Arkadelphia is going to be on the baseball map for a long time to come. In one week’s time, All-Star teams in the 9-, 12-, and 14-year-old age divisions brought home State Championships defeating rivals from North East Arkansas, Pine Bluff Western and Bryant, respectively.
The 9-year-old Arkadelphia All-Stars found redemption over the defending State Champions, the NEA East Vipers, on Monday in a double-header at the Arkadelphia Youth Sports Complex with wins of 8-6 and 10-9 with Braxton Bailey driving in the final RBI of the title clinching game. Arkadelphia fought back from a 7-0 deficit from the second inning of the game for the win. Their season ends with the satisfaction of their State Championship since that age division does not advance to a regional competition. They are coached by Chris Bailey and Brent Wallace.
The 12-year-old All-Star team, consisting of Logan Huneycutt, Hunter Lewis, Brandon Matros, Brayden Bebee, Cutter Jester, Stephen Wewers, Trace Fryar, Alex Volz, Dalton Guthrie, Ty Jones and Danny Spradlin, knocked off Pine Bluff Western in a 10-0 shutout at Benny Hatcher Field in Watson Chapel on Wednesday for their State Championship. The win also qualifies them for the regional tournament in Waco, Texas which begins in early August. They are coached by Joey Guthrie, Jim Bebee and Kevin Jester.
The 14-year-old Clark County Babe Ruth All-Star team, consisting of Austin White, Jakahari Howell, Kris Oliver, Khalil Hart, Jahlon Mitchell, Tyler Daniell, Lane Jester, John Franklin Matros, Austin Kirkpatrick, Keon Lewis, Alec Groom, Jake Knight and coaches Todd Knight and Eddie White, defeated Bryant 11-3 for back-to-back State Championships. The team played nine games to reach the final on Wednesday in Benton. They qualified, but declined due to AHS athletic commitments, a trip to Bay City, Texas for the regional tournament.
Detailed coverage of the 12- and 14-year-old championship games will appear in upcoming editions of the Siftings Herald. Game coverage of the 9-year-old game from Monday appeared in the July 21 edition.
