Postseason madness takes action today on the diamond at regionals
Hot Spring County showcase it’s elite 8 in state tournament qualifying match-ups at regionals
The road to state championship madness on the diamond begins today and Hot Spring County is ready to represent against several teams in the Natural State’s top competition in the 2023 baseball and softball regional tournaments. This 2023 season, the county will display it’s elite 8 of teams such as—malvern Lady Leopards, Glen Rose Lady Beavers, Bismarck Lions, Ouachita Warriors and Lady Warriors, Poyen Indians, and the Magnet Cove Panthers and Lady Panthers to compete in the 2023 postseason for their chance to make the big dance at regionals. The regional tournaments are scheduled May 4-6.
4A SOUTH REGIONAL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
The No. 1 seed hometown Malvern Lady Leopards are headed to De Queen and compete in the 4A South Regional Softball Tournament 2023. The Lady Leopards are squaring off against No. 4 seed Star City Lady Bulldogs in their 4A state tournament qualifying match-up. The Lady Leopards stormed through the 4A-7 Conference to finish 13-1 and secured the league title as heavy favorite title contenders.
BASEBALL/ SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
The No. 2 seed Ouachita Warriors and No. 4 seed Lady Warriors will journey to Horatio and compete in the regional baseball and softball tournaments. As newcomers in their debut year in Class 2A, the Warriors finished the 2A-8 Conference runner-up and earned the No. 2 seed to face host tournament team Horatio in their state tournament qualifying match-up. The No. 4 seed Lady Warriors will square off against No. 1 seed Spring Hill in a crucial opening round match-up in the softball regional. The Lady Warriors tied fo r third in the 2A-8 Conference and set to make some noise as a huge lower seed title contender in the tournament.
3A-4 REGIONAL BASEBALL/ SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
The Glen Rose Lady Beavers are postseason bound and earned the No. 3 seed heading into the 3A-4 Regional Softball Tournament after securing their win against the Harmony Grove Lady Cardinals 13-4, but falling to Fouke 5-0 in the 3A-7 District Tournament.
The Lady Beavers will open regional softball play facing No. 2 seed Smackover Thursday hosted in Genoa Central.
LADY BEAVERS VS. HARMONY GROVE Offensively, Kaylee Ellis,
Sydney Riggan, Avery Fikes and Zavery May led the Lady Beavers’ offensive execution in the frame and powered two hits apiece against Harmony Grove. Lilly Goss, Maci Carver, Emma Wright and Maddie Melhorn each collected a hit—while Goss and Riggan led the scoring attack and scored three runs apiece. Melhorn scored two runs, while the core of Carver, Ellis, Madi Callison, Fikes and May each journeyed around the bases to home for a run. In the circle, Wright and Riggan provided the firepower from the rubber. Wright pitched four innings, and struck three batters and allowed two hits—riggan threw three innings and struck out one batter and allowed one run and no hits in the Lady Beavers nine-run victory.
LADY BEAVERS VS. FOUKE
Despite a scoreless outing, the Lady Beavers sparked the offense with Melhorn, Carver, Riggan and Fikes each collecting a key hit against Fouke. Melhorn sparked for a double in the frame. In the circle, Wright pitched four innings, struck out three batters, allowed four runs and five hits. Riggan threw two innings and struck out two batters and allowed one run and four hits.
The Lady Beavers finished their outing in the district tournament 1-1, now turning the focus and attention to qualifying for the Class 3A state tournament as a contender from the 3A-7 Conference.
The Bismarck Lions roared their way to earn the No. 2 seed going into the 3A-4 Regional Baseball Tournament after capturing the runner-up title in the 3A-7 District Tournament. The Lions roared productively to a dominant 9-1 victory against Fouke in the semifinal match-up—but fell short to Genoa Central Dragons in the district tournament championship game.
The Lions are looking to keep their roar progressing with success as they enter into the postseason facing Mcgehee in the opening round of the 3A-4 Regional Baseball Tournament hosted in Genoa Central.
2A CENTRAL REGIONAL BASEBALL/ SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT 2023
The PPRD Magnet Cove Panthers and Lady Panthers with arch-rival Poyen Indians will remain in the area as the 2A Central Regional Baseball and Softball Tournaments are hosted in Magnet Cove.
The Panthers captured a runner-up finish in the 5-2A Conference and earned the No. 2 seed for the regional baseball tournament. The Panthers are set to face Cedar Ridge in their state tournament qualifying match-up—while the Roll Tribe effect of the Poyen Indians earned the No. 4 seed and face South Side Bee Branch in the first round for their postseason bout to be state bound. The Indians captured consecutive victories by defeating Conway Christian in the district tournament, then took down Hampton to bring some momentum into the regional baseball tourney.
The No. 1 seed Lady Panthers softball team are taking care of business on their home field and face off against No. 4 seed Cedar Ridge in their state tournament qualifying game. The Lady Panthers came off two impressive district tournament victories by outplaying Bigelow and knocking off topseed Central Arkansas Christian from productive defense to secure the 5-2A District Tournament title.