CLASS 7A BASEBALL

Patrick's bat, arm help Har-Ber advance

Springdale Har-Ber’s Caleb Kimbel slides safely into home plate under a tag attempt of Little Rock Central’s Errol Scott on Friday at the Class 7A state baseball tournament in North Little Rock. Har-Ber won 4-3.
Springdale Har-Ber’s Caleb Kimbel slides safely into home plate under a tag attempt of Little Rock Central’s Errol Scott on Friday at the Class 7A state baseball tournament in North Little Rock. Har-Ber won 4-3.

Brady Patrick and a strong Springdale Har-Ber defense eliminated Little Rock Central from the Class 7A state baseball tournament on Friday.

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Special to the Democrat-Gazette

Springdale Har-Ber shortstop Tyler Blackston throws out Little Rock Central’s Dakotah Stafford on Friday during second round play of the Class 7A state baseball tournament.

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Special to the Democrat-Gazette

Little Rock Central’s Dylan Chilcote hits the ball against Springdale Har-Ber on Friday during second round play of the Class 7A state baseball tournament in North Little Rock.

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Special to the Democrat-Gazette

Bryant pitcher Zack Jackson (right) celebrates with catcher Dylan Hunt Friday after the Hornets’ 4-0 victory over Cabot in the Class 7A state baseball tournament at Burns Park in North Little Rock. Jackson, a University of Arkansas signee, threw a three-hitter on 86 pitches and had eight strikeouts.

Patrick struck out six and scattered six hits as the Wildcats (19-11) posted a 4-3 victory over the Tigers at DeJanis Memorial Field in North Little Rock to advance them to today's semifinals against Bryant. The 6-0 senior outdueled Central senior Errol Scott in a battle of left-handers.

"Both of them threw strikes and kept hitters off-balanced," Har-Ber Coach Ron Bradley said. "It was the little things that made the difference in that game."

Patrick and Scott also engaged in an intense battle at the plate. Patrick went 2 for 3 with two singles and his out was a line drive that turned into a double play. Scott slugged a mammoth home run in the fourth inning that hit an oak tree beyond the left-field fence and gave the Tigers (16-17) a short-lived 3-2 advantage.

Har-Ber regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when sophomore Blaze Brothers and Patrick picked up back-to-back, two-out singles.

Patrick allowed only one single and two baserunners in his final three innings.

"Brady Patrick pitched an outstanding game," Central Coach Rusty Passini said. "He hit his spots when he needed to. And [Scott], you couldn't ask for a better effort or competitor. He got in and out of jams all day. He just goes out there and competes. He's going to be special one day."

Scott finished with a seven-hitter. He struck out 4, walked 2 and hit 3 batters.

Har-Ber's defense came to Patrick's aid on several occasions. Wildcats freshman Blake Adams robbed Scott of a double with his diving grab in right field for the second out of the third inning. Senior Dylan Chilcote followed with a liner that was stabbed by centerfielder Caleb Kimbel.

Brothers, who collected singles in the third and fourth innings, turned in defensive gem to end the game, catching Josh Thompson's line drive and then throwing to first to complete a double play.

BRYANT 4, CABOT 0

University of Arkansas signee Zach Jackson tossed a three-hitter and the Hornets picked up all three of their hits in a four-run fifth inning to eliminate the Panthers (19-10).

Jackson used only 86 pitches -- 20 in the seventh inning -- to lead Bryant (26-2) to today's semifinals. He struck out eight and walked none. Two of Cabot's hits came when Bobby Duncan and Denver Mullins beat out infield singles.

Cabot pitcher Logan Gilbertson held Bryant hitless for the first 41/3 innings, but back-to-back bloop singles by senior Aaron Orender and junior Seth Tucker started the Hornets' game-winning inning.

Orender raced from first to third on Tucker's hit, sliding in safely on a wide throw. After senior Joey Cates was intentionally walked to load the bases, Gilbertson hit lead-off batter Logan Allen on the next pitch for the game's first run.

Dylan Hurt increased the Hornets' lead to 2-0 with a sacrifice fly and senior Evan Lee followed with a two-run triple over centerfielder Jake Slunder's head.

After Mullins' single to start the seventh, Cabot's Eric Larsen singled to center. Bryant shortstop Jake East, however, started a double play and Jackson picked up his eighth strikeout to end the game.

LITTLE ROCK CATHOLIC 7, NORTH LITTLE ROCK 4

Jonathan Nichols belted a two-run home run in the first inning and left-handed pitcher Evan Hiatt scattered 11 hits as the Rockets (22-6) posted a victory over 7A-East champion North Little Rock (23-7).

Hiatt went the distance, striking out eight and walking two as the Rockets moved into today's semifinals.

Senior outfielder and lead-off batter Joe Myers doubled in a run, singled twice and scored two runs as the Rockets collected nine hits. Senior Ben Bryles scored three runs, doubled, singled and drove in a run. Hiatt singled twice and drove in a run. Senior Gavin Cunningham doubled and scored a run.

Both senior Lawson Dulin and junior Nick Butler singled twice and drove in a run for North Little Rock. Junior Owen Stuckey singled twice and drove in a run with a ground out for the 'Cats.

CONWAY 8, BENTONVILLE 6

Junior McCall Dail lined a two-run single down the right-field line to break a 6-6 tie in the top of the seventh inning to give the Wampus Cats (22-5) a victory over the 7A-West champion Tigers.

Bentonville had taken a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth when junior Justin Hines drew a one-out walk, advanced to second on a balk, moved to third on a deep fly ball to left field by senior Matt Bratspies and scored on a passed ball.

In the top of the seventh, Grayson Pinkett was hit by a pitch. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and advanced to third when Matt Lloyd's grounder to second was misplayed for an error. Sophomore Parker Gavazzi tied the game at 6-6 with a single.

After a single by senior Brayden Leach loaded the bases, Dail sent a one-ball offering from Bentonville junior reliever Jacob Williams past first baseman Tyler Johnson to score both Lloyd and Gavazzi.

Sports on 05/14/2016

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