Bearcats KO Wolves in first round

LINCOLN — Lincoln’s baseball season came to an end, one win short of qualifying for the state tournament with a 6-0 firstround loss to Booneville Thursday at the 3A Region 1 Tournament.

Lincoln came in as the 3A-1 No. 4 seed facing 3A-4 No. 1 seed, Booneville, Thursday morning at the Harrison Parks and Recreation Equity Bank Sports Complex with the tournament hosted by Valley Springs.

Dax Goof smacked a home run and finished with 4 RBIs to lead the Bearcats (17-5). On the mound Goff was just as effective, throwing a 3-hitter, striking out 13 and walking one in a complete game shutout. The Bearcats also got two hits from Dylan Todd.

LINCOLN 4, GREEN FOREST 3

The Wolves qualified for regional play by pulling off a 4-3 come-from-behind win over Green Forest during the 3A-1 District Tournament at Flippin on Thursday, April 25.

Kellar Price sparked Lincoln’s offense in the first inning. He drew a walk to get on base, then stole second and advanced to third to get in prime position to score, which he did to put the Wolves on the board.

Senior Drew Moore pitched 5.1 innings of that exciting contest. He threw well enough to keep Lincoln in the game before giving way to reliever Harrison Coker-Gage, who pitched the sixth and seventh innings.

The Wolves trailed 3-2 when they came up to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning. Green Forest experienced control issues and hit three batters, Coke-Gage, Trace Wallace and Aiden Olson. Moore hit a ground ball to third and reached on an error with the tying run scoring.

Kaleb Roy delivered a clutch hit to drive in the goahead run and the Wolves won 4-3 on the walkoff on a line drive to right field.

That win advanced the Wolves into the district semifinals versus Elkins, a game which was postponed one day to Saturday, April 27, and moved from Flippin to Mountain Home.

ELKINS 15, LINCOLN 2

Elkins took command with 10 runs in the second inning on the way to defeating Lincoln 15-2.

Kellar Price and CokerGage each scored a run as Lincoln jumped ahead 2-0 in the top of the first inning. Elkins’ Austin Adams (2 hits, 5 RBIs) hit a 2-run single to make it a 3-2 game. The Elks took a 4-2 lead after one inning and held Lincoln scoreless the rest of the way.

Adams tripled to clear the bases in the second and later scored on a wild pitch, while Zayne Walker added a 2-run triple. Caleb Hankins had 2 hits and 2 RBIs for Elkins, which advanced to the district championship and beat Valley Springs, 11-0, to claim the 4A-1 No. 1 seed for regionals.