Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Bentonville reaches state finals
BENTONVILLE — Bentonville saved its best for last to claim a spot in the Class 7A state high school baseball finals.
The Tigers were held hitless by Har-Ber starting pitcher Michael King for the first five innings, but erupted for three runs in the bottom of the sixth to rally past Springdale Har-Ber 3-1 in Saturday’s state semifinal game at the Tiger Athletic Complex.
Har-Ber (23-10) tried to mount a rally of its own in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs. But Bentonville senior Preston Rosales came on to get Josh Stephens to ground out to the shortstop to end the game.
Bentonville will now face Conway for the title at 3 p.m. Friday in Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.
Bentonville coach Todd Abbott said his team maintained a good approach and hit balls hard at the plate much of the day against King, but came through in the clutch late in the game.
“We were able to take advantage of the moment, the momentum there in the sixth,” Abbott said. “You could just feel that momentum swell and wow, our guys took advantage and here we are.”
Brian Gloeckler led off the sixth with a double to right field for Bentonville’s first hit of the game. After Ben Nordin walked, designed hitter Kasey Ford laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third.
The Tigers tied the game on a passed ball and took the lead on a fielder’s choice groundout by Matt Braspies.
Har-Ber coach Ron Bradley said the Wildcats got what they wanted with a ground ball to first base with the infield playing in, but Brandon Still chose to try to turn an inning-ending double play. But Bratspies easily beat the return throw from the shortstop as the lead run crossed the plate.
“We had the situation we wanted,” Bradley said. “We wanted to throw home and keep the run off. But they are 16- and 17-year-old young men. That’s a tough double play. It was a great game. Both pitchers threw great.
I take my hat off to Bentonville. They hung tough. We had a couple chances in the fifth or sixth inning with two outs to separate ourselves and didn’t get the job done..”
Bentonville added an insurance run on Blake Werner’s RBI single for a 3-1 lead in the sixth.
That proved to be enough for the Tigers (20-8), who will make their first state finals appearance since 2002 when they won it.
Tigers starter Drew Young continued his recent string of good starts, improving to 7-1. The junior right-hander allowed a run on six hits over 6.2 innings. He struck out six and walked two. Rosales, who Young replaced as a conference starter a few weeks ago, baled him out in the end.
Abbott couldn’t say enough about both pitchers.
“Drew pitched so well and Preston came in there with the bases loaded,” Abbott said. “Big situation and he got it done for us. I told him at some point you’re going to play a vital role with this team and wow did he,” Abbott said. “I’m not sure there’s a bigger pitch on the year than the one he made there to get the last out.”