Waid homers again, but AHS loses, 8-3
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Another first inning, 2-run home run from Razorback senior Ty Waid, as well as a fourth-inning solo blast from catcher Scott Trumble, didn’t prove to be enough offense for Arkansas High (2-1, 1-1) Saturday afternoon at Razorback Field, as the Hot Springs Lakeside Rams (1-2, 1-1) came from behind to win 8-3.
Waid’s round-tripper already marks his third in as many games this season. Luke Paxton and Trumble added singles for Arkansas High.
The Razorbacks got a gritty effort from senior starting pitcher Trey White, who lasted 4 1/3 innings, but the Rams took advantage of two hitby-pitch mistakes from White, along with costly errors by the Razorbacks in the second and fourth innings.
The Rams ultimately capped off a four-run sixth inning with two hits, two walks and a strikeout that resulted in a wild pitch, allowing another base-runner that helped to secure the road victory for the Hot Springs team. Lakeside also stole seven bases in the Conference 5A-South contest. White took the loss, allowing four runs on just three hits while striking out three. He walked two.
After the Razorbacks led 3-2 through four innings, but the Rams tied the score in the fifth. Waid relieved White with one out, as Lakeside hit two doubles and had a hit-batsman to start the frame.
Lakeside then attempted to keep the momentum with a squeeze bunt, but Waid tossed the ball to his catcher, Trumble, who got the force out at home plate. A wild pitch by Waid later in the inning allowed the Rams to eventually push across another run and take the lead for good, 4-3.
There was no answer from Arkansas High offense in the later innings, as Lakeside’s Brady Arnold went the distance. Arnold worked around four walks and a hit-batsman while striking out six.
The Razorbacks will be back in action at home Tuesday as they host Benton in another 5A-South matchup.
Basketball SAU WINS MEN’S TITLE
SHAWNEE, Okla. – Southern Arkansas put five players in double figures as the Muleriders cruised to an 89-69 victory against Arkansas Tech to capture the 2023 Great American Conference Men’s Basketball Championship title on Sunday from FireLake Arena.
The Muleriders (22-9) shot 56.7 percent from the floor and connected on 10of-22 3-point tries. Gregory Hammond, Jr. led the team with 19 points. He went 8-for-11 from the field and 3-for-5 from the 3-point arc. Brock Schreiner added 18; Blake Rogers added three 3-point field goals en route to scoring 15 points. LaTreavin Black contributed 13 points and Carel Ray, Jr. came off the bench to score 10.
An early 15-2 run gave SAU a 24-11 lead midway through the first half. The Mulerider advantage never dipped below seven points and they reached halftime with a 44-32 lead. Out of the break, they extended their lead to 23, 59-36, and finished with the largest margin of victory in a final in GAC Men’S Championship history.
Schreiner earned Tournament MVP honors.
He averaged 15.0 points and shot 53.6 percent over the three games. Hammond, Jr., Black and Rogers garnered All-Tournament honors. Black averaged 13.7 points and 8.7 rebounds. Hammond, Jr. averaged 12.7 points and Rogers went 8-for-16 from the 3-point arc.
Taelon Peter led the Wonder Boys (16-15) and scored a game-high 22 points. D’Rell Roberts came off the bench and added 12 points. Peter and Roberts represent the Wonder Boys on the All-Tournament Team.
Ouachita Baptist’s Ma’Darius Hobson and Henderson State’s Alvin Miles rounded out the eight-player All-Tournament Team. Hobson averaged 23.0 points, including 27 in the Tigers’ upset of top-seeded Southern Nazarene. Miles averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 assists in the Reddies’ two contests.
Southern Arkansas becomes the ninth different GAC school to win the tournament title and earns the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships.
The Muleriders will learn their destination and firstround opponent during Sunday night’s selection show.