CENTERTON -- Jeb Brain's bases-loaded triple in the seventh inning lifted Rogers High to a 9-5 victory over Conway in the first round of the 7A state baseball tournament at Bentonville West on Thursday.
The third-seeded Mounties (16-11) advance to play Fayetteville at noon today. The Bulldogs received a bye after earning the top seed from the 7A-West Conference.
Conway (16-9) never led as Rogers answered each time the Wampus Cats attempted to steal momentum. Brain's three-run triple down the left field line came after Conway had tied the score at 6-6 in the sixth. It was set up by a leadoff double by McKaden Templeton and a pair of hit batsmen.
"Jeb Brain has been on the bench and been back and forth and hasn't had his best year," said Rogers Coach Matt Melson. "But then he comes in a gets the hit of the season. Real proud of guys like that because he just always wants to do whatever's best for the team, so it was good to see him have a big hit there."
It came off of Conway junior left-handed ace pitcher Jordan Wicks. Brain later scored on the Wampus Cats' fourth error.
"We made those mistakes that just kill you," said Conway Coach Noel Boucher. "Right at the end of the game, leave a pitch up and the guy gets a triple to clear the bases. That's just a mistake."
Little Rock Catholic 3, Van Buren 1
Junior left-hander Evan Hiatt allowed just four hits and struck out 13 to lead the Rockets.
The 6-foot-3 junior, who has verbally committed to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, allowed only one Van Buren base runner past second base to improve to 8-2. He struggled with command at times, which drove up his pitch count. Hiatt was forced out of the game after reaching the daily limit with two outs in the seventh inning.
Van Buren (18-6) rallied against reliever Tate Stine as Ethan Holmes walked and Conner Catron reached on an error. Ethan Rauser singled to right field to drive in a run, but Catron was caught in a rundown between second and third and tagged out to end the game and send the No. 4 seed from 7A-West home.
Bryant 1, Springdale 0
Logan Chambers broke up a pitchers' duel with an inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift the Hornets to the first-round victory over the No 6 seed from the 7A-West.
The sophomore hit a sinking line drive to right field that Springdale's Tanner Sargent made a diving attempt to catch. However, the ball rolled past Sargent and to the fence. In the meantime, Chambers circled the bases for the lone run of the game.
Springdale Har-Ber 10, Fort Smith Southside 7
The Wildcats answered the Mavericks' big inning with a big inning of their own to advance to today's quarterfinals, where they'll play North Little Rock at 2:30 p.m.
Following a weather delay, Har-Ber (20-9) came out swinging to build a 6-1 lead before Southside (8-19) had a six-run sixth inning to take the lead. It was short-lived as Har-Ber scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to create the final margin.
Sports on 05/12/2017