Scrappers advance to state championship over Malvern
NASHVILLE, ARK.—Nashville has done it again.
The reigning Class 4A state champion Scrappers have advanced to the state championship game with an 11-4 victory over Malvern Saturday afternoon in a semi-final game.
While the Scrappers were beating up on Malvern, the Nashville Scrapperettes were beaten, 4-1, by Bauxite in a Class 4A semi-final game at City Park.
The Scrappers will play the Shiloh Christian-Pottsville winner next week in Fayetteville, Ark.
BOYS Nashville 11, Malvern 4
The Scrappers were trailing, 3-1, before exploding for five runs and just three hits in the fifth inning to take a 6-3 advantage.
Aaron Lott led off the rally with a one-0ut double, and after several Malvern errors, Tyler Hanson and Tristen Jamison had a single each.
“Our kids really took advantage of those errors in the big fifth inning,” said Nashville coach Kyle Slayton. “The team showed a lot a resilience to come back like we did. Then we separated ourselves from them in the sixth with four more runs.”
“It was a total team effort,” Slayton added. “I am so proud of the team.”
Nashville had only two hits in the four-run, sixth inning, taking advantage of a pair of walks. Ty Gordon had the big hit, a home run to end the scoring in the inning.
Nashville 100 054 — 11 8 0 Malvern 201 001 0 — 4 8 5 Chris Willard, Jayden Hostetler (5) and Colton Patterson. Demias Jimerson, Jayce Turner (5), Whitt Jones (6) and Jordan Hart. WP-Willard. LP-Jimerson.
GIRLS
Bauxite 4, Nashville 1
Sometimes a team just can’t get past another no matter how hard they try.
Bauxite defeated Nashville twice during the regular season, 1-0, 7-6.
It was a scoreless pitching duel between Nashville’s Madi Miller and Bauxite’s Bailey Buffington through three innings.
Nashville (27-7) broke through with a run on two hits in the fourth, but missed a big opportunity for another run.
Addy Harmon led off the inning with a single, and Miller ripped a ball down the third-base line and
into the left field corner for a triple, scoring Harmon. But Buffington left Miller stranded on third, retiring the next three batters.
Getting out with giving up just one run, the momentum changed as Bauxite scored three runs on five hits in the bottom of the fourth.
Destiny McClain led off with a single and was sacrificed to second. The cleanup hitter and catcher Taylor Sledd blasted a home run over the 200-foot, left field fence for a 2-1 lead.
Shelby Chavers, Ashley Redman, and Cheyenne Harris singled to drive in the third run. Harris led the Lady Miners with three hits.
Bauxite (33-2) added its final run in the fifth after a walk to Danielle Singleton and a double by Buffington.
Bauxite advances to the championship game against the Gravette-Pottsville winner next week.
“We put the bat on the ball a lot, but right at somebody,” said Nashville coach Phillip Miller. “They are a real good team, and had the timely hits when it counted.” Nashville 000 100 0—1 5 0 Bauxite 000 310 x—4 8 1 Madi Miller and Brooklyen Cox. Bailey Buffington and Taylor Sledd. WP-Buffington. LP-Miller.