Razorbacks crowned regional champs
LITTLE ROCK—The Red River Credit Union Texarkana Razorbacks were crowned the American Legion Mid-South Regional champions Monday despite never taking the field.
After inclement weather and wet field conditions delayed the finals between the Razorbacks (38-4) and Bryant Black Sox (319) Sunday evening, tournament officials were unable to find a suitable field for the teams to play prior to a deadline set by the American Legion National Office in preparation for the World Series, which begins Thursday in Shelby, N.C.
Because the game was canceled, the regional title was determined by preset tie-breakers. Since each team had a loss, the second tie-breaker was head-to-head, which awarded the championship and trip to the World Series to Texarkana.
It was the Hogs’ first Regional championship since 1990.
“It’s an absolute dream come true,” Texarkana manager Dane Peavy said. “It’s something that when I took over eight years ago probably the furthest thing from my mind was winning a regional title.
“My first goal was to win a state championship. To be able to go to the World Series after all the hard work, sweat and tears that everybody who’s every come through this program under me—and even
before I took over—it culminates because they all paved the way to get to this point.”
The Razorbacks rallied Saturday night to defeat the Black Sox, 6-5, to stay alive and hand Bryant its only loss of the tournament. Texarkana lost its opener before winning four straight games, including a 5-0 victory over Sedalia, Mo., Sunday prior to the heavy rainfall and lightning at Gary Hogan Field.
In the end it was the wins over Sedalia and Bryant that pushed the Razorbacks to the top.
Had the Hogs lost the game then the rain came, Bryant would have took the title on the same tie-breaker since it had beat Sedalia, 6-3, Friday. The Black Sox held the headto-head tie-breaker over the Travelers.
“I told my kids Sunday night, ‘no matter how someone wants it to go or doesn’t want it to go, (if we aren’t able to play) it’s going to be an unfortunate situation for everybody involved. And if it comes down to some circumstances where we can’t go, we’re going to have to be at peace with that,’” Peavy said. “It’s an unfortunate situation, but those tie-breakers are in place for a reason. No one wants to get into those situations, and I get that.”
The Razorbacks receive a day off—each team has an off day during pool play—on Thursday. Competing in the Stars Division, they play San Mateo, Calif., on Friday; Cumberland, R.I. Saturday; and Purceville, Va., Sunday.
The top two teams from both pools play the semifinals Monday, Aug. 15, and the American Legion World Series championship game is scheduled for Tuesday.
Texarkana, Texas, won the Mid-South Regional title in 2009, and the last Arkansas team to win the title and advance to the World Series was Jonesboro in 2008. Bryant won the regional championship in 2007.
The Razorbacks outscored their regional opponents a mere 22-21, giving up the majority during an opening 11-0 loss to Pontotoc, Miss. Texarkana played the first and last elimination game (Sedalia), besting Reserve, La., 4-1 and surviving Ada, Okla., 7-4 in 11 innings.
Twice the hogs rallied from deficits against Bryant to nip their intra-state rivals, and then blanked the Travelers on what turned out to be the final game of the Mid-South tournament.
“Every night we have our team meeting, and the meeting after we lost we were probably in there for an hour,” Peavy said. “Usually team meetings don’t last that long. About three guys—Blake Hall, Nick Myers and Zac Harrington—stepped up and had something to say.
“Basically the common theme was ‘let’s get back to the baseball we’ve been playing. Let’s get back to baseball where it’s fun and we don’t feel any pressure.’ Over the last four days those guys played with raw emotion. They played with raw intensity, and they just went out and outworked four other teams.”