Horatio vs. Harding Academy
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.—To be the best, you must beat the best.
The last two Class 3A state baseball champions square off today to decide the 2018 title, Horatio (277) taking on defending state champion Harding Ac ademy (29-7) at 10 a.m. at the University of Arkansas’ B a u m Stadium.
T h e Lions— the 2016 state title holders— a 9-game win streak into the championship tilt, having outscored their eight playoff opponents 54-12 with two shutouts.
The Wildcats have won all eight playoff games, a couple by lop-sided scores. Harding Academy is on an 8-game win streak and outscored its postseason opposition 79-17 with a pair of shutouts.
“We only graduated three guys last year, and a question mark for us was could we get better offensively?” Horatio veteran coach Lance Spigner said. “The biggest key for us has been our improved offensive performance this season. We’re hitting 50 points better, as a team.
“We talked to the guys early that we had to be better offensively. He had to be able to hit the ball to the wall and hit the ball over the wall. We’ve improved in several
offensive aspects.”
Senior Zach Izzo catches for Horatio, which will start University of Arkansas signee Wade Beasley on the mound today. Parker Smith plays first base, Trey Pickett will be at second, Ryan Vaught at shortstop and Blake Pickett at third. The outfield will feature either Taylor Chavez or Orey Chandler in left, Dakota Frachiseur in center and Garett Wilson in right. Wyatt Guinn is the designated hitter.
After receiving a first-round bye in the conference tournament, Horatio beat Prescott, 7-1, and Genoa Central, 8-1 for the title. The Lions’ toughest games have come in the opening rounds of the regional and state tournaments.
Horatio edged McGehee, 2-1, to start the regional, shut out Fouke, 7-0, and topped GC, 10-1, in the finals.
In the single-elimination state tournament, the Lions topped Bald Knob, 3-2 in nine innings, in the first round. They beat Charleston. 12-6, and blanked Glen Rose, 5-0, in the semifinal.
Harding Academy pounded Newport, 17-1, in the second round of its conference tournament, and nipped Bald Knob, 2-1, in the final. To open the regional tournament, the Eagles shut out Episcopal, 9-0, then beat Mayflower, 10-6, and hammered Bald Knob, 18-2, in teh championship.
In the state tournament, HA shut out Genoa Central, 5-0, routed Clinton, 15-6, and beat Mayflower, 3-1, in the semifinal.
The Eagles have won all three of their previous state finals appearances: 2008, 2013 and 2017.
The Lions are 5 for 6 in championship games—all under Spigner. Horatio won state titles in 1997, 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2016.