Warriors capture second consecutive regional tourney championship
TAYLOR — The top-seeded Ouachita Warriors are climbing the mountain top to make some noise on their championship journey to the state title from successfully winning a second consecutive 1A-4 Regional Baseball Tournament Monday. The Warriors outplayed Nevada 17-7 in the first round, then shut out Hermitage 12-0 in the semifinals, to capture the regional championship by their title defense victory against host tourney team Taylor Tigers 8-7 in a gutsy performance on the diamond.
Ouachita Warrior baseball head coach Anthony Nail felt his team showed a ton of heart to overcome adversity to defeat a productive baseball team of Taylor to reclaim a consecutive regional championship title.
“I’m very proud of how we battled back after being down 5-0 early in the game,” Nail said. “The boys showed a lot of maturity and resilience to chip away at the lead little by little and never panic. That was one of the best games I’ve ever been a part of as a player or coach— Taylor is a great team, tons of credit goes out to them for playing a great game and making us work hard for everything.”
Now, the No. 1 seed Warriors are ready to take state as they’re the host state tournament team in the postseason for 2022.
UP NEXT
The Class 1A State Baseball Tournament starts Thursday, May 12 and the Warriors begin their journey to the title in the opening round against Guy-perkins at Warrior Field. Game time is set for 3 p.m.
1A-4 REGIONAL BASEBALL TOURNAMENT 2022 FIRST ROUND Ouachita Warriors 17 Nevada Blue Jays 7
In their state qualifying matchup at regionals, the Warriors executed their game plan productively to secure a 10-run victory and clinch a spot to the big dance on the diamond against the Blue Jays. Ouachita scored a postseason high 17 runs on 12 hits to post in double-digits from igniting a productive offensive execution. Jayden Alston led in the frame with three hits and drove in three runs for three RBIS. Hunter Rook (double) and Kelton Fowler (Triple, double) powered two hits
apiece, Kaden Fulmer, Riley Adams, Trey Cox, Brady Huneycutt and Caden Lee each collected a hit apiece. Leading the offensive scoring attack was the Warrior trio of Fulmer, Fowler, and Caleb Force each scoring three runs apiece. Cox and Rook each scored two runs apiece, Adams, Alston, Colton Braswell and Huneycutt each sparked for a run apiece.
Cox also drove in three runs for three RBIS, Fowler, Rook, and Huneycutt each had two RBIS apiece and Adams and Lee each tallied an RBI.
On the mound, Adams earned the victory, pitched one inning, allowed no hits, one run and threw eight strikes. Braswell pitched two innings, allowed no hits, three earned runs, and struck out two batters and threw 21 strikes.
Alston threw some heat for two and two-third innings, allowed two hits, four earned runs and struck out one batter while throwing 28 strikes.
SEMIFINALS Ouachita Warriors 12 Hermitage Hermits 0
In the final four of the regional tournament, the Warriors didn’t let off their motors of dominance and defensively shut down the Hermits in a 12-0 rout to advance to the championship game. The game’s highlight performer was Huneycutt by executing a no-hitter performance from the mound. Huneycutt pitched five innings, allowing no runs, no hits and no walks and struck out five batters and threw 36 strikes across the plate to ignite as the “Ultimate Warrior” pitcher of the outing. Offensively, Alston and Cox led the offensive execution in the frame and collected two hits apiece. Cox and Larson Fowler drove in three runs for three RBIS and Fulmer had one RBI. Alston also scored three runs to lead the scoring attack. Rook scored two runs, while the core of Adams, Kelton Fowler, Braswell, Cox, Larson Fowler, Lee and Bralyn Maynard all scored a run apiece.
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH-UP Ouachita Warriors 8 Taylor Tigers 7
In the finals, the Warriors rallied back from a 5-0 deficit and proved why they’re a championship caliber unit to top Taylor 8-7 in eight extra innings.
Ouachita tallied eight runs on 13 hits while the Tigers sparked with seven runs on 12 hits and committed no errors in their sizzling finals bout on the diamond. On the mound, Fulmer earned the win and pitched two and one-third innings, allowed two hits, no runs and struck out one batter and threw 22 strikes while facing 12 batters. Rook pitched two and one-third innings, allowed three hits, one earned one and struck out five batters and threw 32 strikes.
Kelton Fowler pitched two innings and threw 16 strikes and Cox pitched one and one-third innings and gave up one hit, one earned run and struck out one batter and threw 16 strikes. Offensively, Adams led the execution with three hits and drove in two runs for two RBIS. Rook, Braswell and Cox each had two hits, Fulmer, Larson Fowler and Lee each tallied a hit apiece in the frame.
Fulmer drove in two runs for two RBIS, Cox and Lee each drove in a run for an RBI apiece.