Harding Academy survives duel

SEARCY -- Peydon Harlow's one-out, bases-loaded single through a drawn-in infield in the bottom of the seventh inning allowed host Harding Academy to outlast Benton Harmony Grove 9-8 in the 3A Region 2 semifinals on a windy Saturday afternoon.

Harding Academy fell behind by four runs early, squandered a 7-4 advantage and rallied from an 8-7 deficit in the final two innings. The Wildcats advance to play Mayflower in Monday's championship game.

"I tried to tell myself in the sixth [inning] that it was just a privilege to be a part of this game," Harding Academy Coach Shane Fullerton said. "I'm just happy to be on the winning side of that. I was proud of us for competing, and I was really impressed with Harmony Grove."

Sophomore Caleb Campbell belted his first home run of the season -- a two-run shot in the fourth that cut Harmony Grove's lead to 4-3 -- and finished with 3 RBI.

Harlow's game-winning single was the third of the game for the junior left fielder and one of 14 base hits for the Wildcats (27-5).

"We hit well in the clutch," Fullerton said. "We weren't as consistent all the way through the game like we normally are, but when we had to have it, they were there."

Harmony Grove (17-6) banged out 13 hits and drew 10 walks against three Harding Academy pitchers, but the Cardinals left 13 base runners stranded and hit into three double plays.

"That's kinda been our M.O. for the last couple of games," Harmony Grove Coach Brandon Mynhier said. "We get all kinds of guys on base, but we leave all kinds of guys on base. We did come through in several situations, but yeah, we left too many on base."

Harmony Grove picked up five hits in a four-run second inning, including run-scoring singles by senior Austin Bull, and juniors Braden Carman and Hunter Hilson. The Cardinals added another four-run inning in the sixth, getting a two-run single from freshman Jared Toler and an RBI single from sophomore Sean Small.

"[Harding Academy] is one of the top quality teams in the state," Mynhier said. "We've brought our program to about that level, but all the scouting reports will confirm that they are the best in the business. My guys came out and swung the bats, played some defense and pitched a little bit. I thought we looked good."

Junior Pate Fullerton worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh to pick up the victory.

Harmony Grove will play Bald Knob in Monday's third-place game.

Sports on 05/07/2017

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