Arkansas High holds off Lakeside in season debut

TEXARKANA, Ark. — Spring is officially in the air and Arkansas High’s varsity baseball program sprung quickly against Hot Springs Lakeside in its quest to defend the 5A-south Conference title from a season ago — the school’s first in 25 years — by holding on to a thrilling 6-4 victory Tuesday night at Razorback Field.

Junior right-hander Jonathan Garcia got the nod on the bump for the Razorbacks and was solid through four innings of work, yielding three runs on three hits with eight strikeouts before giving way to senior hurler, and Henderson State signee, Ryan Wardlaw.

The only legitimate threat against the game winner, Garcia, came in the top of the first when Lakeside’s leadoff man Drew Morgan sliced a triple down the right field line before being brought home on a groundout RBI from Eysa Chapman for the early 1-0 lead in way of the visitors. Wardlaw would go on to toss three innings in relief and earn the save, allowing just one run from a sacrifice fly in the fifth frame.

A big second inning by the Hogs’ offense, in which senior Landry East’s double down the left field line to plate the first two RBIS of the young season, got the home team out front 2-1, highlighted by two more base hits and five walks, helped account for a six-run outburst that saw Arkansas High possess a five run lead through just two innings of play while also sending 12 batter to the plate and knocking out Lakeside starter Brady Arnold after just an 1 1/3 innings.

Rams’ reliever Grady Ohman would throw the next five and a third innings as the Razorbacks would make their five-run lead stand for the rest of the contest despite a bit of a rally in the fourth inning from the visitors with two runs to cut the lead in half.

A strikeout to Lakeside’s Beau Brock in the top of the seventh ended a vicious comeback attempt by the Rams, who loaded the bases after the first two batters were erased during their final three outs.

Wardlaw lead the Arkansas High bats with a 2-3 effort at the plate as he banged out two singles to go along with base hits from Nate Wall, Kolby Lewis, and Scooter Wilder.

The Razorbacks will be on the road Friday at Lake Hamilton with first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m.