‘Tight’ Sylvan Hills survives opener
CLASS 5A
SYLVAN HILLS 8, HOT SPRINGS LAKESIDE 6
Sylvan Hills Coach Denny Tipton was relieved after his team’s 8-6 victory over Hot Springs Lakeside on Thursday in the first round of the Class 5A state baseball tournament at Mike Bromley Field in Sherwood.
Tipton, who is in his 20th season at Sylvan Hills, wasn’t feeling better only because of the Bears’ ability to win despite their pitchers walking eight batters and hitting three others. He’s also the coach of the host school of the tournament, which meant with a 10 a.m. start time, more than 300 students attended the opening game.
“I truly thought we were tight,” Tipton said. “First game, students can buy tickets [and] come to the game. It’s easier to play in front of parents and people you don’t know.
“I’m proud of the win. I’ve been doing this a long time. I’ll take the win however we can get it.”
Despite holding a 7-1 lead through three innings, the No. 1 seed from the 5A-Central Conference had to hold on late.
The Rams pulled within 7-4 in the top of the sixth inning with Jack Bornhoft’s bases-loaded walk, Zac Melugin’s RBI groundout and Carter West’s hit by pitch.
After the Bears added a run in the bottom of the sixth
inning on a wild pitch for an 8-4 advantage, Bornhoft hit a two-run single to left field off Sylvan Hills reliever Jesus Minarez in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to 8-6. Melugin came to the plate as the tying run, but Minarez got him to fly out to center field to end the game.
With the victory, the Bears (30-6), last season’s Class 5A runner-up, moved to the quarterfinals where they’ll face Greenbrier at 1:30 p.m. today.
River Hunt walked 6 and allowed 4 runs on 4 hits in 51/3 innings for the Bears. He struck out seven in his 110 pitches.
“He competed,” Tipton said. “It wasn’t his best outing, but he competed. Give Lakeside credit. They stayed around.”
Sylvan Hills took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Zachary Douglas hit a one-out single, stole second and Nick Fakouri’s two-run home run put the Bears on top.
Leading 2-1 entering the bottom of the third inning, Sylvan Hills scored five runs to take a 7-1 lead. Ryan Lumpkin’s bases-loaded walk scored Michael Coven. Hunt’s sacrifice fly scored Douglas, then Fakouri came home on a throwing error by Rams third baseman Ethan Bates. Chaz Poppy followed with a two-run home run to cap the Bears’ inning.
Lakeside (17-10) was led by Bornhoft and Race Tittle, who each had two hits. Ryan Robinson took the loss for the Rams, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits in 2-plus innings.
Rams Coach Leighton Hardin liked his team’s comeback but added improvement will be needed so the Rams can get a higher seed in future state tournaments.
“Losing is always tough. It was a tough draw,” Hardin said. “We just have to make sure we play well the entire year. We got into a situation last week where we didn’t play well and we drawed the host.”
CLASS 2A Magazine rallies in 7th
LEPANTO — Pacen Roberson drove in the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift Magazine to an 8-7 victory over McCrory in the first round of the Class 2A state baseball tournament Thursday.
Following a brief rain delay in the top of the seventh inning, Magazine loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning and got a triple by Randon Baumgartner to tie the game at 7-7.
McCrory pitcher Dalton Holland issued intentional walks to Shaeffer Loyd and Deven Chappell before striking out Austin Canada for the second out. Roberson then lined an RBI single over the second baseman’s head to bring home the winning run.
Magazine broke on top 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning before McCrory cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the third.
Magazine added to its lead in the bottom of the third inning getting runs from Matthew Smith, Trevor Blake and Baumgartner to move in front 5-1.
McCrory scored once in the top of the fourth when Jesse Skudlark scored on an RBI single by Dalton Holland to get within 5-2 then seized the momentum with four runs in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead.
In other first-round games Thursday, Spring Hill defeated Pangburn 7-6 and Palestine-Wheatley won 9-5 over Poyen.
— Fred Conley