Scrappers play to defend 4A title today
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.— After replacing 10 seniors— seven starters—from last year’s 4A state championship team, it was improbable that Nashville would be back to defend its crown.
The Scrappers are not only returning to the state finals but face the same team— Sh i loh Christian— they beat for the championship, 4-1, last spring.
Nashville (29-5) and the Saints (23-6) clash at 10 a.m. today for the 4A state baseball title at Baum Stadium on teh campus of the University of Arkansas.
“I don’t know if it ever crossed our minds early in the year that we might be back here,” Nashville head coach Kyle Slayton said. “We were telling people we’re going to be better than what everyone thinks. Our five losses are quality losses, against very good teams. We took care of the teams we were supposed to.
“I looked back over it the other day, and this senior group has won 100 games in four years; that’s pretty special.”
The Scrappers won 20 games in 2015, 21 in 2016, 30 last spring and are 29-5 this season.
Nashville has gone 8-1 in
the postseason, dropping the regional semifinal game and finishing third in the regional tournament. The Scrappers have outscored their playoff opponents, 87-35, and are 12-1 in their last 13 games.
The Saints lost the regional championship game to Pottsville, 4-0, but beat Pottsville, 8-1, in the state semifinals. Shiloh Christian went 8-1 in the postseason, outscoring its opponents, 87-19, during that span and has four shutouts in the playoffs. SC is 17-1 since the start of April.
Nashville will start Tyler Hanson on the mound and Colton Patterson behind the plate. Ty Gordon will start at first base, Garrett Lance at second, Chris Willard at shortstop, and Tristen Jamison at third. The outfield will feature Cason Drummond in left field, Aaron Lott in center and J.R. Middleton in right, and Jaydon Hostetler is the designated hitter.
Hanson, Lance, Willard, Middleton and Chris Waldrop are the five seniors for the Scrappers.
“For the seniors to be able to finish their career at Baum, not only have a chance to repeat, but to play their final high school game in that atmosphere is incredible,” Slayton said. “I said it last year as well, this time of year it’s not always the most talented team that wins; it’s the team that plays unselfish.
“We’ve got 25 guys who have bought in, know their role and accepted what we have to do, and they give a solid team effort. They’re playing for each other, and you can’t ask for anything more.”
Win No. 101 for the Nashville seniors would be a nice exclamation point.