Lions enter state a 4-seed
GREENLAND — Jessieville scored two runs in the sixth inning but came up short against Charleston 4-3 in the thirdplace game of the Class 3A-1 regional baseball tournament here Monday.
The loss pits the fourth-seeded Lions (15-10) against Genoa Central at 3 p.m. Thursday in the state 3A tournament at Pippin Wholesale Field in Harrison.
Logan Perkins’ single with the bases loaded brought home Ethan Goessman for a 1-0 Jessieville lead in the third inning. Charleston went up 2-1 in the bottom half, Brett Ward’s sacrifice fly scoring Michael Rankin and Colton McDonald reaching safely on an error as Kaleb Fisher came home.
Ward doubled home Jackson Rowland in the fifth and scored on an error for a 4-1 Charleston lead.
Dakota Fortenberry’s sixth-inning double scored Aaron Ford and Goessman before reliever Brayden Ross stopped the Lions.
Winning pitcher Kalen Forst struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings, allowing five hits but struggling with control as he walked five.
Logan Perkins took the loss, giving up four runs off three walks with four walks and a strikeout.
Jessieville beat Elkins 3-2 in the first round Friday, then lost 10-0 to Atkins on Saturday.
In other state-tournament baseball games involving Garland County teams, both at 10 a.m. Thursday, Lakeside plays Sylvan Hills at Jacksonville (Class 5A) and Lake Hamilton faces Marion in Benton (Class 6A).
Stephan named SEC Pitcher of the Week
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — For salvaging the Arkansas Razorbacks’ series split with Tennessee by throwing a one-hit, seven-inning shutout, junior right-handed pitcher Trevor Stephan was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week Monday by the SEC Office.
After two days of rain in Knoxville, Tenn., reduced the Arkansas vs. Tennessee three-
game SEC series to two games with the last one scheduled for for seven innings after Tennessee won Saturday’s first game, 5-4, Stephan struck out
11 against just two walks in a pivotal 2-0 victory, enabling the Razorbacks, 35-13 overall,
14-9 SEC, to remain in contention for the SEC West title.
“Trevor Stephen just did a tremendous job of giving us an opportunity to win that game,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said last Saturday in Knoxville. “I would have to say it was his best game … it was in his top two for sure because of the situation. Once we lost the first game, our mindset was, we got to get the second game in, and more than anything we got to win it. For us to win that game and leave here 1-1 … it gives us a chance to hang in the race.”
The Razorbacks are 2 1/2 behind SEC West leader Mississippi State, 16-8, and onehalf game behind second-place LSU, 15-9.
All SEC teams have six SEC games remaining, which for the Razorbacks are against Vanderbilt at Baum Stadium at 6 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday and the following Thursday through Saturday at Texas A&M.
Sophomore right-hander Blaine Knight of Bryant, Stephan, and sophomore lefty Kacey Murphy likely will start Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the Razorbacks against Vanderbilt, 29-18 overall, 12-11 in the SEC East.