It's championship time in Arkansas is that C 5A state title game between Jonesboro and Van Buren.
Here in Benton, AR helpful when I'm Archie Hawk alongside Bobby Swofford.
We're getting straight to action as Van Buren is visiting team and they will be at the place first with Hayden Rolark.
And his first pitch, that time coming from Jonesboro's.
Josh Hahnemann is a ball that was missed inside and that's going to start the count 102 wrong.
Setting the table RJ, that's going to be the key for Roark in the top half of his Van Buren lineup.
Gotta find a way to get to Heineman who's 702.00 ERA and get this opposing batters hitting just 149 against the Jonesboro right hander.
57 strikeouts on the season, four Heinemann's.
It's a wild pitch.
It goes back behind the head of Roark.
You know you get those.
Those state championship jitters just a little bit and you see that in every whether it be basketball, football, you see that now.
Here in baseball.
Yeah, it doesn't matter that we're here in Benton and not at Baum Stadium like we normally are for the state championship game.
Those nerves in the first few innings going to be there for both squads.
Here's the jam shot on the inside and that time rolark fouls it off and even his account at two and two.
Roll up, though he's doing exactly what he's supposed to do.
Start to run that pitch count up and they kind of throw strikes.
Trying way on base.
Who's account?
Pitch by Hahnemann as its own and found back hanging tough is Roark.
Roark is the kids being recruited by UA Fort Smith in Arkansas Tech right now.
A lot of kids on this Van Buren team getting college offers or looks so far here in their junior senior season.
They're starting to see why they are in the state championship Game 26 and seven on the season and nice job by Roark there to check his swing.
And the two 2 pitches in the dirt.
They appeal down the line, and it's three and two now.
Fans were too happy with that, as this is the.
1st at bat in the five a state title game.
Shoes on the way and he caught him on the inside.
That's out #1 here in the top first and not sure if Rourke was just thinking fastball or offspeed there, but it's kind of been able to sneak a fastball right on the inside portion of the plates and gets his first day of the day up next for Van Buren is gonna be Sammy Sieger who is committed to going to the University of Arkansas Fort Smith.
You look at this Van Buren teen boy there.
The sticks have been really good.
They this is a team that's hitting over 300 this year as a team and really potent lineup from top to bottom.
There really isn't a lot of it's going to be at the top of the lineup, and of course we're going to counter Johnson and the cleanup spot.
It's finding ways to produce runs, get guys on base, find a way to scratch him across, and that's what you've got to be able to do to be successful.
And then obviously did that.
Capturing a 58 W title first pitches outside low.
Wanna know?
Check swing, he does go through it evens the count at one and one today's battery for Jonesboro, you've got Josh Hoffman on the mound.
Rhett Rossman behind the plate in the outfield.
Jake Henry Williams at first Dawson Wagner at Second Reich race.
Boo is short as there's a check swing.
It's going to foul to make the count one and two tyrods over at third base.
You've got Wilbur A and left cross jumper in center.
Ann Brennan.
Pain in right field for Jonesboro.
We've already seen three check swings through the first batter and a half years.
So you can tell that means.
Ottoman stuff's got some late movement.
Van Buren batters are having a hard time pull the trigger.
Here's one too slow on, and found out a play.
You know one thing that Hahnemann is like he's really enjoying so far as being able to work outside in here.
You're seeing a fastball hits that outside corner.
That's where you're seeing a lot of check swings, but then it comes right back in.
And just tries to jam up the batter.
Here's the 1/2 curveball swung on and fouled back and keeps a count.
1-2 curveball that time.
75 miles an hour.
Gotta give a lot of credit to the first two batters for Van Buren Roark, and now Seager there working the counter 12 pitches to the first batter and a half here.
Here's the 1/2 swung on popped up in the center field.
Can be a can of corn for cross jumper and that's two outs now in the top the 1st.
Job there again by Hahnemann.
Puts the ball over the plate.
Tries to make Van Buren.
Beat him with a stick and that time can't do it in easy flyball to center.
So next that's going to bring up Tanner Callahan.
He's the catcher today for Van Buren, Van Buren, by the way, comes in 26 and seven on the year under Luke Weatherford.
So with two outs.
Callahans steps in from a left handed batters box.
Swing on dribbler that's going to go out to second base.
Pay or sumi.
Wagner picks it up, flips the 1st, and that's going to do it for the top of the first inning.
No runs, no hits.
The first thing we head to the bottom of first, and you're watching the Centennial Bank State Baseball championships in Arkansas.
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Ann, you know you're keeping a box score, so yeah.
Back here in Benton, it's the five a state title game between Van Buren in Jonesboro.
Bobby Swapper are Jayhawk and had a good one so far.
We just wrapped up the top of the first inning.
You can support your team and join the conversation on social media.
Just use the hashtag AR PBS.
So on the mound for Van Buren is going to Connor Johnson and Johnson a right-handed pitcher who, as we talked about, is the Division One prospect for these pointers.
He's headed to the University of Central Arkansas to play baseball and just look at that frame.
Bobby got a great fastball and mix it up with some curveballs.
And and really, I think thrives on his off speed stuff.
Yeah, he's a power pitcher right hander and coach.
Look, whether it was a little worried about how ready was he going to be on the short turn around.
Coming back from the state tournament to this early pitch on here on a Thursday, but he's a gamer he got he pretty much carried his team.
Obviously it's a team effort, but he got his team here to the championship game and he wouldn't give the ball up with a chance to win a title.
Today's battery for Van Buren.
You've got Johnson on the mound.
Tanner Callahan is behind the plate at first phase.
You've got Sammy Sieger Brecken waters at short.
Eli Gilreath is going to be a third phase.
Connor Brady in left field.
Hate Roark and center anti Henry.
Is in right field?
So our first four Jonesboro is gonna be Austin Wagner wagging the season batting 4:30.
With 18 RBI works in that left handed batters box.
First pitch is swung on an.
It's a Texas leaguer into left field for the first base.
Who ball game?
Nice job by Wagner and this goes inside out with the swing goes the other way.
Takes what's given to him and it's a way to start the table 'cause they've got some suppers in the middle.
This lineup.
This Jonesboro we talked about Thai Rd with 52 RBI's in two more behind him with at least 44 RBI's obviously he's going to have a lot of runs scored because he sets the table for that power line up and you talk about the power line of Van Buren's got.
It's just as impressive over in Jonesboro.
Cross jumpers at the plate lays down a bunt up the third base sign, but it goes foul.
Like the idea there for Jonesboro, try to scratch across that first run of the day.
You know it's always.
Advantageous to strike first try to get you a cheap run Bobby.
One thing about this Jonesboro team not only do they hit high and average, but really everybody on this team is a home run hitter.
I mean, you look at cross jumper.
He's got five home runs on the season.
He's second on the team.
There's three players on this team with five home runs.
Gonna take a little bit of a shot today as thick as the air is, it's really humid.
Here in Benton right now, but just 320 down the line, so good swing could get one out.
There's a bunch that's popped up foul and it takes to count to 1/2.
Has Bobby said 320 down the lines at left and right in the power alleys.
It's 355 and it centerfield.
375 here at every field in Benton.
Hope to get it out to dead center as tall as the wall is out there and sounds off another one directly behind us.
Choose account.
First hit the ball game was taken by Jonesboro as they let off the bottom of the first inning.
101st base.
Two swung on, popped up high into left field coming in as Brady.
And he'll make the catch and left for the first down here in the bottom of the first inning.
Nice job by Johnson there to continue to pound this pound the strike zone and gets the lazy flat bottle left.
So with Dawson Wagner standing at first base for Jonesboro, that'll bring up Tyrods, who's playing third base today.
Rhodes hitting 4:55 with 52 RBI.
Well the 1st.
First, look we've seen at Johnson trying to pick the runner at first wasn't his best move.
Save that for a little later in the game.
Curveball that caught the outside corner to start to count it all in one less job to change it up a little bit there for Johnson.
Starts with the off speed pitch.
Decent contacts the leadoff lazy flyball, the second the second batter there, but starts a third hitter Office 3 hole will breaking ball.
01 high and outside to count one and one.
You know one thing about Rhodes.
He's got 52 RBI hitting 455, but he's had 16 doubles this year.
Along with four home runs as pickoff, move back to first base is.
Got Wagner back safely.
Lego guard him foul line to foul line.
Do you have to do roads for Van Buren?
They're playing him pretty much straight up centerfielder ish shaded a bit the other direction though.
There's a pitchout throw down to second hand in safely is Wagner second base, proesel high and outside and allowed for Wagner to get a stolen base instead getting at second base.
You can see why Johnson was so worried about Wagner there at first.
He shows off the speed, just does beat the throw and the one thing about playing on turf our Jays fans.
If you haven't seen baseball on turf, they've gotta start to slide a whole lot earlier.
Slot over a bag pretty easily.
Nice job.
By Dawson Wagner there to swap the bag and maintain the bag as well.
Here's the two, one curveball down the first baseline, knocking down the step on the back for the second out, but that's going to advance Wagner over third base, but what a great job by Sandy's eager to build him.
Knock that ball down.
There was a hard hit ball down the first baseline saved Iran a great diving stop as you mentioned, are just knock that one down.
Keep it in play, able to finish it off himself.
Sammy Sieger saves a run for Van Buren.
Down here in the bottom of the first inning with a runner at 3rd.
And now the cleanup hitter.
Rhett Hosman is at the plate.
Mrs outside.
Good angle.
At the strike zone, if you will kind of hovered over the outside edge with last second dove down and out.
Home plate umpire to.
But that would be correct.
One who was found back to the even the count at one apiece has been on the year hitting 495 thirty nine RBI.
There's the 11 right down Broadway that time to take the count to one and two.
Starting to settle in now, now is a chance to get out of this first inning jam.
There's one more quality pitch 1/2's outside.
Count two and two.
186 Johnson really going to sit in that mid 80 range so it kind of reared back and threw a little extra on that one.
Pulled across his body with well outside the strike zone.
Here's a due to an.
It's a strike on the outside corner, came with a fastball that time and was able to get out of the inning untouched.
So no runs one hit, no errors in the bottle of first we head to the top of the second and you're watching the Centennial Bank State Baseball championships in Arkansas.
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If you want to download photos from the game, you can do.
It's all you have to do is go to myarpbs.org/photos and that was a picture perfect ditch where things up there in the bottom of the first for Connor Johnson gets his first KO today.
Well, the good news is Bobby is.
No power behind the plate.
Generous Sam breeding is allowing to paint those corners because, you know, I think if you were watching at home, you saw that it was a little bit outside and you know.
For a state championship game, though, I don't mind that as much 'cause as long as it's consistent to be honest.
Well, most people don't care what the strike zone looks like as long as it looks the same the entire game for sure for sure.
So Van Buren's Bank of the latest, Connor Johnson.
The right handed batters box as a fastball is low.
Comes in at 89 miles an hour and it's wanna know picture versus picture here.
After Van Buren was set down in order.
Picture the cleanup hitter for the owners.
Pitch on the way, swung on and found back.
Counted one in one.
89 off the arm there from Hyneman so we can.
Get it up there.
One strike as we start the top of the second inning.
There's a swing and a drive to left field.
Got a chance if it stays fair and it goes found.
Johnson just ahead of that page, he was able to turn on it.
Started well fair, but hooked just before crossed over that foul line, but it had no problem clearing the fence here.
The 320 mark down the left field line.
Two strikes now.
As hahnemann.
As a sign, here's the pitch.
Swarm on driven the left field and this was going to foul.
He's moved it over more towards the line.
This time he until Heinemann's really trying to work Johnson in and you get a chance to look at the replay or this next pitch.
Look at where Johnson's lining up on the batters box.
He's got the toes on that front line so he is crowding the plate Heinemann's trying to jam it in there underneath his hands with Johnson and be able to turn on back to back pitches but unable to keep either one of them fair and you can see how closely as to the plate.
It's a good shot of it right there.
1/2's account curveball out to short.
Picked up by Ice Bowl and he throws it across for the first out here in the top of the second inning.
Nice job by Honda mentor to bounce back after one really loud strike.
To come back and battle back to retire his opposing pitcher.
The way that Johnson was turning on pitches and almost you almost want to stay outside and not go inside it.
Quick hands jammed him up on that last one.
Now Eli Gilbert Gilreath is going to come to the plane.
Basketball is going to hit the knees 91 on the in stadium radar.
Still, parliaments juiced up here in the 2nd and he sat mid mid 80s in that first inning.
Oh, one pitch is driven out the left field going back in the gap.
And it's gonna be outta here.
Goes over the 3:55 sign.
He's going around the basis for our first run, the ball game, so you're in the a Arkansas PBS truck.
He probably heard a little rattle there.
Is that one might have bounced on or even over the truck beyond the power gap in Gilreath.
Got all of that one came in at 90 and left her probably closer to 100 as the pointer strike first.
That's what they call exit speed at exit velocity.
And so that's our first run of the ball game in the five, a title game with one out here in the top, the second.
Now, Presley Nichols, is going to come to the plate.
Really impressive swing.
By Gilruth there.
There was really no doubt about that when it left the bat.
You knew it was going to land in the parking lot.
So press is going to come to the plate, works from that left handed batters box.
I've got to shift over to the first base bag is.
Pitches on Swanda right field.
As coming up his pain and he'll make the catch for the second out.
Nichols wasted little time, put a good swing on it.
The right at pain in right field for the second out of the inning and nice bounce back, pitch there for Heinemann.
Now Brecken waters comes up.
He's the shortstop today for Van Buren.
Heinemann.
Eisen, here's the pitch fastball loan away.
Two outs here in the top of the second inning.
Wanda nothing, Van Buren on top of Jonesboro.
It's the dirt.
Or the turf?
Count one in one or shoot me too and on most entertaining things I've ever seen in the baseball game, was the first game and umpire did with a turf field.
Yeah, he actually stepped around to dust off home plate and realize that's not really a plate.
Here's the two old pitch that comes in there at 87 miles an hour and it's two and one, well, you know, it kind of comes as I have it as somebody that used to umpire baseball games.
If you want to slow things down just a little bit kind of regain your composure, you go and dust off the plate is this ones popped up into shallow right field and it was.
It's going to found.
Text count two and two.
It's like a nervous twitch.
You go around there and dust off that plate.
He did a nice job of trying to brush it off, or kind of you kind of leaned over, looked at it and stood up straight and act like he was stretching his back out, but well documented what he was trying to do.
Poor guy.
But you think about it though, having these alter fields is quite quite awesome, because if you have rain like what we're expecting later today.
It has a tendency to drain a little bit.
Absolutely.
You know it's more about raking the infield 22 swung on and lifted the right field.
Pain right there and is going to gather it for the ounce but not till Van Buren strikes.
With a home run in the top of the second inning to take a one.
Nothing lead as we head to the bottom of the second inning.
Van Buren.
One Jonesboro.
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We head to the bottom of the second inning with Van Buren on top one to nothing here in Benton for the five a state title game are Jayhawk with Bobby Swofford and back on the mound for Van Buren is Connor Johnson.
He'll be facing Jake Henry Williams the leadoff man for Jonesboro.
Shoot if Johnson changes his approach.
Obviously we're early early in the game, but he continued to pound the strike zone like he did in the first thing.
Now that he's got a small but it's at least a one run lead.
Curveball went a little high that time to start off one at home Jonesboro back in the first inning.
Didn't get a base hit by Dawson Wagner as the one O pitch Mrs Loan it's to know.
Jake Henry Williams on the air hitting 476 with 51 RBI and five home runs.
20 swung on, lifted the left and it's going to go well foul.
Can a similar look to what we saw in the last half inning?
You mentioned the power numbers 51 RBI's and five home runs.
He's used to being at the plate with.
Hurricane runners on the pass, but that turned out a bit too much.
Will file but also well clear of the left field wall.
Let's say when you look at that Jonesboro middle of the lineup as the two ones on the way and swung on popped up to right.
Going back is Henrion.
Will make the catch for the first out, but when you look at the middle of the lineup for Jonesboro, you've got roads it with 52 RBI in Hoffman with 39 Williams with 51 and then Bentley with 44.
That's a that's a pretty stout middle of a line.
Oh yeah, you go three through six there with.
I'm a guesstimate.
It 175 RBI's that's that's pretty good pop in the middle of your lineup.
It also shows you the the table setting of Wagner and Jumper and how big it was to forget that first out of that first in that retired jumper.
And allowed Wagner to be left on the pass here.
Sawyer Bentley, with the first strike.
Comes in at 85 on the outside corner.
No ones on the way swung on and missed.
I want to quickly.
Nice job to elevate the fastball there.
86 up around the numbers feels more like 90.
Not able to catch up with it.
O2 is on the way, fastball misses outside and wanted to so good pitch.
Probably more the strike zone for more the plate than expected to pitch to catch, but does not get the call.
1/2 offering swung on and fouled out of play.
And I think, really, you know, going back and talking about all the RBI production out of the middle of this lineup.
That's kind of a testament to what?
Connor Johnson's done so far is keeping these guys off balance.
Here's one too swung on and popped up out of Luton.
He's working quick too.
He's not wasting any time he gets this signal from his catcher Tyler Callahan, or excuse me, Tanner Kenneth Callahan and he goes to work in a hurry.
One out here in the bottom of the second, here's the 1/2 curveball that Mrs Hyun is tuned to get the bikes on that one that he wanted to get on top of that curve also just kind of spun and stayed north of the strike zone.
2 two pitch on the way fastball, Swanand, fouled back.
So your Bentley battling right now, he's the DH today for Van or for Jonesboro.
7 pitches now.
Five batters 22 fastball out to short right there to gather it up is waters, and he throws across from the second out jobs that get inside on the hands of Bentley.
There in, Johnson gets the easy ground out.
Quickly, two outs here in the bottom of the second.
So now you've got Josh Heineman coming up.
He's the pitcher for Jonesboro.
341 batter has five home runs with 34 RBI.
Two outs here in the bottom of the second inning want nothings are spores.
Van Buren picked up that run here in the top the 2nd.
She was a lot in high school game pitchers hitting for themselves.
Was able to retire Johnson to groundouts his first bat.
Now Johnson is going to try to retire his counterpart.
Pitch to him swung on and fouled back.
Select the pace.
Really, both of these pictures work with now.
Zielone Herrboldt misses high.
You know, one thing that.
That Connor Johnson's had a hard time is really getting over.
On top of that curveball.
Yeah, the command with the breaking balls not there through the first two innings so far, but his fastball's been good enough to overcome it up to this .1 ones outside makes the count two and one.
His stuff is completely on.
That curveball is also finding a way to hit the strike zone, and he's really tough to hit.
21's fastball inside 86 San count, two and two have been able to spot that fastball or really anywhere he wants it and that's why he's been able to overcome that.
There's a good look at his pumps 86 only our 3rd 22's on the line and he runs it right past him to recite.
Retire the side here in the bottom of the second inning so for Jonesboro, no runs, no hits, no errors.
We head to the top.
The third inning Van Buren on top, one to nothing and you're watching the Centennial Bank State Baseball championships on Arkansas.
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Back here in Benton for the five, a title game, an our student athlete of the game for this 5/8 title games.
Will Ross from Lakeside High School plays left field as a senior with a 4.2 GPA.
Future plans are to attend Ouachita Baptist University and Major in biology something Bobby never even thought about doing.
Don't know if I went though.
Here's the one O pitch that is outside misses as Eastern Reichert is at the plate.
Have a piece of paper so I'm also paper.
I must have went a few times.
Pitches a fastball 90 miles now on the outside corner to take the count at one and one biology was not my Forte there was there was a science building on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas that I did not.
I did not frequent very often as the.
Fastball goes out Scientex, count two and one.
2 balls one strike.
As it goes outside to take the count to three and one.
Patience here from Reichert.
The last thing we saw a lot of early swings from the Van Buren offense and maybe try to push that pitch count up again from him and now he's sitting at 31.
Everyone's on the way and it's gonna be all alone outside metal.
Send eastern Riker to first base first free Pass issued by either squad so far today and.
Hi Henry.
Start on the football field as a sophomore receiver for the pointers.
Don't have to tell any Jonesboro fans who were at that football game about it, he torched.
Jonesboro in that first round.
Of the six A state playoffs.
Soaky, Henry the nine hole hitter 4.
Van Buren works from the right side with runner on.
Josh hanneman what's the pitch out?
Thought about a bunt pulls it back and.
This could be low and outside for ball.
One nice job by Riker though to get back quickly as he.
Scampered off first base a little too far.
However, it has been it will throw behind the runner in a close play it there at first.
Riker is at first.
The golf move goes back to first base.
One ball, no strikes.
Azcuy, Henry is that the plate?
Here's the pitch shows, but again, but pulled him back in his strike.
Either way, fastball at 90 miles an hour really as a hitter.
You've got nothing you can do with that.
It's just 90 on the black.
You don't know whether it's going to be a strike or not, so you pull it back and you still lose the advantage of having a few strikes to work with.
Trying to get down.
And now we will have time.
It's played as.
Connor Johnson is being bothered by Easton Reichert at first base.
Couldn't make up his mind whether he's going to play pick.
Have it pick it first.
Chi, Henry smartly to steps out of the box.
Make the Jonesboro picture.
Think about it a little more.
One ball one strike.
Ottoman with the pictures.
The bunt down the first base side runner will advance, flip the 1st and it'll be the first out, but that'll send Riker to second base.
Nice job there by Henry to get the bunt down.
It's the sacrifice moves a runner into scoring position as Van Buren flips the lineup over for the first time here today.
So we head back to the top.
The lineup is Hayden Roark is up.
He struck out looking back in the first inning.
One out here in the top of the third inning.
Jonesboro defensively plays pretty much straight up third basement roads.
Even with the bag.
At least so far they're not buying into the analytics of the shift and swim on out to the gap.
That's going to score a run, or a Tempest, or run as rounding.
Third Wagner, he'll touch home and student, nothing.
An RBI single by Hayden Rorke and Van Buren is out to a 2.
Nothing lead.
Nice job there by Roark and record able to scurry around from second.
Not a strong throw up from the outfield is.
As Barre was moving to his left and haven't tried to plan, throw back in and not enough on that cut off the road to get in Van Buren's got a 2 nothing lead.
Now Sammy Sieger is going to be at the plane who?
Flied out to center field back in the first inning and now.
Will have a mound visit.
Great job of Smallball coming to fruition there for Van Buren.
You get on base with the walkie bunium over and then you get a little bleeder into the outfield of a single gets at home and Van Buren's got a 2 nothing lead and meeting of the minds on the mound for the hurricane.
One out here in the top, the third.
2 nothing's are score Van Buren on top of Jonesboro.
There was a quick meeting and.
Now they won't wait.
Sammy sieger.
Being in the championship game, nothing new.
For Jonesboro, this is trip #5 all this decade 2513, sixteen, 17 and now this year.
Titles to their credit, but the pointers?
Title game just wants back in 2010.
They're looking for their first championship.
So runner at first base.
As seeger.
I was in from the right handed batters box.
Looks like Jones Bros got somebody warming up in the bullpen.
So the left hand there of Roark baseball's gone to the oven Mitt variety of.
Your fingers when you slide back into the bag.
You know we didn't have the other met.
Whenever I was playing.
No also didn't have turf.
When you're playing either.
The point.
Little diving back into first is completely different 'cause you're normally diving forward and not back, and so the government does you no good when you got back in the first place.
I digress.
Here's the pitch swung on and missed.
Just can't really wear two oven mitts.
He could.
No balls, one strike came in Sandy in the house.
Van Buren crowd into it.
You're going to step out.
This is student section getting a little rowdy.
No balls one strike.
101st base.
Here's the pitch 1 Apple Appeal to base it.
And now they've got two runners on with only one out here in the top of the third inning.
Van Buren offense starting to see it well.
Back to back singles both to left field.
And now the middle of the lineup coming up.
Catcher Tanner Callahan she has to do some damage with a runner in scoring position.
So one out here in the top the third inning.
Runners at 1st and 2nd.
As at the players Tanner Callahan.
Loaded throwing down a bunt and back out of the way and that takes account to wanna know.
Condiments really gotta settle in limit the damage here.
Give his team a chance to get back in the dugout and do some damage with the bats.
See his pace is really slow, down is become a lot more deliberate on the mound.
The pitch counts now at 40 for the top of the third.
And just one out.
Why was account?
Here's the pitch, and it will be a fastball low.
Takes account to know.
Battery for Jonesboro didn't like that call.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out two, and it was a much different count as far as a picture that would be if there's one at one.
So now he's gotta try to attack the zone here and.
Tanner Callahan could be sitting dead red on a fastball.
Here's the two old pitch swung on right at the first baseman.
He'll step on the bag of double play.
That's how you get out of an inning.
Smokes off a bath there for Callahan.
He was waiting fastball and he turned on it, but there's a little unlucky as we see the replay to say rocket right at the first baseman.
Jake Henry Williams snags the liner steps on 1st easy double play, 3 unassisted in Jonesboro.
Gets out of the jam.
That's going to do it for the top of the third to nothing.
Van Buren on top of Jonesboro, you're watching the Centennial Bank.
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The fans around the entire state.
I can only think of the kids in small towns and this is the biggest moment.
Maybe in their sports careers and they have that keepsake of having that game on TV to have with them the rest of their lives.
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Well, we head to the bottom of the third inning as it's two to nothing band doing on top of Jonesboro in Jonesboro is at the plate with their 891 hitters.
Ann Brennan.
Pain will beret and Dawson Wagner lead things off here for Jonesboro on the top of the third inning are Jayhawk with Bobby Swofford and get a little overcast day here in Benton, but hopefully that rain that they're talking about for this evening.
Slowly move its way out of here.
Yeah, we will get the first softball game in of the day.
Congratulations to tuckerman.
It took home the two A state championship with a walk off winner.
How about that?
I'll be a single bottom of seven.
They beat Mansfield four to three and we got the five a softball game coming up next.
Dorian Craft and Sidney Palmer have all the softball action for us.
It's about 30 yards behind us.
Yeah, that I said Dorian and Sidney got got a great game there.
The first game of the tournament so far.
Actually, there's a walkway between press boxes.
That's how close it is.
So here's the first pitch by Connor Johnson.
It's a fastball that comes in at 83 miles an hour on the outside corner goes on one little longer, breaks there of a half inning for Johnson is going to ask if there's going to be any rust there, but clearly not as he pumps want across and that one just barely missed.
Brandon Payne on the year batting 365 with twenty RBI.
11's on the way as it's outside and that'll take counts two and two and one.
Still hasn't he hasn't thrown one yet this ending but still hasn't got command of that breaking ball yet, so he's relying heavily on the fastball.
21's one it was a little high heat.
Thanks account two and to climb the ladder.
Not able to catch up with around his neck.
Trying to get the first out here in the bottom of the third and he does.
That breaking ball we were waiting on RJ would have been that one and probably more the plate then he would like.
But seeing one goal across and getting that strikeout gonna be cute for the confidence of Connor Johnson who's got three case.
Now the 9 hole hitter Wilbur a comes to the plate batting 3:55 with 19 RBI.
First pitch Swanand fouled back.
The 9 hole hitter for Jonesboro will see the top of the order Dawson Wagner coming up next.
The only?
Hurricane Banner with a hit so far.
There's still one fastball.
Mrs Hyde takes account to one and one.
Road to the championship game for Jonesboro.
They started with Texarkana and won that Game 13 to two and then Greene County Tech was their next victim and 1:13 to three is that pitch misses inside kick counts two and one.
Let's put up some numbers.
Here's the two one pitch swung on popped up back behind the press box, and that takes account two and two.
2 balls, two strikes as it misses outside to make the count full at three and two.
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Here's the three two fastball inside corner struck him out.
There's two outs down here in the bottom of the third.
Johnson's got 4 strikeouts down.
Kind of like we saw earlier in the game bar.
It wasn't expecting a fastball in the inner portion, and he saw that one go right past him in the empire started this chainsaw for the easy strikeout.
So two hours here in the bottom of the third is Van Buren's on top.
2 Nothing in that.
Takes us back to the top to line up with Dawson Wagner.
Writer got the only base hit so far for Jonesboro as he works from that left handed batters box curveball.
Missus Hyde takes account to wanna know.
Stop now, but let me maybe the sun peeking out.
10 Swing on out to second base, right there is.
The second baseman to get the third out and that's gonna do it for the top of the third.
The bottom of the third inning.
Two nothings are score Van Buren on top of the five eight title game and you're watching the Centennial Bank State Baseball championships on Arkansas.
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Let me take you for ride on the baseline.
And we're back here in Benton as Van Buren's on top two to nothing so far.
Van Buren's help Jonesburg just a one hit.
That came in the top of the bottom of the first inning.
Jonesboro make a change on the mound is Van Buren was starting to tee off on him in the starting pitcher.
Really not gonna say.
Got lucky.
Great defensive alignment but able to step there.
I got a line out to the end of the last inning.
Runners on first and 2nd just one ounce in there and now they're going to the bullpen and that's Brennan pain.
Who was playing in right field?
They brought him to the mound and.
So pain will be up.
Four Jonesboro pain taxes liens Jonesboro in innings pitched this year of 46.
Seven and one record on the season.
Here's his first pitch that misses outside and.
Please count to wanna know that a season High Ten starts as well.
Gave up 17.
Earned runs, 50 hits.
First pitch or second pitch is swung on chopper to 3rd throw across for the first down.
That is the first down here in the.
Top of the fourth inning.
The area of 2.55 for pain, 57 strikeouts.
18 walks is really picture 1A and 1B for Jonesboro.
They went with Hyneman to start.
Now go to pain here in the 4th.
So Heineman moves over to first base from pitching, and then you've got Jake Henry Williams, who goes to right field.
As the first pitch.
Is a pine inside thanks to count to 10 E like Gilreath at the plate for Van Buren?
One of those I'd takes the Council to know their velocity.
Not quite as strong from pain as it is from heideman that one at 83.
But obviously the stuff is good.
Seven victories on the season.
2 balls, no strikes.
Swung on and fouled back.
Takes counts.
Two and one.
And we start to see the swings starting to heat up off behind them, and I think that's a really smart move by Coach Mark Dobson in Jonesboro.
Go ahead and make the switch before things escalate even further.
Here's the two one, so on right back in pain and he's able to snag it.
Pulled over first.
Has an impressive snagged by Brendan Pain.
For two hours down here in the fourth inning.
Talked about the differences in playing on this turf, and that's a big hop here.
It's gonna be a great angle out able to quickly rebound from his delivery.
Get off the grounds, make the snag an easy throw to 1st.
So now Presley Nichols comes to the plate.
He flied out to right field back in the second inning.
First pitch is fastball outside.
Now one thing about all these pictures.
They've worked fairly, fairly quickly through this one.
Here's to 10 pass ball.
Catch that inside corner of the plate.
Even the count at one and one last job to come back on the inside.
That's the one thing that we've really seen change through the years at high school baseball pictures aren't afraid to come inside anymore.
They're going to pound it in that one on the inside half as well.
Get to fly bottle left, an array goes back, makes the circus catch.
And that's going to do it for the top of the fourth inning.
So 1234 Brennan.
Pain here in the top of the fourth inning.
Jonesboro's up next is a trail two to nothing and you're watching since the Centennial Bank State Baseball Championships.
Arkansas PBS sports Logan Duvall.
We are pleased to represent Arkansas PBS as the host of these first installments of the new segment series.
Good roots.
Explore the culture and innovation of small towns across the state of Arkansas turned in for Arkansas.
We find us online.
You know, I think sports are really big to a lot of people, and because it is so important.
Part of our fabric in our community and the one good thing about what I've seen is its high quality production.
You know, you think of the small communities all over Arkansas.
It's a big deal that they can turn on the TV or DVR or whatever and they're going to get quality product.
And so I think it just expands the focus of what PBS is doing in Arkansas.
PBS is doing a great job and I think it's part of education.
Experience the action over and over and over again next week.
If you're going to watch all of the championships, baseball and softball, all you have to do is go to youtube.com/arkansasPBS.
Catch the games football season basketball season on there as well.
Actually did that the other day I was.
I couldn't remember who who won a game, so I just went on the YouTube channel and watched it.
Is the first pitch swung on right out to 3rd nice grab that time?
For the pointers Eli Gilbreth.
He was able to make a nice snag and get the first down here in the fourth inning.
Crossed jumper to rob their liner down the line, but a great defensive play at the hot corner for the pointers he allowed Gilruth hit a solo Homer earlier does so with his glove as well.
So up next is tyrods, as pitch misses low ball one.
One knows Swan and found back takes account to one and one one hit up to this point for Jonesboro.
You ran off the numbers and what they do in the state tournament.
They can score runs and they come in bunches.
One one pitch missed inside to take the count of two and one in the Van Buren really felt like they took it.
Took a big step in the semifinals that took down arrival.
Greenwood had to go along way to play.
Their arrival from the eastern part of the state skews the western part of state.
Geography is hard, but.
Is a one woman misses it or it makes it inside to to those two teams play twice in the regular season split?
Roll on out to short.
Nice catch right?
The angle cops.
And so there's two outs now here in the 4th.
Stab Lish that I didn't do biology and I didn't do geography.
What did I do in school?
You played football did.
Not at a high level, but I play.
That brings to the plate.
Now rent hossman.
First pitch to him swung and found out a play.
Husband back in the first inning struck out looking.
And you know one thing that Van Buren's done so far through this entire season, they lost Luke Hughes.
UCLA, UCL injury back in March.
It's an elbow injury and he's their number 2 pitcher as.
Pitch is fouled back.
Take down to two.
Undergo Tommy John.
He's going to play his college ball at Carl Albert Junior College in Poteau, just across the border in Oakland, OK. O2 pitch fastball.
Misses outside and Connor Johnson thought it got it as he was walking off the mound about 2/3 the pointer defense was walking behind him.
I get the benefit of the call there on the outside corner.
1/2's on the way fastball swing on a miss.
And they go 123 eleven in Jonesboro, and we head down to the top of the fifth thing with Van Buren on top, two to nothing.
And you're watching this Centennial Bank State baseball championships in Arkansas PBS forms.
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So we head to the top of the fifth inning as back on the mount is Brendan Payne, who came in last inning for Josh Heineman.
And you had the official numbers for Heineman for what he did through what three innings of work?
Yep, three innings, one strikeout, one walking with three hits, gave up two runs.
But then pain came in a clean slate of a fourth inning.
See if you can do the same thing here in the fifth against this Van Buren offense.
I was going to look at that opening shot.
We had the Van Buren student section.
Turn out of green, but also a really good turn out of black and gold.
Yeah Jonesboro Habitans not an easy drive.
Van Buren to Benton.
Not an easy drive either, but kudos to both of these squads for their fan bases were making big long trip Van Buren boys soccer team also won the state championship down here a bit and coming up this weekend.
Acoma couple trophies and not the silver ones.
So up first four Van Buren's gonna be breaking waters.
Anne.
Waters will work from that right-handed batters box back.
In the second inning, he flied out to right.
Field is the first pitch, Mrs Lowe, and that'll take the counter.
Wanna know?
One ball, no strikes.
As they change up, they would catch the outside corner, take it to one and one.
That's a picture.
Take all day.
If you're waters, you're ahead in the count.
Make him throw a strike, especially if he's willing to go off speed.
One ball, one strike as curveballs.
Check down the left field sign to take it to one and two has a really good pitch breaking ball.
About 10 miles slower than his fastball that one came in at 73.
Really got Waters way out in front and tried to stop his swing with couldn't and now he's ahead in the count.
Here is the one to curveball.
So what we're after short.
We hit it off his leg for the first error of the ball game and I want to see what they call this one you know, follows the score.
You can't assume he throws him out of momentum, scaring him to his right, and they did an error all day long.
But you know, let's see, we're going to rely on our man, Walter would he's the official score?
The state baseball finals.
They put six errors up on the board there.
That's not that is not correct, not correct.
Yeah, that that is an error all day, every year.
It is our Jays right?
And we hate that Easton Reichert is at the plate.
He walked back in the third inning.
Congratulations, thank you one for one this week, yes.
Here's the pitch.
Is he trying to lay down a bunt an?
Never got pulled back in time so that takes account.
So in one record Drew walk his first time up.
We really started what looked like it was going to be a big inning.
In the third, but the double play got Jones were out of it.
No one's account with waters at first base, and here's a throwback over the 1st.
So far in the game, Van Buren, two runs, three hits, no errors.
Jonesboro, no runs, one hit with an error.
As a curveball, misses outside to take the count to 1 and one.
Shows bunt on the first pitch of the above.
None there for records.
Will see what Van Buren.
Their coach want to do, but weather for.
11's on the way, swung on and missed.
It was outside and.
Text count to one and two never had a chance to talk about Luke.
Whether it's done with this Pointer Mall club, his first year as a head coach.
Granny's assistant for.
For coach Lloyd there for a long time again, they mentioned that maybe the state finals in 2010 with a couple of names, a lot of fans in this state will remember making a Tyler Spoon.
Brandon Moore, an nasty curveball that time by pain and.
Strikes out Eastern Rite group for the first down here in the 5th.
So now my Henry comes up and he had a SAC bunt over in the third inning.
Earlier, no working right side with run at first base.
There is a pitch by Brennan.
Nice change up in there called on one.
Henry's got good speed.
I wouldn't call it great speed just yet, but once he gets full go he's tough.
Tough to catch, at least on a football field almost able to beat out that SAC bunt earlier.
Yeah, where I was getting with that.
No one's account got one out here in the top of the fifth.
Form on and fly to right field.
Going over is Jake Henry Williams to make the cat Sham record the second out.
Nice job by paying to come back after the air that started this inning.
It's a strike out in the kind of a lazy flyball to right there is now Roar comes back at the top of the lineup for pointers and two outs.
Roark, so far in the day, struck down back in the 1st and the line drive base.
Hit back in the third RBI base hit.
So he steps up with two outs and a runner at first base.
Fastball hits inside corner.
Like the way it pains attacking the strike zone.
Velocity is a little different than Hyneman.
He started the game on the mound for Jonesboro, but doesn't mean he's afraid to attack the plate.
Curveball misses inside date, counted one in one.
By the way, I just got a text that you see a baseball broadcaster, Steve Owens.
He's watching the game today.
So as the Bears get ready, take on McNeese State as the one one is a pass ball that caught the outside corner to go to one and two.
Big series happening in Fayetteville this week.
Yeah top Ten team Florida in the face Arkansas.
1/2 curveball found back.
I'm told that Arkansas baseball is good.
Port as well.
Sources tell me, yeah, they're both good.
It's gonna be.
That'll be a fun series.
One ball 2 strikes.
Here's the pitch swung on and missed.
Came with some high heat that time and that's going to retire the side here in the top of the fifth inning.
So for.
Jonesboro no runs, no hits.
One error in the field and we come back to have the plate and the bottle of pathetic you're watching the Centennial Bank State Baseball championships in Arkansas.
CBS Sports.
I think it's important for Arkansas PBS to have sports because it provides sports on a greater platform to the entire community, and it also gives people in various other communities an opportunity to see other schools and other athletes and to have a greater appreciation for not just their own community, but the sports that are available across the state of Arkansas.
There are so many lessons that sports provides and it's one of the reasons why it's so important to the next generation of athletes coming up.
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Van Buren is on top two to nothing.
Are Jayhawk, along with Bobby Swofford for this 5A baseball state title game and what Bobby we're going to have a lot of action.
Good action here and Ben.
And how about this?
These facilities here at Everett Field.
Yeah, it's it's nice.
We're talking baseball softball.
We're going to see soccer coming up this weekend.
You can see why the athletic programs here in Bittner are pretty good, and we're seeing a pretty good pitching match up here today in Connor Johnson for Van Buren.
5 strikeouts in the first four innings and already quickly back to work here.
In the 5th Jake Henry Williams up for Jonesboro.
As he fouls the first one off.
Williams flied to right field back in the second inning.
Connor Johnson still on the mound as he has a breaking ball now looped into right center field.
Browning seconds could be Williams.
He's gonna try to lay out a double and he does.
Nice piece of hitting there.
Go inside out, get it to the opposite field gap and just kept going enough.
To get him into second base for a double, we know Williams is he's the speedster on the team.
He he's got a triple for this baseball team that he got back earlier in the year.
He was able to get a.
Slide in double right there and that will bring to the plate.
Sawyer Bentley first hit of the game since the leadoff batter for Jonesboro.
So Bentley comes up after grounding out to shortstop back in the second inning.
In the streak of 12 consecutive retired batters.
For Connor Johnson in this Van Buren squad.
Tanner Callahan comes out to set up the defense for Van Buren.
Johnson Eyes second base as.
We try to keep Williams close to the bag.
Williams is a speedster.
If we talked about it and you know if there is any scouting report by Johnson, he knows the type of speed and sits at second base.
Appointed to worry about the plate to that with Bentley.
She's got 44 RBI's this season but backdoor breaking ball there for Johnson gets him ahead in the count as we talked about, Connor Johnson headed to UCA to pitch for the Bears.
Folks in the state have talked about all the stuff the bag of tools that Johnson brings to the table.
No one's account.
Here's a fastball brought it inside.
Blewett pass him in Zone 2 is up to about 60 pitches in this contest with the velocity hasn't come down any that time.
85 on the hands and he sat right there in the mid 80s.
He's touched 86 a few times here against Jonesboro.
Choose account.
The pitch and it comes high and inside better strikeout.
Sawyer Bentley for the first out big big strikeout there he goes up so when it gets mentally to chase for his sixth strikeout of the game on the mound.
The big first out with a runner on second base.
So that brings up.
Josh Hahnemann struck out back in the second inning.
Johnson's pitch fastball swung on, popped up.
On the right side coming in to make the catch.
Is Connor Johnson nice job on Johnson eat solid.
His catcher didn't have side of where that baseball was.
Didn't hear from his first base, but a lot of times you'll hear shortstop come in and called that one office that was almost in foul territory on the 1st baseline.
Johnson says, hey, I'll just do it myself and one pitch out.
Certainly going to pitch count to help him get deeper into this contest.
So that brings up Brennan paying the 8 hole hitter who struck out back in the third inning.
Pinch Runner looks like exact day coming in to take over its second base.
You want a copy of any of the state championship games.
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That's mmproductions.net.
Listen to RJ sweet melodic tones over and over.
So there's two outs here in the bottom of the fifth inning with a runner at second base.
Anne Brennan Pain is at the plate.
Her pitch to him Salon and found off.
Shows how important that run is out at second base for Jonesboro.
They bring in a little more speed.
With day scratch that one across there, they got two outs here in the 5th.
No one's account.
Canes got those gold shoes.
Those New Balance shoes as the pitches on the outside corner at 86 miles an hour and so into, you know, on TV they look goals and in person that looked like this have been cleaned in awhile.
There socialite.
Well, you know the jonesburg.
Hurricane, they've got a little gold with their logo.
Yeah, they do.
Disadvantage of TV making a little better here.
O2 swing on found out of play.
Notice that with a couple other batters earlier, even think Heineman had him on the mound, and those shoes are dirty.
And then I see it on the TV broke his own other goals.
Sorry, sorry about that.
My mistake eyes are getting a little older.
I'm not by myself.
Help.
Ordered 2nd.
There's a bench swung on, fouled off down the right field side.
Nice at bat here my pain so making Johnson work for it.
Johnson here maybe trust your catcher.
Callahan maybe bounce once.
He will chase one out of the zone.
We've seen a lot of.
While the pictures in the reviews in the air quotes here at the dirt.
With the brown colored turf out there, I haven't seen a lot of ******* down there.
Here's the 02.
Fastball that hits the turf scooped by the catcher.
Penner, Callahan You're so worried about that pass ball or a wild pitch and allowing runners to advance.
Avoid the bottom third if you will.
See it here.
Choose account.
Smith Jake Henry Williams at second base.
You know the one bad thing about the turf is no moms back in the day took pride in taking out those dirt stains out.
You know, I know.
When I would come home, that was kind of a thing of beauty is it was a badge of honor.
Whenever you get take out the dirt stains out of pants, you know who I think loves this turf more than the bitten fans.
Probably that in mind.
Yeah, exactly right turf is taking out the old mud.
One tunes account with two outs.
As Connor Johnson's at the 66 pitch count mark.
Here it is going on and follow up on the right field side.
Got a little bit of room and it's going to go found.
Campaign just making him work for it.
Selling off pitch after pitch.
But again, Johnson is not afraid of it.
He's just pounding the strike zone, making pain battle it off.
Count, even though this has got to be pitched, number seven or eight of the event coming up.
So one ball 2 strikes.
Here's the pitch curveball.
Swam Luca, left field, and it's going to foul that curveball hung up just a little bit, stayed in the strike zone too long, pain out in front of it and pulls asylum.
Will do it again.
You know that love field side nobody's really been able to get anything down that line.
Everything's been pulled hard.
The wind has been pretty calm for most of the day.
The flag out in right field is blowing right to left.
Probably hard enough to affect the fly ball, not so much a liner like that one.
By the way, you asked and that last pitch was pitch #9 is this about?
Math is where we're really trying to figure out what you were good at in school.
That was good about it.
That was good in journalism about again broadcasting.
So math, biology, geography got.
It's not a strong suit.
By the time we get these six games in this weekend, we're going to find out that I'm not good at anything.
One ball 2 strikes.
There's two outs here in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Pitches on the way, swung on, popped up third base side.
An intimate the catch is Gilreath.
And the pointers get out unharmed.
They gotta join the Borgata, wanted a second base, but that's it and we head to the top of the sixth inning where Van Buren leads two to nothing and you're watching the Centennial Bank State Baseball championships on Arkansas.
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Let me take you for ride on the baseline.
Ground for Van Buren.
Nice crowd like Bobby talked about as their pointers.
Currently leading two to nothing as we entered the top of six innings.
Back on the mound for Jonesboro, is Brennan pain as pointers or at the plate now?
And it's gonna be Sammy Sieger.
Who's going to lead things off here in the top the sixth inning?
Seager's got one of the three hits for the pointers swung on popped up the left hand coming in as can be.
Beret and that's gonna do it for the first down here in the top.
The six.
Pictures best friend right there first pitch swinging fly bottle left.
Brings up Tanner Callahan, who absolutely smoked one his last time up I got robbed line into a double play.
Any other day that might have been a two run double down the line but today.
Three, you unassisted on the double play there.
Callahan, oh for two on the day handed out the second back in the first as he swings at the first pitch and found it off.
It's been aggressive for most of the day.
First pitch swinging.
Not getting really too deep in accounts pains and now in his third inning of work and pitch camp just at 26.
Well, here's the old one.
Misses outside comes with a changeup at 77.
That is the one disadvantage to turf, at least for the batters he liked to crowd the plate, usually late in the game that shocked starts to disappear.
Yeah, it's been kicked around too many times.
11 shop found that white turf is going nowhere.
Yeah, you don't.
You're not messing that box up.
I will say though, this is a player, it was no fun after a game break.
The field and everything like that, but.
Once again that was.
It was like a gateway into baseball's.
Here's a swing and driven out to center field and it's over the head of Jumpering, rounding first.
Who's going to be Callahan?
He'll stand up at second base with a double nice job by Callahan.
This goes the opposite field gap that won't even bled a little back to center right out of the reach of the Jonesboro centerfielder.
It's crossed jumper as you mentioned, can't make the play in.
Callahan's got himself at 2nd.
Never bring the courtesy runner for the catcher.
Country.
This ballpark where he hit it.
And so now with one out in the top of the six that brings up Connor Johnson, who's over 2 on the day when brought in real speed there at second base.
That Jayden Henry.
People recognize that name from the football season he's signed to play at Arkansas Tech.
I believe it is.
Correctly receiver double digit touchdown catches.
He can go.
So Johnson stands in there.
Says the first pitch miss loan away.
I know I keep bringing up the weather in this one, but.
If you look at the sky, you're gonna have to.
Yeah, an earlier.
They said that around.
4:00 o'clock we have 80% chance of rain.
Here's a curveball.
Miss you are that this one.
And Mr.
It's one in one.
Looking that up to see.
That changed any and sure enough.
4:00 o'clock it's now a 5151% chance for rain going down like a locker chances.
4:00 O'clock's also scheduled first pitch for the five a softball championship.
Here's the 11 curveball swung on at the third off his ankle, but coming up with it, though, is the shortstop, and he tagged him out.
Nice play as it went off the ankle of Rhodes.
Went over to Ace Bowen, Aseball was able to flip it back over words to tag him out.
So Jayden Hunter is kind of stuck in no man's land.
He stopped as the ground ball was in front of him, but after the bomb went off the right leg of the third baseman roads, he tried to.
Risk it in the empire, right there on the spot to make the call.
And said that Rhodes able to recoup and get the tag on him.
By the way, that wasn't here.
No filter shorts.
Yeah, that that that you know I'm talking bout going off his ankle.
That was no where it deflected off his ankle to the shortstop.
That's not.
That's not an error.
Yeah, probably what it meant, but they got the fielders.
Choice would be racist, yeah?
So I'm saying, yeah, so you're half right.
So you're right ish.
I will say that was a shot at third base.
So that brings up Eli Gilreath, who had the big home run in the second inning.
Give a lot of credit to the left side of the defense.
They race boats.
Somebody heads up catch, catch the ricocheted, and toss it back to roads to get the out.
Fastball missed outside.
Start things off to Gilruth.
Two outs here in the top of the Sixth Killers put one into orbit.
Here's the pitch back up the box.
It's in the center field for a base hit.
Second hit of the inning.
Now President Nichols will come to the plate.
Girls is locked in.
Scored up two today.
He also don't have that sharp grounder up back to the pitcher.
Base it on somebody who wasn't a little more aware like pain was.
Soap wrestling Nichols has over 2 on the day.
He flied to, right flied to left.
Curveball to a Mrs Lowe.
Start off wanna know?
He was the one who pitch swung on and fouled off, and this is a big spot for Van Buren.
They want to tack on a couple more.
If you're new to high school baseball only play seven innings, so we're here in the late moments.
But for Jonesboro, you'd like to keep that deficit.
Adjust to so this spot really big.
For both pain.
Ann Presley Nichols.
One ball one strike.
There is a pitch by pain, and now it calls time.
Really late.
Not gonna like that.
By the way, state champion basketball coach West Swift for Jonesboro, is in the crowd.
Saw him walk up a little bit ago.
Here's the 11 curveball, swollen after right field that's going to get down for a base hit.
They're going to send him home.
Will have a play at the plate up the line pointer score.
Run here in the top of the six.
Big job and timely hitting, thereby Presley Nichols.
One comes around the store and corners.
Get that all important insurance run that pushes that lead to three.
So it's an RBI single for Presley nickels.
As a little girl with the second base jobs and scored now Brecken waters comes to play.
Coaches have gotten together on the 1st baseline and.
Discuss a few things.
Blueberries, clubhouses, back and catch up with Blueberry Max and their new friends at camp beginning in July.
This come see their complete schedule at myarpbs.org schedule a kid like Blueberry?
Yeah, yeah.
I know, I know, blueberry very well.
I highly recommend.
Just a mental note, taking anybody with kids.
Check out blueberries clubhouse.
OK, so now Jonesboro is going to have a pictures meeting at the mound.
As head coach, Mark Thompson makes his way out there.
Bring up things Underscore's Van Buren's on top.
And really, Bobby is you.
See what they've done, Jonesboro, so far.
This powerful lineup that we've talked about.
They've only held jonesburg to just two hits, is what they've done.
A great job of keeping the leadoff hitter off base the leadoff hitter in the entire game got on base for Jonesboro.
But since then, Connor Johnson has just been pounding the strike zone, limiting the number of runners that get on base for Jonesboro.
And it just kept pitching from ahead bamboo and got that run in the second in the home run by Gil Worth, and they've been able to kind of take advantage of that advantage so far up to this point, where now, brecken waters is at the plate.
For Van Buren so far in the day, he's over two, he flied to right back in the second.
Anything got on because of an error from the shortstop in the 5th.
He is the 7 hole hitter for the pointers.
Here's the pitch, swung and fouled off.
You know it's like this in most baseball games, but I think probably in this context a little more.
I don't know who's ******** fly balls, but they've got a busy job today.
There have been a ton of pitches fought off at the place.
I wonder if it's the state championships if you take it to the concession stand, you get a smoker.
I think it works in like third grade rec league OK Just didn't know.
We get Derek from AAA on that and none of snow cones and didn't hear CL one as it swung or it was outside to count one and one.
Another big spot here, Van Buren's, already been able to scratch across one here in the sixth inning.
The more insurance the better.
If you're wearing a Porter shirt today.
And in pain, up to 39 pitches so far.
Since he's come in as he came in back in the fourth inning.
We got two outs here in the top of the six setting 3 nothing.
Van Buren on top of Jonesboro.
Here's the 11.
Fastball up high.
That takes account two and one.
Pins are kind of shaded from us.
Can't really see if there's any action going on in the Jonesboro pin.
Vantage point runners are at 1st and 2nd for.
The pointers, here's the two.
One changeup below at the knees, called a strike, and it's to him, too.
Confidence there throwing offspeed pitch for Jonesboro and pain and advantageous count for the offense.
Across even the count at two apiece.
Produces or wild here in the top of the sixth and it swung on and fouled off.
Looks like there is action in that Jonesboro Pen.
For the 10 Sawyer Bentley, 23 drew bats, and that's in the left hand.
Are there you see on the left hand side of your screen?
Here's the pitch.
The water's curveball outside.
I like the idea.
We do throw Mount Swan in the dirt.
Had fouled off a few pitches already.
Stop by the catcher there for Jonesboro.
Hosman if you look at the pitch counts, I mean Connor Johnson's throwing 69 for Van Buren.
An pain came in the fourth.
He's already thrown 43.
Here's the three two runners go swim on out to left field.
That's a base hit.
We're gonna send the runner home.
Here comes with four at the plate.
No, not in time.
The pointers take a four oh lead.
Another timely hits this time from Brecon Waters.
Van Buren is come up with the big swings when they need it the most, yet the advantage of the runners going on the pitch there.
But the owners now have a four nothing lead.
What's an RBI single for Brecon Waters?
And now Eastern Riker is going to be at the plate.
Three straight singles.
And it looks like we're going to have a pitching change, as Mark Dobson makes his way on.
The man will see who that new man is coming out of the pen, as it looks like Brennan Pains Day is done, will have a new picture coming up next.
As you're watching this Centennial Bank State Baseball championships on Arkansas PBS sports.
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So the new picture in, for Jonesboro is Sawyer Bentley.
Anne.
It comes out as a new alarm after two runs have been scored here in the top of the sixth inning.
As the pointers of Van Buren late at 4:00 to nothing was nice.
When you go to the bullpen and have someone like Sawyer Bentley a 1.86 ERA, not a ton of innings, 19 strikeouts to seven walks for Bentley.
15 innings of work appeared in eight games this season.
Let's have a win good up nine hits, nine runs, but only four of those runs have been earned it.
So the areas below 2 will see if he can shut it down and limit the damage.
Just the two runs here in the sixth inning.
But there are two outs here.
In the sixth inning so far of him during scored one in the second one in the third and two in the 6th.
And at the place to be eastern Reichert.
So pain does leave after two and 2/3 innings, but he is responsible for the two runners on the base and given up two runs.
So Ryker scored back in the third inning after walking, and then struck out in the 5th.
Here's the first pitch by Bentley that's coming low.
Record is the 8 hole hitter for this Van Buren Pointer team.
One ball, no strikes.
Which is on the way swung on and missed.
Tried to go down and get that one.
Probably chased one out of the zone.
Did record through a walk.
Back in the third.
11's account.
As walking out of boxes, Riker.
Runners get their leads at 1st and 2nd.
Here's the delivery by Bentley curveball inside called a strike one and two great pitch there.
From Bentley it's ahead in the count and see if you can finish off Riker.
Get back in the dugout and give his bats and chance to get back into this contest.
One two pitch is on the way.
Fastball gets away from the catcher.
An runners will advance.
It just popped right off his glove.
Takes the count, 2-2 is Nichols goes to third base and waters goes to 2nd.
Some discussion if he was hit by a pitch but are anchored, attempted to not even take first base and really act like he was hit by it at all.
Do you want a free when you gotta try to sell it a little bit?
There's a 22 swung on LinkedIn to right field.
It's going to hit down square one run.
Here comes the next play.
The place lid safe.
Such huge clutch hitting Sir Van Buren in this contest.
Especially in this inning, that is four straight singles, all with two outs.
All have scored runs.
A really impressive job by Van Buren softens and they have blown this game open.
It's a two RBI single for eastern Ryker now.
Chi Henry is at the plate.
And Van Buren is blowing this game wide open as it's six to nothing.
Four run inning here on five hits for Van Buren.
And here's the thing, Bobby.
I mean Jake, Jake Henry Williams, and right fielder, Jonesboro.
He let the ball fall in front of him.
I think he thought they might hold up because of how shallow it was, but with two outs like that you you know they're already running.
You can make a slide or a dive for that place 'cause he was close enough where he could have.
Yeah, and you know he might have been trying to time up is the crow hop if you will.
So we get as much behind it.
There's a great throw, just a little late to beat the runner home Waters and all of a sudden 6 nothing is supporters and put up a four spot here in the 6th.
10 pitches on the way, swung on blooper into shallow right field, and Williams will come in to make the catch for the third out.
But not until Van Buren scores four runs on five base hits.
Here in the top of the sixth inning, we head to the bottom of the sixth, where Van Buren they're looking for a state title.
They leave it.
6 nothing.
You're watching the Centennial Bank State Baseball championships in Arkansas.
PBS sports.
Sports are really big to a lot of people and because it is a important part of our fabric in our community and the one good thing about what I've seen is its high quality production.
You know you think of the small communities all over Arkansas.
It's a big deal that they can turn on the TV or DVR or whatever and they're going to quality product.
And so I think it just expands the focus of what PBS is doing in Arkansas.
PBS is doing a great job and I think it's part of education.
You can experience the action all over again next week and watch the championship games on repeat.
Just go to youtube.com/arkansas PBS and you can watch that four run sixth inning by Van Buren as they have pushed their lead to 6 nothing on Jonesboro as we are here at the five a state Baseball championship game and Benton the story outside of that four run inning has been the man on the mound for Van Buren #14.
Connor Johnson has filled up the strike zone.
These limits of Jonesboro to just.
Two hits in this contest.
He's got 6 strikeouts and he is six outs away from giving Van Buren, their first ever baseball state championship.
This is their second appearance in the finals.
Made it back in 2010.
That man right there has been the MVP up to this point.
He's going to play baseball at UCA, but can he finish it off 'cause he's got a six run lead?
2.
Brendan Parrish scuse me to Wilbur L brain.
The 70 pitches so far for Johnson as well.
So it's been methodical, hasn't really letting things get out of hand.
That breaking ball bins in for another strike pay some plays been quick.
Really not anything you can say that Johnson hasn't done well with the exception of that curveball in the first two minutes.
Yeah, you're exactly right.
And you know, really, when you when we talked to mark their scuse me to look weather for the head coach for Van Buren.
Or for?
Yeah, for Van Buren, he said he was kind of struggling with the decision to put Johnson out there because he was on short rest.
Tim worked out.
OK.
Here's the 02 swing on an It's a single right back up the box in the center field and Jonesboro's got a man on here in the bottom of the sixth inning.
If you really wanted to nitpick RJ and find OK, what's it?
What's he doing wrong?
Maybe throws too many strikes to be quite honest.
'cause I mean, if your head O2 right there, maybe you don't throw one anywhere near the strike zone.
Instead he's working quick.
He's pounding the zone.
So OK, you've got to beat and you've got to get a base.
It Jones rose only gotten two of those up to that point, but Bar able to.
Flight 1 back through the middle gets leadoff man here in the bottom of the sixth.
Now this brings up Dawson Wagner here in the top of the sixth inning or Shibata six inning.
Pitches up high.
Wanna know?
Bolno strikes were in the bottom of the six, don't forget.
Coming up 4:00 o'clock.
It's 5A softball as pitch up high stakes count to know.
The undefeated Benton Lady Panthers take on Greenwood.
In five, a softball action at 4:00 PM and you can see all that action right here in Arkansas PBS.
20 swung on and found out a plane.
Also later tonight at 7:00 PM, It's the six a baseball game.
Between Springdale Harbor and Rogers.
Schools from the northwest corner coming down here playing for a title.
They split their regular season meetings.
Conference play two one is going to be.
It's going to hit.
I was afraid of this as a coach.
Will you grind out?
Is Connor Johnson first five innings close ball game?
Then you get a big lead.
And then you give Jonesboro little life.
They've got two runners on to start this a single back up the middle and.
All the sudden, Dawson Wagner has to wear one.
So now they've got runners at 1st and 2nd.
And cross jumper coming to the plate jumpers over 2 on the day.
Jumper.
No mound visit, though they've got plenty of confidence in Johnson to work out of his own jam.
This is where that six run lead does come to play.
Here's a flyball to left field, it's caught.
By pressing nickels and that's the first out here in the bottom of the sixth.
Really good contact, thereby jumper kind of robbed.
He lined out to 3rd back in the 4th and a liner to left.
Can't find the whole.
Instead of funds Presley Nichols glove so Tyrods comes up roses over 2 on the day.
But once again though, Van Van Buren is now seeing the meat of Jonesboro's line, and this is the most lethal part.
Mrs were Jonesboro at least has to chip into that lead.
As that pitch gets away and runners advance to 2nd and 3rd, we haven't seen really any issue for Van Buren up to this point.
This sixth inning hasn't been pretty.
For Johnson hit by pitch, that's his first wild pitch of the day.
Now two runners in scoring position for Rhodes who has 52 RBI's on the season.
That leads the Jonesboro squad.
To add to that, but more importantly, get his team back in this contest so it's wanna know on the count.
Her ball misses high.
I think you're at the point.
The game know that Johnson pitched a heck of a game, but you better start getting some arms in the bullpen.
Here's the 20 fastball.
Swan popped up left side.
Ronnie Overs gilder gilreath.
It runs out of real estate ball goes out of play.
Just a touch.
Get out of play.
2 balls, one strike.
We've got one out in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Which on the way swung on out to right field.
It's going to get down.
That'll score two runs for draw, one run for Jonesboro is they were sort signaling, Dawson Wagner home, and he slipped and he held up halfway and came back.
Kind of that nomansland have all falls in front of Kai Henry.
Quick scroll back into the infield does hold him up at 3rd.
So it's an RBI single for Thai roads and now red hossman the four hole hitter will come to the plate after striking out twice today.
Just don't want to run yourself out of the potential of a big inning.
Is Jonesboro's gonna bring in a pinch runner there at first?
Max Morrison Xavier in Faith will not a huge fan of the scoreboard here at the stadium.
Being six to two.
But don't get it fixed promise.
Now that that's really the least of any fans problem.
But they like to complain about.
Never been to a basketball game.
I've been on the officiating side when the only job worse than official in basketball as a scorekeeper exactly right now.
Now you had a shot clock onto.
The fun really happens.
They got those scoreboard right though.
Here's the first pitch swung on out the short double play opportunity.
Get it second back to first thing at the double plane.
TaylorMade 643 Van Buren rolls it up and that gets out of a huge potential of an inning for Jonesboro.
So they do score one run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
We head to the 7th, where Van Buren leads at 6 to one.
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Arkansas week.
Its Fridays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 10:00 AM right here on Arkansas PBS.
You know?
As a high school sports fan in this state.
Seen a lot of facilities, seeing that all over the state, but if you've not been down here to Benton to check out not only baseball and softball, but the football facility they've got over here with the 50 yard, indoor and everything like that place is nice impressive.
And I think that's the one thing really.
The last, we'll call it 15 years or so that have changed in high school athletics in Arkansas and across the country or the facilities, yeah, I mean everybody seems to be getting a new arena.
The financial number for artificial turf has come down significantly when schools can afford to do it.
It's almost the financial obligation to do it.
'cause it's cheaper.
Yeah, then grass in the water in the fertilizer and all that.
Here's a first pitch swing single bias.
Sawyer ward.
Excuse me and it's open things up here at the top the 7th.
So you're starting to see this nicer facilities.
I think you've got to go down to think there's maybe one or two 5A schools left in Arkansas football field that is not turf.
There's obviously a lot of 483 and even some 2A schools have turf.
But you know there for awhile and in the state it was mainly northwest Arkansas that had all the really nice facilities and you're starting to see that the rest state kind of catch on with the facility upgrades.
Yeah, I mean that's one way to look at it and also to.
I mean, if you want to take that a step further and I don't have any facts to back this up.
But with the facility upgrade in Central Arkansas, the state championship numbers have gone up too.
Yeah, because you can work your route so the indoor facilities obviously started in Northwest Arkansas, but everybody across the state starting to catch up is that one catches the inside corner, but they're starting to win state championships, and right now we're talking football player but big picture.
I think you're exactly right, but once the facilities catch up, the talent team seems to find you.
Win some games.
No balls one strike as.
A change up Mrs loan.
I said no balls is actually 2 balls.
One strike that long in the school.
Move back over to first base and back safely.
Jonesboro is the home team, so we will head to the bottom of the seventh inning after this.
Here's the two one line the left field.
Back to back base hits for Van Buren.
The last two weddings.
This Van Buren offense has really.
Come swinging last nine batters.
They have seven base hits.
I don't get the job done.
Yes it will.
As Sawyer Bentley is going to meet with his catcher, Rhett Rossman.
And that'll bring to the plate.
Tanner Callahan.
Callahan doubled back in the six and he he really is what got that rally starting in the 6th when he got the double?
So far on the days one for three and now it looks like we're going to have another pitching change for Jonesboro.
At least they're gonna have a conversation.
As Mark Dobson is going to make his way out.
And he's going to take the baseball away from Sawyer, Bentley, and we'll find out who the next picture is coming up.
As Van Buren.
Leak, Jonesboro.
6 to one you're watching, the Centennial Bank State Baseball championships on Arkansas PBS sports.
This is so important to the state and the fabric of the state, and I appreciate Arkansas PBS doing all the state title games and that makes it available for not just the fans in Central Arkansas, South Arkansas.
The fans around the entire state.
I can only think of the kids in small towns and this is the biggest moment.
Maybe in their sports careers and they have that keepsake of having that game on TV to have with them the rest of their lives.
Drew Batson is the new picture for Jonesboro.
As he comes into today's game with a 1.61 ERA, has 23 strikeouts on the season and he is called in to try to slow down these bats for Van Buren.
Reliable arm.
For Jonesboro, his 13th appearance, all in relief for the left hander, Batson comes into a tough situation 2 on nobody out.
61 ER a 23 strikeouts.
Just eleven walks.
Four and runs this year, but the two runners on base.
Belong to him.
The 7th down just five is the 4th picture of the day for Jonesboro and.
He'll face up against the three hole hitter and Tanner Callahan.
Wait to give the final line on Bentley.
He was lifted after giving up back to back singles here in the seventh inning double digits.
As far as the hit total for the corners.
You know Jonesboro is going through 4 pictures.
Van Buren still has Connor Johnson.
Amount will see if he comes out in the 7th as they make a move back to second base.
I think it may take an act of Congress to get the ball out of his hands.
Yeah, I want to see how much Coach weathered wants to let his workhorse finish the season or go to the bullpen to try to close it out under it first and second with Callahan at the plate.
Battson and Callahan tried to bunt.
With no outs here in the top of the seventh inning.
You know, oftentimes if the balls above your neck, they say don't try to bump that thing, let it go.
Callahan was at all costs going to try to get that one down.
Just saying.
Generally footballs around your neck, you don't do anything.
Yeah, watch it go.
I like the idea.
Move the runners over into scoring position.
1st and 2nd.
And one thing that.
We've seen out of this Van Buren team there.
They're good at putting runners in motion and land on that ***** even.
Try to do a hit and go.
No one's account.
There's a pitch curveball.
Check swing.
They say did go and it's gonna take countdown to.
Weather for didn't like that call.
He's starting to take a few steps in from his third base box.
Why you didn't appeal?
That was going to be a good look at it.
He did.
But the official in the early excuse me empire in the middle of the field could have appealed.
It had a better look, but.
Who played up or thought he went?
That's what matters.
Choose account.
Another curveball.
It's one and two.
A lot of times can't speak for every umpiring crew.
You're not used to having a three man crew.
And the rain started to come down here in Benton.
Yeah, I know.
Well well don't pay me be a meteorologist.
Here's the one too, and the ball is going to be.
Down to even the count to two now you won't worry through the pictures.
No ball.
Get a little wet.
There's a little more slick out there on the turf when it.
Rain starts to fall.
2 balls, two strikes.
Sam breeding the home plate umpire calls time and.
Will reset things.
Through bats in the.
Picture runners Gil swollen balls in the dirt and will be safe at third base, but it was a hit and run situation and I I don't think Luke weathered was very happy because he thought his.
He told both runners to run and the only one that ran was Hayden Rorke, an seeker state at first base.
I got runners at the corners for little cleanup man Connor Johnson and Chance to help his own cause.
Double play still in order.
Singer didn't take off as part of a potential double steal.
Now, Johnson at the plate with one out in the top of the 7th.
Pitch gets away from the catcher.
Here comes to water.
We're going to score another run in the top of the 7th, and that time Seager is going to 2nd.
I had seen a lot of wild pitches with the last two half innings.
We've seen one in that time.
It costs Jonesboro run as the.
Tally that Jonesboro got back in the bottom of the six, quickly erased as Roark scores on the wild pitch and that's why the stolen base a third was so big.
There are just yeah.
Is the one oh pitch and that hits the dirt runners gonna head to 3rd.
And you gotta think, Bobby.
I mean with the rain coming down now, how much affect does that put on the baseball lake?
As we've seen now, 21 roughly two wild pitches.
Yeah, early on when it starts to rain it becomes more mental and you can kind of see a picture of it there as the rain starting to fall here in Benton.
But you know if it stays 5-10 minutes of rain, then it's really when it starts to affect the baseball.
Two hours on the way change of Opie.
It takes the three.
Now see that camera shot right there.
It's coming down pretty good.
That's a did request.
The new baseball there.
From the pocket of the home plate umpire.
Rios on the way, swung on, popped up on the infield.
Found Territorian Batson comes in it popped out of his glove.
He had an opportunity to allow through Grossman's catcher to make that play, and he called him off.
I hate to use the pond because it is raining, but you know, kind of when it rains it pours.
Going against Jonesboro right now.
So that takes the count to three to one.
Pretty good alot of times on TV it looks like it's pouring down rain and it's really not, but it's definitely coming down coming down 31's on the way and it hits the dirt.
That'll be a walk for Conor Johnson, so now you've got runners on the corners.
Now gilruth.
Who was hammered the baseball a few times.
Solo home run back in the second being one of them.
He scored two runs, driven in one.
Like Hunter Cox is going to come in and run at first base.
How many #24?
At the plate, Gilreath have scored twice.
He had the home run in the second inning, had a single to center back in the 6th.
Any?
*****.
Is right that is courtesy runner for the picture.
So that doesn't guarantee that Johnson's day is done on the mound.
In high school baseball, you could have a courtesy runner for your picture and your catcher.
A1 years pitch swung on dribbler back.
Pass them out to short.
Fix it up.
Those are crossed and it's the second out.
But it does score run.
Pair of RBI's now for Gilreath.
So that'll send Johnson's second.
And there's two outs now, as pressing Nichols comes up.
Scores 8 to one in the top of the 7th.
Really coming down.
And if this is where if you Jonesboro, you'd like a delay, yo yeah regrouped Batson.
If your Van Buren you're going to do everything you can to try to finish this game without a stoppage.
You almost and you would never tell your players this, but just get that one more out so that you can get off the field you're now pitching, yeah?
Here's the first patients up I wanna know.
And the thought is because.
You delay the game, you know.
I mean, you're sitting here in the top of the 72 hours you got a 7-1 lead.
You just want this thing to get over with as fast as possible to Van Buren.
Here's to 101 a mess.
Curveball that hit that outside corner.
Nichols RBI single last time up.
The chance to tack on another here.
11's on the way, curveball in there on the inside part of the plate to make it 1 and two.
Late break on that breaking ball.
Benefit of the doubt.
Get out of this inning.
1/2 is on the way.
Curveball, dribbler back towards the mound bats and then take it over first, he lost it, fell off the back of his hand.
He tried to get the Outback at 3rd and that'll score run.
Ann Nichols is going to go into second base.
So you've got Central 2 errors.
Baton is a growing area 1st and then another throwing error back to 3rd.
Pair bears on bats and therefore allows the third round of the ending to score.
Another mound visits in Jonesboro.
As they.
Get the new picture in the game.
We will take a break and come back with that new picture.
Here in the top of the seventh inning Van Buren lead to 9 to one.
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It is still coming down here and Bennett I think it's this may be the hardest.
It's come down in this ball game and Bobby Nope normally in a situation you just postpone and let the rain pass and then you move on.
But because the amount of weather in the area you postpone this thing you may not get back on the field.
That's right and they just they're pulling the teams off the field right there.
Coach Mark Dobson from Jonesboro had a conversation with the home plate umpire, another pulling teams off of the field.
So we are officially.
In a rain delay and that I guess we were talking about the turf and the advantages of having a turf and you don't have to worry about rain outs, but that means you can play longer as it's raining.
Yeah, it's probably a normal field with dirt and grass.
This ones probably postponed 30 minutes ago 20 minutes ago, but instead they tried to get it in.
But now we're in a rain delay and.
We have to defer to the weather experts, air quotes, and clearly that's not me, as we've already identified.
But and then let's let's remind folks that there's a difference between a rain delay in a lightning delay corrects just because you pull everybody off the field with the rain delay.
If it stops, you can come back out right away.
If you've got a lightning delay, you've got to wait a minimum of 30 minutes to get back on the front from each lightning strike, and that's something we definitely don't want to get into right now.
But officially a weather delay then.
Hopefully we can take a look at the radar and get this one going pretty quick, but it is.
I'm going to say pouring right now and been in America.
Well, I just pulled up the writer.
Maybe we get Mason back in the truck to get us a radar pulled up and we can look at it.
'cause it looks like there's just a small cell that's running over the top of Benton right now and we will talk about it more when we come back.
But right now in the top of the seventh inning we only Play 7 high school baseball.
The pointers of Van Buren they lead it 9 to one over Jonesboro and you're watching the Centennial Bank State Baseball championships on Arkansas.
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Well, as we were going to break the small cell that I had talked about that was sitting over top of it and decided to move out and take all this precipitation with it.
And so we're back to action is Cameron Clark is the new picture for Jonesboro as Van Buren leads at 9:00 to 1:00.
Raining a little bit, we can see the raindrops bouncing off the metal bleachers here, but significantly lighter than it was just a few minutes ago.
At the plate is brick and water.
Versus first Pitch is a ball.
So on and found back to even count at one and one.
Cameron Clark in the ball game for Jonesboro.
And he's got a 2.52 E RA in 12 appearances.
This is his number 13.
Here's a 11.
That is, a fastball and Mrs outside to take it two in, one starting to come down a little harder again.
That little self came right back.
Hit retreat.
2 balls one strike.
Pitch on the way, swung on out to left field.
We're going to write way the water in and then he'll hold up.
So now you've got runners on the corners, but they want look weather for the head coach for Van Buren.
He was waving him home and I think that Presley nickels 'cause yeah, I don't know if I can do that.
Don't want to run into a third out at home, but if you're going to do it, I guess an 8 run leads the chance to.
Same here and this continues to authentically pounded out these last two innings.
Four runs in the sixth scored three runs already here in the 7th.
To add to it.
So Eastern rancor at the plate on the day he singled back in the 6th to right field, walked in the third, and then struck out in the 5th.
Works from the left side with runners on the corners.
Runner goes to 2nd.
They're not even gonna attempt it and.
I will send Waters to second base.
It's one of those where they're trying to draw the throw down and try to still run.
And take second base on defensive indifference.
Book.
Here's to 10.
My pie gets away from the catcher, but not far enough, and so that brings account to him starting to see the little fog on the cameras out there when it rains and it gets humid, yeah?
That's not fun for anybody involved, especially if you've got a camera in your hands when there are too many times in life.
This game now has been on for two hours and 13 minutes.
Including a 45 second order, yeah.
2 balls, no strikes, runners at second and third.
Here's the pitch.
It's inside to take the three.
No.
Michael Jordan drawing one walk today.
Showed a little patience at the bottom of the water.
Clark as a sign and delivers the three.
Oh, and it's slow and it's gonna be another walk for Riker now you've got bases loaded.
With your 9 hole hitter and Chi Henry at the plate and on the day.
He's over two with the sack.
Back in the third, but he's flown out the right couple different times.
Two outs here in the top of the seventh inning and Burens put up three runs in the seventh.
It's 9 to one.
Here's the pitch by Clark, up high.
Hard time getting ahold of baseball.
Slight rain continues to fall.
Yeah, it looks like it's pouring right there, but.
Not really quite that hard as it looks.
But enough to probably affect the picture.
Bases loaded one owes account.
***** it's up high again to know.
So it's it's starting to come down again Bobby, where not quite as hard as it was when we went to the rain.
Delay is that balls up high to go three enough, but it's raining hard enough to wear just the time that it the balls traveling back and forth between pitcher and catcher.
It's getting moisture on it.
Here's the 30.
That's up high, and this can be a walked in run.
Guy in Oregon's credit with the RBI when the cheapest ones will ever have.
Softmore has an RBI here in the state title game and.
Back to back.
Four run innings.
2 Nothing game when we started the top of the sixth and we have officially worked around the lineup while here in the 7th.
As we head back to the top line up to Hayden Rorke.
And it looks like we're going to have we're going to have another pitching change.
It's Clark's Day is done and will get your picture right after the break.
As you're watching the Centennial Bank State Baseball championships in Arkansas.
PBS sports.
Broadcast of this championship game is made possible by the Cherokee Nation, our people, our culture, our history, our future.
To learn more, go to visitcherokeenation.com and say hello to the Cherokee Nation.
The electric cooperatives of Arkansas over 2500 team members across 17 local electric distribution co-ops powering homes, farms and industries somewhere across Arkansas.
We are the electric cooperatives of Arkansas power and people.
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Family owned and operated since 1967.
Johns Honda offers factory certified technicians and experienced sales staff, farmers and merchants bank and the Bank of Fayetteville share the mission of Arkansas PBS to enrich and empower all Arkansans community dignity respect that's what me banking is all about.
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Riggs rents a proud supporter of Arkansas PBS sports.
With two outs here in the top of the seventh inning, will fire will make his debut in this state championship game as Van Buren leads Jonesboro 12:50.
As the first pitch is a called strike on inside corner to hate and Roark Roark this inning had a single to start things off, he later came around to score and this one swung on back to left field.
He'll score one.
And after an error in left field is gonna score two runs then they initially through the breaks up on Eastern Rancor there at 3rd.
But a bubble ball in left field allows him to score.
I was also a runner to advance to 3rd and.
Two singles in this inning.
As you mentioned for or.
Yeah, so why couldn't water score?
That sends Henry to 3rd and you've got Roark at first.
Now Sammy Sieger at the plate secret is sending out a base hit to left field.
And he's going to deliver one to left again, and this will be the third out of the inning.
But not until.
Van Buren score six runs here in the seventh inning.
They lead this state title game 12 to one there three outs away from a state title and you're watching it right here on Arkansas PBS sports.
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My name is Al Lopez Papa rat in the house.
I live in Northwest Arkansas via Puerto Rico.
Been here since 1994.
And really Arkansas period is the one that has taught me about this great community that we have here.
Wonderful, beautiful, so much program is Dont'a Programacion for children.
For grown up headcanon, their cancer.
This is a real part of that Channel.
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Welcome to exploring Arkansas from above.
Will showcase the natural state like never before.
Join us for the high adventure in 2021.
We go to the bottom of the seventh inning where Van Buren is looking for their first ever state championship, and they let it 12 to one and Connor Johnson back on the mound.
As he starts the inning, his first pitch is a ball.
As he is pitching to Jake Henry Williams, here's a 10 popped up.
Down to left.
Beret tracks it in and he makes it acrobatic cats he he kinda looks down it goes.
I caught that thing that was a Mile High and at one point he raised his arms of light.
Can't see.
Yeah, Presley Nichols didn't catch it off the bat, couldn't find it.
Then he traces it and then, well, you know here little adventure.
That's a little less stressful for coach weather in the Van Buren faithful when you've been 11 run lead, yeah.
So now that brings up Sawyer Bentley.
First pitch is swung on high flyball left again.
Rate comes in much easier that time.
2 ounce now.
Absolutely Nichols I said beret I I meant Nichols.
I looked at the wrong one.
I apologize.
So now you've got two outs.
Maybe President Nichols can record all three oz this setting.
Jonesboro now announced their final outs.
Josh Hanaman at the plate.
He's the starting pitcher of this game.
See that Van Buren squad starting to creep a little closer to the front of the dugout.
So the first curveball, big Curveball boy that looked like the curveball that started the ball game.
Takes count on one.
You know one pitch is swung on and missed its own 2.
Johnson working quickly.
Here's the O2 pitch swung and missed.
Van Buren is your class 5A state champion.
Final score Van Buren.
12 Jonesboro, one in the Class 5A state championship here in Benton.
We'll take a break when we come back we will get you all wrapped up on the final in this one.
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And you see all the graduations going around the pitchers mound here in Benton as your final score.
Van Buren 12 Jonesboro one an.
It was complete domination by Jonesboro.
They put up twelve runs on twelve hits, no errors, and Jonesboro has one run on four hits.
Five errors in this ball game.
Yeah, the score not really, really good.
Indication of how good this baseball game was for the first five innings.
Once the rain started and the bat started to heat up for Van Buren, the pointers really blew this one open, as Jonesboro gets their runner up trophy there on the diamonds.
But it's all about Connor Johnson.
The complete game gives up four hits, just one run struck out.
Seven really impressive day on the mound for the Van Buren starter who's head of the UCA to play his college days, yeah?
And I tell you what they're getting a good one.
If what he did today is any indication of what he's going to do with the collegiate level, he's going to have an impressive college career, and I would definitely say Bobby, that even though you had really the runs started scoring by Eli Gilreath back in the second inning when he had the home run.
There's no doubt though your MVP of this game is is Connor Johnson.
Yeah, was Van Buren.
It's take home their first ever state championship trophy that swing of the bathroom.
Gilreath took all the pressure off of Van Buren.
Getting that first run across getting that lead just just takes that kind of that that weight off of your shoulders, able to kind of settle in.
And Connor Johnson once he got that lead just pounded the strike zone, forced Jonesboro trying to put it into play.
They couldn't do it on a consistent basis.
Retired retired 12 in a row at one point.
And that's why Van Buren is taking that title home.
Well there yours.
You see a bunch of happy faces right there with the championship trophy.
We owe you one more break when we come back we will wrap this thing up before we head to the five a softball game between Benton Greenwood.
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And back here in Benton, there's or your class 5A state champions.
The Van Buren pointers as they take their first state championship home in school history and wanted a Bobby.
I mean, they from pitching to hitting.
They did it all today.
It started with pitching Connor Johnson a complete game.
One run, four hits, seven strikeouts.
He said that he set the stage for Van Buren, and once the offense started going, you know 2 nothing going to the top of the sixth inning this game and then Van Buren's offense is ripped off.
Hit after hit after hit it.
We really never was that big blow that you would expect to see in a huge number, but the single after single after single a lot of those with two outs, especially in that sixth inning, the rain came.
The wheels started to kind of wobble and then eventually fell off of the Jonesboro defense.
A couple errors allowed some unearned runs to score ten runs over the last two innings because the reason the guys in the green water pretty happy well outside of the pitching that we've talked so highly about.
You also gotta look these hitters yet had Hayden Roark 3 for five with two RBI today.
Sammy Sieger 2 for five Eli Gilreath 2 for four with two RBI.
Mean the lineup did their job.
And what you read off there?
That's the top of the order, yeah, I mean that's that's that's three of the top five hitters in Van Buren's lineup, and every time they flipped it over, you gotta give a lot of credit to the bottom of the order.
Two, they were able to flip it over and get to the top of the order.
Whether it be the next half inning or the next inning.
Excuse me, or the prolong that ending?
Really good job one through 9 of planks, situational baseball, and again that's why the state champs.
But you talk about that lower half.
I always want to give credit to those guys because between Presley Nichols who went one for four with an RBI brecken Waters 2 for four with an RBI.
Eastern Raw Reichert, who had he, went one for two with two RBI's.
I mean you had it from the top and you also got it from the bottom and they also got a great defensive effort.
No errors today for Van Buren.
A really nice job by Callahan behind the plate.
Only one wild pitch on the on the score sheet for Johnson.
This is a really good solid baseball game one through 9 at the plate and in the field for Van Buren.
Well, the rain it rain for just a little bit but then it went away and then hopefully they will stay away for the rest of the evening is coming up at 4:00 o'clock.
You've got the five a softball state championships right here in Arkansas PBS sports.
That'll be a great game.
Between Benton, Greenwood, undefeated Benton, right?
Yeah, bentons, undefeated greenwoods in the championship game.
What seems like every year they usually ran into Sheridan.
This time they get bitten on their home field, but you're never going to Greenwood an underdog 'cause they know how to win games and then coming up tonight at 7:00 O'clock and Bobby and I'll be back here doing more state championship.
Baseball's hopefully that rain will be adding here.
We don't even have to mess with that.
That's alright.
That's six a game.
Rodgers taking on Springdale Harber 268 W opponents split their regular season matchups against one another so.
The rubber match gets to take home a state title and it's just going to kick off a great three days down here on Central Arkansas as Bobby talked about in this one.
This was a great game through five anyway, and really the wheels fell off in the six and 7th hopefully will continue to see great baseball in the nightcap tonight.
Only two baseball games today.
This got changed up about a year ago for those that keep up, they instead of doing four games a day and then three, they just said, you know what?
We're gonna spread out over three games for two days of peace.
Well poor Bobby Swofford.
Aymar jayhawk.
Your final in the five a state title game.
It's Van Buren 12 Jonesboro.
One you're watching the Centennial Bank State Baseball championships on Arkansas PBS sports.