 TITLE GAME Benton 4, Sheridan 2
CLASS 5A SITE Hot Springs Lakeside CONFERENCE WINNERS Beebe (Central), Paragould (East), Vilonia (West), De Queen (South) CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 12:30 p.m. Friday, May 22, Bogle Park, Fayetteville 2014 TITLE GAME White Hall 7, Vilonia 3
CLASS 4A SITE Mena (Union Bank Park) REGIONAL WINNERS Brookland (East), Mena (South), Pottsville (North) CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 3 p.m. Friday, May 22, Bogle Park, Fayetteville 2014 TITLE GAME Brookland 5, Mena 2
CLASS 3A SITE Harrison REGIONAL WINNERS Smackover (Region 4), Melbourne (Region 3), Bald Knob (Region 2), Atkins (Region 1) CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 22, Bogle Park, Fayetteville 2014 TITLE GAME Bald Knob 3, Harding Academy 0
CLASS 2A SITE Norphlet REGIONAL WINNERS Hector (West), Midland (North), Hazen (East), Parkers Chapel (South) CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 3 p.m. Saturday, May 23, Bogle Park, Fayetteville 2014 TITLE GAME Foreman 8, Junction City 5
CLASS 1A SITE Armorel REGIONAL WINNERS Viola (Region 2), Concord (Region 3), Scranton (Region 1), Taylor (Region 4) CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, Bogle Park, Fayetteville 2014 TITLE GAME Midland 3, Viola 0