Bald Knob tops Dragons
HARRISON - Taking a one-run lead into the seventh inning, Junction City stood three outs away from reaching the state semifinals.
However, a two-run single by Blain Willard proved to be the game-winner, as Bald Knob ended the Dragons’ season with a 3-2 win in the quarterfinals of the 3A State Tournament on Saturday.
Trailing 1-0 after the Bulldogs scored a run in the third, the Dragons (25-11) took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on a tworun homer by Brock McGoogan.
The homer was the second of the postseason for McGoogan, who hit a solo homer in the Dragons’ win over Centerpoint in the opening round of the regional tournament.
Logan Disotell, Junction City’s starter, made the lead stand up through his six innings on the mound.
A senior, Disotell allowed just four hits and one run with five walks and 10 strikeouts before reaching the maximum amount of pitches allowed by the Arkansas Activities Association.
The Bulldogs then struck against the Dragons’ bullpen.
Joe Lowe issued a leadoff walk and was removed after falling behind in the count 2-0 on the next batter.
Bryce Ware, fresh off of throwing six hitless innings against Smackover on Monday in the third-place game of the regional tournament, inherited the 2-0 count, but fought back to record a strikeout.
But that would be the lone out of the inning, as a double and an intentional walk loaded the bases to set up Willard’s heroics.
Disotell had a single to account for Junction City’s other hit in the game.
Keelan Hodge drew a walk and scored on McGoogan’s two-run shot in the fourth.
Although the Dragons saw their season end, Junction City posted 25 wins after losing seven starters and moving up to 3A, posting a 14-4 record in Class 3A-4A District 12.
“Sometimes you just don’t get the breaks, and they got a big hit,” said Junction City coach Joe Paul Hammett. “Losing seven starters and moving up to 3A and still being in the hunt, I couldn’t ask for any more. The kids did a super job. They worked really hard and improved as the year went on.”