It is the sixth and final softball championship in Conway, Arkansas, this weekend, and it is a rematch of the championship last year featuring the GREENE County Tech Golden Eagles taking on the two time defending a58 state champions, the Benton Panthers.

Welcome back to Ferris Field alongside Bobby Swafford.

I'm Doreen Kraft.

Bobby Over the last three years, Benton has been the cream of the crop in the five Panthers have won the last two state championships.

What is it that makes Benton such a difficult matchup for their opponents?

I think it's depth.

I mean, one through nine in their order, they almost they don't have a weakness there.

They've played in big games.

They load up on the non-conference competition.

They play the six, eight schools.

They play out of state schools.

You can't throw anything at them that they haven't already seen time and time again.

And they always come up with that big hit when they need it most.

That is something Green County Tech knows all too well.

We'll get to those highlights of last year's state championship game in just a minute.

Let's take a look at how the Golden Eagles progressed through this year's state tournament to get that rematch going up against Benton Green County Tech.

That one was a slugfest in the opening round 9 to 6, getting the victory over Mountain Home.

Moving on to take on Sheridan, a traditional postseason power.

Green County Tech coming out on top four, two, two and then a close one for the Golden Eagles, eking out the two one win over Van Buren, setting up the rematch between Benton and Green County Tech in this year's five state championship game.

And no surprise for Green County Tech.

There is a ton of talent on this Golden Eagles team, but for GCT, it all comes down to avocado.

It's really hard not to talk about avocado when you talk about the Eagles offense.

The Arkansas come in has done it all season long for GCT, a 578 batting average, nine doubles, ten triples, which is unheard of at the high school level.

Six home runs, 22 stolen bases, really uses her speed to her advantage.

And when she gets on base, her teammates know how to move around and she creates a lot of problems for opposing teams only going to get better as well.

Carter, just a junior, so she'll have one more season before she goes up to Fayetteville to join the rest of the Razorbacks.

You want to talk about Division one talent, though?

We'll get to the player on Benton in just a second.

That is the name known throughout the state.

Let's take a look at the Panthers path back to the five state championship game.

It has been one that has been marked Benton opening with a91 win over Sylvan Hills.

Coming in with that target on their back, being the two time defending state champion rolling over Harrison ten nothing.

And then Greenwood, the team that Benton beat back in the 2021 state championship that was a close game.

Greenwood beat Benton earlier this year.

Panthers come out on top one to nothing to set up the rematch going against GREENE County Tech and for Benton, she is the two time Arkansas Gatorade Player of the year.

It is the Stanford Softball Commit Alyssa Houston.

I don't know if we have enough time in the pre game to talk about how good Alyssa Houston has been pitching wise or even offensively over the last couple of years.

But this year it's absurd how good she's been 17 and three in the circle has only given up eight earned runs in over 100 innings pitched.

And that's just the pitching side of things.

And we're talking about how good that pitching has been in just a little bit.

But offensively, give these numbers a 691 batting average, 13 homers, 52 RBIs.

And whether she wants to be a pitcher at Stanford, a hitter at Stanford, they may want her to do both because quite honestly, she's been one of the most dominant high school softball players our state has ever seen.

Two way players are on the rise at the collegiate level.

And Bobby, to your point, the state of Arkansas has produced some top level collegiate talent over the last couple of years.

Elissa Houston looking to continue that tradition when she joins the Cardinal next season.

But as we mentioned, these two teams very familiar with one and over over one another over the last several seasons as Benton topped Green County Tech in last year's state championship game.

That was a32 game.

But not without a little bit of controversy, shall we say.

GREENE County Tech actually able to get on the board first in that game.

A little bit of a defensive miscue, Forbidden allowed the golden Eagles to strike first with two runs early on and then Fenton play a little bit of defense.

That's three to nothing rather for GREENE County Tech.

We had a rain delay as well as this one played on into the night.

Benton ekes out a run in 17 and a half hours between when this game was paused, when they got back to play.

But when they got back, it was Benton in the Whites.

They love those home whites rolling a little bit, and then the Panthers coming through the big hit down the third base line that ended up being the go ahead winning run as Benton able to capture back to back state championships Allison Houston coming on in relief in that game ended up picking up the win she was the save back in 2021 as well.

Houston being named the MVP of last year's five state tournament.

And so this matchup has been something that both teams have worked for this entire season.

Yeah, Green County Tech had them all win and they really felt like they had beaten on the ropes in that championship game last year.

And then the rains came and it wasn't just a sprinkle and all of a sudden, Oh, we got to postpone this.

And to help out the team that's ranked higher here, it was a torrential downpour.

Lightning And you mentioned the 17 hour delay and it came back bitten, got to hit the reset button and they came back refreshed the next day and able to rally back and win this the second consecutive title and complete their second straight perfect season.

Now, Benton and Green County Tech already played once this season.

That was back on May the ninth.

That was a91 Benton victory.

So very convincing for the Panthers over the last four contests.

Benton has won all four and has outscored the Golden Eagles 19 to 3 in those games.

Bobby, what do the Golden Eagles need to do today against Benton to get that offense going a little bit?

Well, one thing they have to do is they have to put that out of their mind.

And I like the idea of scheduling Benton so late in the season.

That's a non-conference game, did not have to play them.

And so all of a sudden they they scheduled bit in late in the year because they knew that if they were going to win a state championship, they needed to see this team up close and personal before they got to here in Conway and they have to weather the storm and we know how good Houston is.

You've got to weather the storm, get to the third, fourth, those middle innings.

It's just a one nothing game.

It's a11 game.

All of a sudden you've got some confidence, maybe some doubt creeps into the mind of the two time defending state champion.

And that's how upsets are made.

This is how GREENE County Tech's offensive lineup is going to look today going up against Houston.

We'll get the start in the circle.

It will be Ava Carter, the Arkansas Commit, leading things off, batting 578 on the year two speed at the top.

Zoe Reynolds Marlee Spear in the three hole for 18 on the year and then this is going to be a name that sounds familiar to softball fans around the state Wesleyan.

Burnside, the younger sister of former Arkansas star Braxton Burnside batting for today and a Thomas in Sophia Gonzalez.

Carly Burrow, the starting pitcher in the seventh spot, Avery Stokes and Bryce Sage, round out the batting line up for Green County Tech, and they'll be going up against a bench and lineup that is very familiar, very comfortable in this spot.

The baby as we've seen time and time again throughout this championship weekend.

Funny things happen when you get to a state final.

Yeah, it really does.

And it's all about who can handle the emotions, who can handle a little bit of adversity and doesn't have the advantage of playing on their home field for this year.

The last couple of years, the state championships have been at Benton.

Of course, that's why they bid on that.

Yeah, they got the host, but now it's not on their home field.

So a little bit of a different feel.

Even though they're the home team on the scoreboard, they're going to get the last batter if they get a little adversity.

If Green County gets a runner on on first and third one out, how do they handle those moments and how does Green County Tech take advantage of those moments as well as obviously, there's another look at starting pitcher Alyssa Houston, who has been lights out inside the circle 103 and two thirds innings, pitched 17 and three on the year.

And Bobby, she is what you call high volume strikeouts 241 strikeouts in just 23 walks this year.

So if Grant Kennedy gets a hit today, it's going to be something that hasn't been done in 35 innings against Houston.

The last 108 batters that Houston has faced, three have walked in, zero have picked up a hit, 82 have struck out.

So 82 in the last 108 have been fanned by Houston.

That's how dominant she's been coming into this state championship match at Houston with 2.54 era holding opposing batters to just a063 batting average.

As we are underway here in the five state title game, It's just not fair.

That's below 100.

That's why she's going to Stanford would be a good matchup between these two because this is the type of level they're going to face at the collegiate game as Houston delivers a strike down the center of the plate to Ava Carter.

As you might expect, the velocity is going to be up, probably the hardest thrown pitcher that you bring.

Ken in Texas going to see up to this point this season.

And it's really hard to adjust to that when you're not used to seeing it.

You go 25, 30 games by Green County Tech has 24 and five on the season.

You don't see somebody who throws that hard.

Bobby You see in more high school softball games than I have this year.

But I would venture to believe that Houston, probably the hardest thrower in the state of Arkansas at this point on the outside corner, strike three, it's it's the combination to dooring of throwing hard and placing.

There's one thing if you throw hard and all of a sudden it goes to the backstop.

But then again, you can paint them black just like that and you've got no chance.

College coaches will tell you that placement is more essential than speed because if you can place the ball, you can be dominant.

Houston first pitch bounces off the turf.

Zoe Reynolds and the two hold 402 on the season.

Now Green County Tech, they've got a ton of power as a team.

The Golden Eagles batting 379 on the year, but out of 321 total hits, 120 of an extra base hits.

Yeah.

This is not your parents fastpitch softball.

This is not bottom over, bottom across and try to get them in now they're going to slug it, slug it out, those 100 singles, but 73 doubles, 16 triples, 31 home runs.

And when you're facing a pitcher that who throws it that hard, as long as you make solid contact, the ball is going to travel put in place Houston fields a position over the first in time and two quick outs for the Panthers.

Yeah that's that's really tough to do as a pitcher who's used to throwing underhand but Houston steps and delivers a strike over the first base to retire Reynolds Bobby you made a good point as we take another look at the bite just a little bit too on top of it pushes right back to Houston inside the circle with a pitcher that does throw with the velocity of Houston as a batter.

You don't need to generate that much of your own power.

First pitch to Marley Spear catches the outside corner 535 on base percentage from spear 418 Average lifted It'll stay in play Houston is under it makes the catch four outnumber three so Alyssa Houston retires the side in order the defending champions will come to bat in the bottom of the first.

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Welcome back to various fields in Conway, Arkansas.

I'm Dorian Kraft alongside Bobby Swafford.

Thank you so much for joining us for this sixth and final state championship softball game in the five eight final between GREENE County Tech and the Benton Panthers.

Benton coming to bat in the bottom of the first inning.

They will be led off by senior Addison Davis, followed by Alyssa Houston, Lydia Methods, Emily Reed, Cameron Copeland.

Are the freshmen getting some meaningful playing time?

582 Average Ashley Mitchell, Mallory Crosby, Violet Mendez and Dakota Johnson rounding things out for Benton.

So if you're GREENE County Tech, you've already gone down in order.

You need to return the favor.

Try to settle in.

Don't let this beaten Panther offense is so powerful and high scoring.

Let them get on track early.

Benton will be going up against Carly Burrow inside the circle as Addison Davis looks at a first pitch strike Burrow's committed to play it a wash and Top Baptist 2.91 era well higher than you might expect for a team in the championship, but their offense has been so explosive this year that hasn't mattered.

Called Strike Up in the Zone and Burrow was a58 All-State pitcher a year ago.

Five pitcher of the year, according to Scorebook Live, 19 and three on the year with a 1.36 era, has been the workhorse again in the circle this year.

The oh to take it upstairs.

This is a Benson lineup much similar to GREENE County Tech in terms of average 387 on the year.

Not as much power though.

50 doubles, only 18 home runs, one to put in play over to the right side of the field up the middle over the first not in time to get the Speedy Davis and Addison Davis leads off the bottom of the first with an infield single.

You mentioned that Ben doesn't have the power numbers like some other teams we've talked about this weekend, but that means you've got to use your speed to your advantage.

That time, a well-placed ball in the infield takes a second baseman over to her.

Right.

Can't make the backhanded play.

Lost her footing as she tried to deliver a strike to first and allowed Davis to beat out to throw.

Remember, Benton plays on an all turf field as well.

So a little bit advantage Panthers as Houston first pitch swinging brings it down the third base line that ball's going to get through Cox waving the runner around.

So Benton now with runners on second and third after Elizabeth Houston delivers a double Houston, this turns on the first pitch.

And you can see why her average is almost near 700.

Her 13th double of the season quickly gets the hands inside the barrel out in front and smokes one down the left field line.

Ben, in business, just three pitches in already now with runners on second in third scoring position.

And we will get a courtesy runner for Alicia Houston in Bobby.

If you're betting here, what's the mentality knowing that you have a chance to really put your foot down early?

Yeah, this pedal to the metal, he got better.

It's coming up at the 474 average to runners in scoring position.

You know state championship games don't always play out like you expect them to so you have to take advantage of the moment when you get it.

No matter how early it is.

And obviously here with nobody out in the first first pitch to Bedford's swung on and Miss Healthy cut on the curve really aggressive start to the approach for a bit And here you saw Houston go after the first pitch methods does the same thing so if you're burrow you've got to maybe change things up try to no it's hard to say don't throw a strike on the first pitch, but maybe not be as aggressive in your approach in the circle.

The oh one, not one tapped in the five six hole.

Throw over the three.

Not in time.

But Benton pushes.

The first run across is Davis was off on contact everybody safe for the Panthers already with one run edge Yeah really aggressive running on the base pass there by the courtesy runner and she drives in does does beat the throw the methods gets credit for the RBI on the fielder's choice Benton is still in business runners on the corners still no one away here in the bottom of the first inning and trying to pad their lead in their quest for another five eight state championship.

Emily Reed takes a strike on the inside corner.

Throw down to third.

Not in time as Rasberry mania retreats back to the base, Reed committed to play it over you.

Addison Raspberry Courtesy Runner for Elyssa Houston stays upstairs one and one and may have been so far has been the aggressor.

If you're green County Tech, how do you go about trying to work your first out?

Well, I mean, you have to pitch to contact one, but you have to make sure that you're not catching too much of the plate.

I really think Burrow has been leaving too much meat on the bone, if you will, leaving it all over the heart of the plate, allowing these bitten Panthers to get the barreling works herself ahead in the count one in two Is Boro still looking for the first out here in the bottom of the first inning.

Benton back to back hits two of them on the infield, resulting in a run with runners on first and second way outside the count.

Now, even at two and two, remember, you wouldn't expect there to be many nerves between both GREENE County Tech and BET.

Both teams have been here before recently.

So a lot of these players remember exactly what this felt like a year ago.

They're due to Reed Squares pulls back.

That's a healthy cut, but it's lifted.

It's going to get fouled down.

The third base line benching coming into the season as the hunted at a 64 game winning streaks to start the season ran to 67 before it was snapped by Bryant earlier this year.

And it's you two outs in the turf taken as the count runs full and of course one of six a state championship earlier this week.

They rallied five runs against Cabot in the seventh inning.

Softball in Saline County.

Very good.

Yeah.

This bit, three, two lifted out to shallow shortstop.

One guy who was going to get to left field for just a second.

But it does stay on the infield for Sage, and that is the first out recorded in the bottom of the first inning.

It's a big first out.

Maybe help settle the nerves a little bit for Carly Burrow, settle in and work our game, Worry later.

Cameron Gallagher, 582, just a freshman standing in, pulls the back throw down to third knot in time.

Rasberry able to get back just underneath the throw The second time Green County techs tried to pick the runner.

Both times he's been able to get back this good idea by Mendez's Raspberry, just a little bit off balance, able to get back in time.

Cole Clatter takes a cloud strike middle of the third at that pitch caught a ton of the plate 582 average for a freshman.

That's so just when you think you're finally going to get rid of LSU Houston, you have to see a great player anymore.

You got another freshman coming in for Benton.

Benton doesn't reload, they just replenish that one flared.

It's going to get down to the five central throws coming home.

Not in time.

They're going to call catcher obstruction as Mendez was blocking the lane to the plate.

And so Rasberry will be safe.

I believe she would have been safe anyway, considering the throw bounced in the turf.

But regardless, Rasberry is safe.

Cole Glad you're safe at first.

Benton with two runs in.

You know, one thing I've noticed already from Green can attack.

Sometimes you've got to make the easy play.

That's going to be a really tough throw to gun down the runner on a ball that wasn't all that hard hit to you.

So it's going to be a low percentage throw to get it out.

And now, again, as Cole Clogher advances, a second still, second, third and now nobody out again, correct Correction.

One answer for the pop out first pitch swinging is Mitchell.

What a play over at first trying to tag and score she does better heads up base running by Lydia better to tag and score on the little flare over to first base that moment maybe 15 feet down the line.

That's a great play by Marly Speer lays out and makes the catch because she had to go to the turf to complete it.

A great heads up running by Bitton to tag up on a pop up that went maybe 30 feet, if that from the most shallow sacrifice fly you're ever going to see.

But because she had to go to the ground, it took that time to get back up and able to stretch across another run.

And you can tag and score on foul balls that are caught.

But typically you don't see them stay on the infield.

That was heads up base running.

It's given Breton one extra run still now with the runner on third and first pitch swinging again.

You take a look at the green county tech defense Speer with a fantastic play over the first at first spear Stokes Sage Reynolds first to third out in the outfield Burnside Karter Gonzalez left to right and then the battery of burrow in tubes for the golden eagles Green county tech finding themselves trailing by three.

Another good cut Benton Very aggressive.

To start off this game Burrow needs to settle in here and strand that runner at third keep the deficit at three when you're facing a team as good as Fenton got to limit the damage when you can, but not making it easy when they're tagging and scoring on foul balls that are 20 feet down the line to the first base side, no less oh two fouled away, sent out to left field.

That ball is deep but playable.

It'll hang up just in time.

Burnside makes the catch, but not before Benton plates three the Panthers leading as we head to the top of the second inning.

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Nothing after one complete here at Ferris Field.

Take a look at the Panthers defense playing behind Elissa Houston here in this five eight state championship game.

And for as good as Houston has been on this season, the defense has been just as good.

HOBSON Better days, Davis?

Reid Left to right in the infield.

Pierce.

Cole Clear.

Crosby Left to right in the outfield.

And then of course, Houston and her battery mate Mendez behind the plate.

The defense hasn't been called upon much the last five games or so, as Houston has just been striking down.

Pretty much everybody who comes in front of it brings the strike right back.

Across the center of the plate is Wesleyan.

Burnside tried to lead things off here in the top of the second inning and one one swung on and missed the red ball.

To put a note on the discussion about the Fielding Benton as a team 958 Fielding percentage.

So when they have been tested, the Panthers have been up to the challenge one to taken high Burnside is 375 average just as sophomore gets a pitcher so dominant you'd like to say you have to be patient maker come to you.

But that's not really a problem for use and you can't afford to sit back.

As swung on and Miss Rise, Ball climbs the ladder as Burnside sat down on strikes.

Because you'd love to sit back and say, maybe she'll make a mistake or two.

That is clearly doesn't happen.

I'm talking about a pitcher who's walked three in the last 36 innings of work has only walked 23 all season long.

So you have to be aggressive.

But that's when you can't be overaggressive because you're making chase one out of the zone.

First pitch caught a ball.

No one outside to Emma Thompson and a lot of young players in the heart of this Green county tech lineup.

Brad Speer is a sophomore.

BURNSIDE a sophomore.

Thomas and a freshman as that's a healthy cut as well.

Down the center of the plate swung on and missed it.

Gonzalez the freshman as well, coming up next.

So the power of this Green County tag team should they be able to keep it in town?

They're going to be very good for years to come.

This is the foundation is there for Green County Tech and they're hoping they stop running into a buzzsaw like Houston in, the state championship game, and maybe they can pass through and win a title.

Granted, there's a lot of softball left to be played yesterday, but in the future, certainly bright for those girls from northeast Arkansas, one to just misses on the outside corner.

Home plate umpire Justine Hudspeth said it was just a bit outside and I think a buzzsaw would be a fair description that everyone would call the betting Panthers.

Over the last three years swung on and Miss Screwball comes in on the hands back to back case for Houston.

She walks away away and all of a sudden that one dives in on the hands and Thompson can't get the hands in fast enough and swings and misses on one that really tails in hard on it.

Houston just has such an arsenal of pitches that she can go to when we really fun to watch her compete at the next level first pitch at the knees called on Sophia Gonzales Yeah that's actually a mistake there from Houston that one really goes back in that's expected to be on the outer third but dives back in but can't get the bat off the shoulder.

Could Gonzales oh one swung on and Miss Houston quickly ahead in the count.

Oh the reason I point that out, Dorian, is not to criticize the pitcher.

You're just not going get those very often right pitches right down the middle third of the plate.

You're just not going to get it gets a pitcher of the quality of Houston.

You've got to take advantage of those mistakes because they're so rare.

One and two, is that missed high?

And to your point, with a pitcher that throws the velocity at Houston sometimes that's that split second if you're waiting you're not going to be able to catch up to it regardless.

If you swing one to take it as a count Now, even at two and two three strikeouts, the first five batters she's faced, does Houston have Gonzalez did a nice job here working the count 19 pitches, the first five batters so a efficient outing to start for Alyssa Houston swung on and missed as Houston retires the side via the strikeout button goes back to work in the bottom of the second you're watching the Centennial Bank State baseball and softball championships on Arkansas PBS Sports.

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Violet Mendez Dakota Hobson In back to the top of the order in Addison Davis fouled off evens the count at one and one Benton pounded out three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning on just 21 pitches.

So didn't even make Boro work that much in the circle.

Just struck fast and struck for a lot.

So someone who's going to hang around the plate set back up the middle, it's going to get out into the outfield for a leadoff single.

And that was really the formula for Benton in the bottom of the first inning.

She good pinch hit good pitch when you're going to throw as many strikes as Barrow does.

Britain's game plan is certainly going to be attack early in the count.

And take a look at the home plate umpire, Justin Hudspeth over at first as Eric Wallace and Jonathan Carmichael rounding out our umpiring career today over at third base, going to be busy on the basepaths, it feels like today with the way things are started off but pulled back by Dakota Hobbs and throw back to first Mendez able to get in safely ahead over the last four games between these two teams, Benton averaging just under five runs per game.

They've scored 19 across the four previous meetings, the most in that nine one victory earlier this month.

Rice ball stays up as Hobson works to send their self ahead in the count to an up pops and committed to play at Central Madness College here in Conway just down the road.

Tons of collegiate talent between these two programs.

It's one of the reasons why you're seeing them both vie for another state title in ball right down the middle taken by Hobson won't get here by accident.

You've got to have some good players and have all the coaching in the world.

But sometimes you've got to have the ones out there between the lines.

Good players know how to execute in the big moments.

As Hobson pulls back shows, Bunt puts it right down back to the pitcher.

Only play is to first and Hansen successfully executes a sacrifice bunt and Mendez into scoring position.

I like the aggressive approach from Benton You think, okay, a sacrifice is not that aggressive.

You've already got the 3000 lead if that runner in the scoring position and now you've got the top of the order coming back.

A chance to add on to that already.

Three run advantage.

Bobby, you know that I will never complain about a well-executed sacrifice bunt.

It is something that I think all players should learn how to do.

You're going to need to do it at some point in time, even though the numbers are trending towards power numbers standing in the box, Davis takes a cold first strike.

Davis singled in scored back in the first inning.

Go take a look at the sacrifice bunt beautifully placed to right back at the center of the field.

And that's the part about the sacrifice bunt.

It's not just being able to put it down, it's where you place it.

It's out foul.

That's right.

As you put it in the wrong side, it's got a ways because the idea is you have to make a certain defender field that ball.

Otherwise you're going to put yourself into a really bad spot.

You can see five of seven already for venting through the lineup first.

Oh, to count that burrow is hard today, going up against this Benton lineup.

Three runs in five hits already here in the bottom of the second inning as Benton is looking for their third consecutive title and waved at and missed the first strikeout of the day for Burrow.

There are two away in the inning.

It's a big spot here for Burrow and GREENE can attack with the dangerous Elissa Houston.

I might almost go ahead and put her on the intentional walk, and that's exactly what they're going to do.

So the intentional walk issued to Alicia Houston, who doubled and scored in the bottom of the first inning.

So she will be on first runners on first and second for Lydia methods.

But Beth was also able to come through with an RBI base hit in the bottom of the first inning.

And so Benton has that type of lineup where just because you work around Houston, there's no letup on the other side.

It's the lesser of two evils, though.

I mean, I'd rather face for 74 average instead of 691 More hard field services providing for vice original ground drone topography serving the Midwest and South U.S. 24 hour delivery survey grade accuracy visit more Hartfield services dot com for details and of course May's number 26.

We're going to get another runner here for Benton in the bottom of the second inning as the Panthers with two away trying to tack on to their lead it is number double zero as MRO in its second running for Violet Mendez the catcher so courtesy running there's one for one catches the inside corner we would see many pitchers be willing to go on that inside corner throughout the weekend Bobby we really haven't Everybody is kind of their dominant outside edge.

No more times than not.

They've been been getting that call from the umpires.

But we've seen a few try to go inside and not too many times have they been burnt.

Oh, one stays high and I think we'll see two more and try to go inside on someone.

The talent of Houston or maybe even native of Avila on the other side of things.

But you've got to pick and choose your battles, but you can't let those batters just continue to dive out over the outside corner of the plate.

One thing worth noting about the intentional walk issued to Houston, that's something that Benton doesn't do very often.

They don't draw a whole lot of walks.

They prefer to put the ball in, play that smoke to the left centerfield gap.

One run will come in.

We've got a little confusion on the Basepaths.

There's going to be a play at the plate as the umpire was standing in the way.

So Green County Tech will get out of the inning as the runner cut down at the plate.

But not before Benton gets one more on the RBI.

Double off the bat of Lydia methods.

It's for nothing Panthers.

We go to the third.

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Benton jumped out to a four nothing lead here in the top of the third inning over Green County Tech in a rematch of the 2022 five state championship game.

Gordon Eagles coming to bat in the top half of the third borough Stokes Sage doo up as Burress takes a cold strike on the outside corner stance back and need to base it against Houston which he struck out for the first that she's face He's working quick the pitch totals not high.

You're starting to see why she's such a dominant force in that side that circle meal one fouled away oh and two coming into this inning Houston just 24 pitches she the first two innings eight in the first 16 in the second 75% of those have been for a strike.

So Houston pounding the strike zone hitting the count oh two taken just off the outside corner.

But I like the idea there from Houston to try and move it just about a half foot off the plate.

Know she's not you know, that's what really good pitchers do.

They set up that outside corner, but all of a sudden they start to work out farther out farther out.

One, they're trying to get to the chase, but also, two, to try to make that umpire change his strike zone, to stretch it out just a little bit more, one to cut on and miss.

Four consecutive strikeouts for Alyssa Houston.

It's really, really tough to find a way to put the bat on the ball so green can attack through the first seven batters in the lineup.

Golden Eagles head coach David Reynolds trying to impart some motivation to his team looking to break through against Elissa Houston here in the third first swinging foul back into the screen.

When you have a pitcher who's in such a groove like Houston as to the first seven batters, maybe you have to try to do something.

Now we're about to flip the lineup over to change her tempo, change her rhythm, whether it's step out, call time, make her readjust inside that circle, do whatever you can to try to make her uncomfortable so she'll a mistake.

Elyssa Houston Despite playing at Ferris Field for the state championship for the first time in two years, looking very comfortable, Mrs. High with the rise ball count, even at one in one.

The last two years, the championship game have been played at Everett Field down.

And Benton.

Benton, of course, beating Greenwood 8 to 1 back in 2021 before topping Green County Tech last year.

Three, two two.

As Stokes swings through veteran lineup for the Benton Panthers, five seniors in the starting lineup as Houston continues to roll another strikeout for the senior pitcher and it just rare back and throw it and catch up if you can and so far Green County Tech hasn't been up to the challenge five straight set down on strikes down Brees edge stepping to the plate in the nine spot for Green County tech eight up eight down for Alyssa Houston in the Benton Panthers siege hitting 284 on the year first pitch misses high when you're a pitcher you're in this kind of rhythm.

I don't know though anything effects you, to be quite honest.

I mean the only thing that may creep in there is just trying to be perfect.

We have to go out and do it and try to be perfect, and maybe that's when you make a mistake.

But right now there's just nothing seems to be bothering Houston in the circle.

Yeah, she's just playing pitch and catch there with her catcher.

And again, unhittable.

Houston has been locked in since first pitch, showing why she is one of the best softball players in the state.

Is that catch is the center of the plate now one in two is Mendez got a little bit ahead of herself.

Thought that was strike three, but they'll have to play one more pitch, at least here in the top of the third inning.

School's out.

You want to do math anymore?

I stopped doing math a long time ago.

The one to put in play over to the right side that's going to get out to right field.

And a hit for Brea Sage in Green County Tech.

That is the first baserunner of the afternoon for the Golden Eagles.

I also count up a little a little gimpy there at first base by a twist of an ankle on back.

But you have to give great congratulations right there.

The very first hit on their offer, Houston in 38 innings of work.

That's that's something to be commended right now.

Now we'll see if Green County Tech can get they've gotten that streak out of the way.

Can they get something going?

So pay attention to the right angles just off the edge of the bag.

They certainly hope it stages.

Okay.

I know what that feels like.

That hurts a lot.

That's one of the reasons why there's been a big argument over the years and an increasing.

So for safety bases in terms of giving the extra space for the runner to run so that you're not trying to catch the outside of the bag so that you're not interfering with the first baseman.

It looks to be okay.

Sage will stay in and run.

So that's a good sign for Green County Tech, still stretching out the ankle.

They'll make sure that she's good to run.

We are set to get back to play here in the top of the third inning.

Two away for the golden Eagles bringing backup Ava Carter who struck out looking first pitch swinging.

That was a good cut.

That good she did on that one.

There's no doubt about that.

The two high level players see their future power.

Five athletes squaring off, adding Carter and Houston to the list of players that have come out of the state of Arkansas in recent years and say she did not hold her swing.

There You see the question there for Carter asking if it was the swing or the call.

And regardless, the home plate umpire says it was a strike.

Bobby, what do you think?

She didn't go around and the pitch came, you know, right below the letter.

So might be near the top of the zone for a pitcher like Houston.

She's going to get the benefit of that.

The O2 fouled away.

So Carter and Houston, you mentioned two of the best high school players, Hannah Gamble, obviously one of the best known at the collegiate level.

Braxton Burnside made her mark at Arkansas before moving on.

Riley Gilmore, the former Panther is that one fouled away again, playing for a middle Tennessee State team that knocked off central Arkansas yesterday.

Eight nothing in the first game at the Tuscaloosa Regional.

So central Arkansas well-represented throughout the collegiate level.

Softball's is continuing to grow and grow in this state.

You're starting to see some high end talent because of it.

The oh two swung on and missed.

Houston There is no problem.

Benton cruising for nothing.

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Another one of those great players coming out of Beebe High School, the Beebe Badgers, getting a lot of air time.

You know what I'm talking about as a program.

First pitch in play over the first as Emily Reed is retired, first time Green County Tech has gotten the lead off.

Batter out today Reed Cole Clanger.

Mitchell do up or rather should say Cole Kluger Mitchell Crosby now for Ben as there's one two way here in the bottom of the third inning, Cole Clogher singled and put was stranded on second base in the bottom of the first and takes a drop ball low as it skips out on the turf.

See, Cole Clogher has that slap approach.

A lot of times you'll see that from someone at the top of the lineup, not necessarily in the teeth of the lineup in that final, but obviously it's working with a 582 average on the season, considering that one top just fell with the success that Heidi Cox has had over the last couple of years.

I'm not going to argue with her, not at all with her lineup management.

But I do agree with you.

It's unusual to see a lineup that's not lefty heavy with a lefty in that five spot.

You think a central Arkansas, the Bears with seven out of nine lefties.

So there's a ton of lefties up and down that lineup.

But typically the lefty reserve for 129 somewhere in that area against Cole Clogher puts it down on the ground.

He uses her speed.

She is safe at first, no doubt about it.

But Bobby, to your point, that may be while Cole Clogher is in that spot to try and function in the middle of the lineup to turn it over, well, you can see a good looking coach, Heidi Cox.

This is not built like a normal team, though, because you mentioned the lack of power and like I say, the lack of power, the lack of home runs for this team this year.

And so they're built a little different.

So it's all about on base percentage.

Get somebody on base Cole click or obviously place one down perfectly.

A little miscommunication between the third baseman and the pitcher.

And as soon as that happened, they had no chance of throwing her out at first.

And words of encouragement from head coach Heidi Cox as she returned over the third take from Ashley Mitchell.

And of course, Heidi Cox, a fantastic collegiate player in her own right.

Tons of records for Arkansas, Monticello during her playing days, ones that still stand second in program history and average hits stolen bases as well that a Teague strike is Cole Clyde the way it headed the throw stolen base with the freshman.

If you've got speed you can always put it to use and Cole Clogher with a little swinging bunts to get on base and now easily swiped second now she's in scoring position something past an infielder is going to get her home.

That's the one one, not one, not a back up the center.

Cole Clogher will move to third.

A close play at first, but the throw is just in time to retire.

MITCHELL So two away here in the bottom of the third inning, Hideaway Pizza is a proud supporter of Arkansas PBS Sports, serving Conway in the central Arkansas area at 1170 South Amity Road in Conway, Benton, trying to score in each of the first three innings with a runner on third, Mallory Crosby flew out to Burnside in deep left field in her first plate appearance, first pitch swinging flares down the left field line just out of play.

Mallory into the Benton fans.

I would expect someone make a grab there, guys.

Come on now.

Don't make a play.

Right.

You're going to come out of the park.

You better catch something.

We saw some good plays behind home plate last night.

Yeah, absolutely.

I think it was a Gravett fan.

They made a play.

I remember the sweet sunglasses.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Oh, one, two.

Crosby and Take in low in the turf.

It's important for the GREENE County tech catcher to be a wall back there.

The runner on third with good speed.

You're saying that gets past her.

The another run one one pulled over towards the right side but the throw in time is back to back batters Groundout to the second baseman.

Benton kept off the scoreboard for the first time today, but the Panthers still in control.

Four to nothing as we head to the top of the fourth inning.

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That's Griffin Leggett Funeral Home is a proud supporter of Arkansas PBS Sports serving the Conway area, located at 1751 at Dave Warde Drive in Conway, Griffin Leggett, proudly serving our communities in central Arkansas since 1936, second time through the order for Green County Tech going up against Elissa Houston, only one hit for the Golden Eagles.

That was on a two out single by Bree Sage in the top of the third inning.

It will be Reynolds Spear and Burnside do up for GREENE County Tech Emmitt Thomas in waiting should anybody reach Reynolds grounded out to Houston in her first at bat popped out of play Good crowd on a beautiful day for softball here in central Arkansas.

The sixth and final softball state championship game in what has been a full weekend here at the University of Central Arkansas.

Softball, baseball, soccer is going on over at the stadium, 20 championships being handed out this weekend.

And we're we're almost home.

It's hard to believe these three games of three days have gone this quickly and hard to believe that the athletic year has gone this good, because at the end of today, we've got no sports until August.

It absolutely flies the two one pop directly back behind home plate two and two softball leading the way today, Two baseball games coming up a little bit later, starting with the three eight game coming up after this is will be river crest in Harding Academy.

Join Kyle Decker mom and Kevin Bohannan for the baseball doubleheader to round out the coverage here on Arkansas PBS sports the team to take in just outside in high.

That's a tough pitch to take there nice job to lay off.

Oh, it's close.

And Reynolds gets the benefit of the doubt.

Now.

One of the rare full counts of worked against Houston was the first full count of the day for Houston.

Put in play over to the left side.

That's going to be through just past the diving grab of Hobson over at third base.

And so to hit in the last three batters for Green County Tech.

And if you're the Golden Eagles, that's something that you're starting to think, okay, maybe we can actually get to Houston.

Yeah, that's that's exactly right, Doreen, because now you've got a little confidence now the that aura of like, oh, she can't be touched talking about this and Houston isn't there anymore.

You mentioned two of the last three have reached the the the base hit and now he's got a little confidence to get something going.

Now he's got the leadoff hitter on here in the fourth, first time Green County Tech has had a leadoff hitter reach the first pitch, strike the knees to Marley Spear.

Spear popped up to the first baseman Reed to end things in the first for 18, an average for spirit this year chased it out of the zone there though and quickly behind in the count oh two is spear went after the rise ball out of the hand of Houston 11 home runs on the season for spirit 12 doubles as we mentioned a ton of pop in this green county tech lineup, 120 extra base hits 73 doubles on the year that goes down via the rise ball as that is the eighth strikeout of the game so far for a loss to Houston Yeah Houston saw that she would climb the ladder just a little bit on the previous pitch and there she goes even higher and spear just could not lay off the one up around the shoulders.

She set down swinging right one on one out for Wesleyan.

Burnside, who struck out to lead off the second inning first pitch swinging flared out to shallow right field.

But the play is made over at second, over the first in time as Benton doubles off.

Reynolds Over at first, so that'll do it for GREENE County Tech in the top of the fourth inning.

Panthers trying to get back on the board.

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One, two, three.

So there's going to be no.

Benton's defense hasn't been tested a whole lot this year.

But when they have, they've been up to the challenge.

Yeah, Great play arranging back by the second base when they make the catch and the relay throw the first of the double plays and Davis.

But if you're Green county tech you cannot run yourself out of scoring opportunities.

You get the leadoff batter onto the single and you quickly erase it by mistake on the base pass.

That's something you cannot have when you're already in for nothing at all.

Running right into the hands of the Benton Panthers, who have a four and nothing lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.

This game rolling right along.

First pitch at 1:00.

We are in our in just over the halfway mark here in the five state championship game on stage low to no, it'll be Mendez Hobson in the top of the order in Davis do up for Benton Mendez singled in scored in the second and takes ball three high command hasn't been much of an issue up to this point so Carley Burrow, the pitcher for Green Valley attack.

The problem has been the bit in contact, but now she's found herself in the three oh hole.

Ben been very aggressive at the plate so far in this game to her point.

But burrow as that is a four pitch walk to lead off the inning.

Burrow has only thrown 44 pitches coming into this event.

So it's been efficient and.

The relief team is low down.

That bounces in the turf.

And another leadoff runner on for Benton O'Brien.

It is an easy easy morrow back in do courtesy run for the catcher Violet Mendez Moura was actually the runner that scored on the double by Lydia Betteridge back in the second inning as Hobson shows bunt pulls back.

She was able to sacrifice back in the second game to lead off runner on for a bit.

And they've got a chance to to add on to their lead and that's been that's been the trend today Green county tech not able to get that leadoff batter out in the inning allowing Britton to get a rally going but pushed back to the pitcher Burrows only play is the first and again Thompson is retired via the sacrifice bunt second verse same as the first.

This is exactly how the second inning played out in order.

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And the story of the game so far has been the success at the plate for the Vinton Panthers.

As Addison Davis steps in for the third time today through just four innings, first pitch swinging, pulls it over to the right side, has to go back to first as the pinch runner runner Morrow able to advance to third.

Bette Davis retired for the second time today on the three unassisted spear thought she was going flip it back to her second baseman and was over to cover in time.

So she has to handle it herself.

And luckily that didn't turn into a disaster.

It had the markings of some miscommunication.

There is there is a little bit of confusion about who was going where and Davis runs well, so you don't have that much time to make that decision.

And once again, green tech will make the decision to issue the intentional walk to elicit Houston.

Bobby, what do you think about that decision?

I like the decision to Walker.

I don't necessarily like the rule that you don't have to throw the four pitches to intentionally walk, but I know it speeds up the game a little bit.

You're going to put her on first base anyway, but with a runner on third, make the pitcher throw those four pitches, make them execute it.

So the potential of that runner from third could score on any errant through intentional walks have been the theme of the day.

We saw that a lot back in the three state championship.

Lexie Gooden The first pitch strike on the inside corner taken by Lydia methods, but I don't think it's ever a bad idea to intentionally watch someone who's hitting 691.

Houston is hitting 691.

The methods two for two with an RBI today, a single a double score two run back in the first inning.

And that's what job is to do, right?

I guarantee that's happened probably quite a bit this year.

And that one cranked down to left field.

It's going to get down right in front of the fence.

Burnside plays it off of the fence.

Here comes the runner to the plate.

The throw is not in time.

And Benton gets two more on the RBI base, hits a stand up double by betters.

So great piece of hitting by methods and that validates what you're saying is you intentionally walk a hitter to get to someone who's hitting for 74 and for the third time she's already made them pay.

Today, Lydia Beth hurts having herself a day here in the five AA title game, and Burnside got that ball quickly as well.

It's a good outfield play out there by Burnside, just not able to catch the speedy raspberry, who is the courtesy runner for Alissa Houston and now beaten up six nothing bottom four two away in the inning with a runner on second base and brings to the plate Emily Reed Reed Oh for two popped up to the shortstop grounded out to the third baseman takes the first pitch ball off the outside corner.

The top three of the lineup have just done so much damage for Bitten today.

Much as they have all season long, lifted out to right center field, drifting back, but playable as Carter is under it for outnumber three bitten though gets two more Panthers up six.

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We are going to start.

We're more than halfway home in five AFC Championship game, beaten on top six to nothing, and it was the Panthers that struck first in the bottom of the first inning following a single from Addison Davis, Alyssa Houston with a double.

And then Lydia Bedford's giving the inning going as Cameron both of the infield single in the second inning.

More from the Panthers as they would get another one in the home.

Half of the second inning.

Violet Mendez led things off and Lydia better brought her in with a RBI double.

Little bit of confusion.

We had a home plate umpire get in the way, kept Ben from getting an extra run in that inning.

GREENE Connie Tech able to get out of it.

But once again in the fourth, Ben going back to work and Lydia, Bethany has really been the go to better in this batting line up.

GREENE County Tech trying to work around Houston.

The bank coming up big behind her, the Panthers with a six nothing lead as we get to the top of the fifth inning.

Yeah methods four RBI is already today and we're just now in the fifth A six nothing lead feels like more than enough for Elissa Houston.

So the Golden Eagles have work to do down to the final outs in their season.

Thomas and Gonzales burrowed you up and that one swung on and missed and it feels like Bobby may be green County Tech.

There's still a long way to go, but maybe miss one of their best opportunities in the loss and in getting doubled off and the inning ran themselves out of an opportunity is a swing and a miss.

There's when you get the lead off runner on, you've got to find a way to manufacture them over and try to get it in, especially when you're scoring.

Opportunities are going to be limited in the first place against a quality pitcher.

You can't make the mistakes on the base pass they did on that last minute 51 pitches through four complete innings.

Is that one flair down the right field line and is going to get out of play If you're the golden Eagles, how do you finally try and break through against Houston?

Well, I mean, I don't think you can change your approach.

It's obviously worked it to this point in the season for the Lady Eagles.

And then you're 24 and five.

Obviously a really good team.

What you've done all season long has worked, swung on and missing another strikeout for Houston as she continues to rack up the case.

That's now number nine.

Yeah and it's not that you know you're you're making it up taking a lot of bad swings.

You're just you're facing an elite pitcher.

But that doesn't mean that she's unbeatable or unhittable.

She's got a pair of hits of already today.

You've got to find a way to make contact.

As Thompson swings underneath that one, too, Mrs. Houston headed to play for the Stanford Cardinal in the fall, headed to the West Coast bunch shown and bunted through for number one.

Sophia Gonzalez struck out to end the inning in the top of the second.

And as much as we'd like to see one, there's no such thing as the six run homer.

She was upset to chip away, kind of pull up that pickax and start to chip away, chip away and that whole bit, and we'll eventually crack and allow you to have a big inning unless you're talking about a globe trial shot her style of softball, which I've yet to see that would actually be pretty interesting old school MTV was the rock and jock.

Yes they had like the ten point shot that caught the world and we are one one swung on and Ms.. Rice ball up out the zone.

Houston's future team will be back in action today, taking on Florida in their regional that game on ESPN.

Coming up a little bit later.

There's a lot of good softball Razorbacks coming up a little bit later.

UCLA's trying to stay alive The one to take it high.

You have to love the growth of the sport, though.

You know, the sport continues to grow in popularity.

I said on Twitter earlier this week, you know, some people have been complaining about the seeding about Alabama getting the number five national seed.

When we went to the NCAA tournament, I think it was just us, our parents and our coaches that knew what it was.

Now count runs for now at three and two.

We're really starting to see the growth of a lot of sports that maybe weren't on the forefront of everybody's attention five, maybe ten years ago.

Obviously, the growth of volleyball has really taken off across our state the last couple of years.

Strike three called as Gonzales can't get the bat off the shoulder and softball, doing nothing but getting better and better.

And now the facilities across the state are getting better and better, not just for the high school of the college level.

Obviously, the community fields are starting to pop up and that allows more and more kids a chance to go out and play year round and hone their craft.

And that's why we're starting to see more top level Division One athletes being produced in the state of Arkansas.

The first pitch caught a strike on the outside corner to Carly Burrow by Arkansas has always been a really, really good basketball state, in my opinion, both male and female, really good athletes in the natural state.

And the football is going to have what it is.

But the other sports, baseball, softball, a lot of really good talent within our border.

And now we're starting off thanks to the Arkansas PBS.

We're starting to see those other sports get the recognition, the volleyball championships on TV in the fall, obviously baseball softball here in the spring to further that conversation, especially considering how late Arkansas switched to Fastpitch softball.

It wasn't until the late nineties as Burrow takes another called strike.

So to have that kind of meteoric rise in the sport after turning over to Fastpitch so late, it really speaks to the talent level within the state of Arkansas.

Just the 24th year that fast sports has been sanctioned.

Sport one too, popped into the air.

It's going to say on the infield playable who wants it?

Thomson is under it as Houston retires the side in order still six nothing button.

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Bottom five in the five day state championship game beaten on top six to nothing over green county tech 567.

Do up for the Panthers Cole Kluger Mitchell Crosby Cole Clark are two for two A pair of singles shows bunt and pulls back on a ball out of the zone keeping the leadoff batter off the pass has been the problem for Green County Tech today.

And obviously when you're facing some of the town of Cole Clark, who's been on base both times, she's been to the plate.

So easy start bunt pulled down the first base line but found this is the second straight five state championship game that Carly Burrow has started.

She went the distance last year for Green County Tech, threw six innings, gave up ten hits in that game.

That was split over two days.

Part of her 19 in four season and 1.3 63a year ago in Route 55, a pitcher of the year honors at Ball bunted right back to burrow not over in time Cole Gallagher three for three but it's worth mentioning that Burrow very nearly not able to play softball anymore as a sophomore.

She's spiral fractured ankle playing basketball had to miss the entire season back in 2021.

Wasn't able to play travel ball that year either.

And so has had to really work back through some adversity.

Yeah, just to be able to battle back.

And of course, the year before that was the COVID year, right.

You know, everybody missed their entire season.

So for her to be able to to come back and have the two type of seasons that she's been able to have to shows the guts and the work that she's put in to this green county tech program.

First pitch swinging, ripped down the third base line.

And prior to that injury, Burrow said she'd actually lost some of her love of the sport.

It sometimes it starts to feel like a job.

It starts to feel like work.

But that injury, not able to play as a sophomore, really restored her love and her work ethic for the sport.

And you can see how much she's grown since then.

That's a really good way to put it, because a lot of people don't think about it When you get hurt and you take away the joy of actually playing in the game and all it is is just practice.

That's when it does become a job.

That's when you see a lot of athletes at the high school, college or even the pro level.

That's when they kind of lose that desire.

Cole Clark, you're going to be called out for leaving first early as she was trying to steal second.

And so but now, with one away in the inning, special thanks to Kyle Sutherland, our friend, for giving us that information.

We have to credit where credit's due to our sources.

Bobby and I don't know everything, surprisingly enough.

No doubt Kyle does great work for Scorebook Live.

She has fouled away again.

A battle inside the box here for A.C. Mitchell.

This is Cole Clark.

They're being called out for leaving early.

So the call made a right away.

The first base umpire, Eric Wallace, right over it.

Hard to tell exactly how early she was without the view of the pitcher.

But remember, in softball you cannot leave the base until the pitch is delivered out of the hand from the hit runners always trying to force that little bit at one right back up the middle.

MITCHELL Right on that one.

And ropes it right back to where it came from, big, yellow or coming straight at you.

And the camera is able to barrel that up for the one out single.

And Mallory tells me Crosby stepping in now oh for two on the day we will get a pinch runner for Ben that is going to be number three getting everybody in in the championship today had a couple of courtesy runners and everyone getting their moment.

That is Bailey Pierce who is playing left field.

So pinch running for the stopping out for the deep first pitch swinging is going to be nudged up the middle just out of the reach of the second baseman and got past Stokes And now Ben with two one here in the bottom of the fifth that's how big that base running miscue by Cole Clogher is now instead of that probably would have scored a run.

Now it's just first and second limits the damage just a little bit, but this ending could have been a lot more advantageous for the Lady Panthers had it not been for them in this field.

Just out of the reach of Stokes.

Remember the turf at Ferris Field is an turf infield as well as the turf outfield plays a little bit different than dirt, a little bit faster.

So sometimes you'll see infielders think they're in position, but they're not there quite yet.

It's just about an inch or two out of their reach.

A first pitch strike delivered to Violet Mendez.

Bobby I think back to a conversation that I had with Liberty Head coach and two time gold medalist Scott Richardson about what her team played here at Ferris Field.

And that was a big issue for them as well.

That when lifted out into centerfield, Ava Carter, the Arkansas commit underneath it there to record number two, but used to be the biggest difference was going to be base running.

How how early do you have to get into your slide But the surface is certainly going to play differently.

Obviously The conditions and the way they were going to play more into it, the humidity and any potential moisture.

And so it's a lot different than you would expect for a lot of different reasons other than just running the base pass or just ground balls.

They have resurfaced here at Ferris Field recently.

You can see around the pitching circle that is actually a fine silica as opposed to the turf, the rubber pellets that you used to see on football fields, in indoor facilities and whatnot like that is a good look from our camera crew telling you that, I think.

And so finding those rubber pellets in my shoes almost a decade later, you stepped foot on a football field.

You're going to have about those in the in your socks for a week it's like glitter, but not fun.

Yes.

I never have to ask you where you've been And she's got that on 202 Dakota Hobson In the ninth spot.

Hobson With a pair of sacrifices today so technically 040.

Get another look at the playing surface here at Ferris Field.

All turf, that's a strike on the inside corner, the most, the most entertaining thing.

When the turf field started to become a thing where with the umpires that they'd walk around the pitch in the catcher, go up to talk to the pitcher of course, they walk around to dust off the plate and they realize it's not a full plate.

Is this more turf weight?

It's really no about the plate.

Here it is.

When it first came out, the plate would just the white turf, as you say.

I've walked out on that field.

I know that's a plate.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

There it is.

There's a little bit of black pellets.

You got a little bit of black pellet there around home plate because they never go away.

So two on two out here in the bottom of the fifth for and trying to add to their six nothing lead sound backing away affairs field actually in the conversation to potentially host an NCAA regional this year of course the rule from the you cannot have all turf fields as a hosting site although as the popularity of turf fields continues to grow, you would expect that rule to change maybe in the near future.

Not one taken high as account runs full.

One of the beauty of the turf field, Of course you don't have to work it.

Yeah, yeah.

You know, if it rains, you don't have to worry about those tapes flying off the field for five, 6 hours.

We're coming back the next day.

Are there any disadvantages, you think, of having an awful synthetic surface?

I'm a traditionalist, not one taken loafer ball For as Hobson draws the walk.

I mean, I'm a traditionalist.

I prefer the dirt, but I understand the advantages of having a turf field as it pertains to being able to play, not having the rain delay, because we had a rain delay yesterday, considering how hard it rained.

And I know that Bears head coach Jenny Parsons, she said one of the advantages of coming over from Nichols is she knew on a turf field she never to work at it.

Yeah, So?

So I get it.

I just I miss the dirt.

You know, you and I are older.

Yes, they were old, but I like growing up in the dirt.

So what you're telling me is you've already bought stock and laundry detergent.

You're losing money.

Yes, exactly.

Says Tide shares.

I'm just throwing money down the drain.

First pitch.

Hi.

To leadoff batter Addison Davis.

Fourth time through the lineup for Benton Davis is one for three singled and scored in the first struck out in the second and grounded out the first baseman Speer back in the fourth inning.

The bases full of Panthers Thompson at first Crosby second Pierce at third and nowhere for Davis to go and she's ahead in the count two.

Oh, and you've got to come right at Davis here if you're green County Tech, because you know who's waiting on deck.

You've intentionally walked to the last two times.

But if the bases are loaded, you're not going to have that opportunity.

And Burrow needs to get back into the zone.

You're not going to go Barry Bonds.

You might honestly, I wouldn't be surprised see it, but with a score like it is.

But if you let you let Davis reach here, so that score is going to be at least seven.

So the potential game ending run would be on base Green County Tech trying to stay in this game after holding Benton off the base or off the scoreboard, rather, for the third, Benton struck for two more in the bottom of the fourth.

They scored in the first, second and fourth innings.

Green County Tech is managed to hit and only two base and that one sent out to left center field.

That's a good swing.

But cringing over is Carter.

She makes the grab and so Benton loads the bases but cannot push a run across.

It stays a six run game as we go to the top of the sixth.

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Welcome back to Farris Field alongside Bobby Swafford.

I'm Dorian Graf.

Happy to have you with us here on this final day of high school sports in the state, Arkansas.

Our sixth and final softball state championship game is Alysa Houston starts off Avery Stokes with a strike on the outside corner.

Stokes sage Ava Carter drew up for the Golden Eagles in the bottom of the sixth inning.

And quickly Houston ahead in the count own two.

Houston just hasn't slowed down hasn't slowed her pace at all.

This gets her signal from her battery maintenance goes to work and 1 to 3 Stokes retired on three straight pitches.

The strikeout total continues to rise for the Stanford commit Bobby something we haven't really talked about as it pertains to illicit Houston is that she was working in tandem last year.

Houston was the beneficiary of Scott also being on the roster.

Those two really kind of handled pitching duties and Lane Scott started and there's a line shot out to center field Carter or rather Cole Kluger is there in four pitches and two outs and that will bring to the plate the Arkansas commit Ava Carter the numbers for Carter this year just through the roof.

But that's kind of been the issue for GREENE County Tech today.

She hasn't able to get on the base path to take advantage of her skill set, which is her speed 22 walks this year.

She's got 34 RB eyes, but 51 runs.

And again, first pitch swinging.

They're frustrated at that is that is popped up on the infield.

So Houston needs just five pitches to retire.

GREENE County Tech in order in the top of the sixth inning it's still six.

Nothing better.

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You should 234 do out for the Benton Panthers in the bottom of the sixth inning and Elyssa Houston, after being intentionally walked twice will get a chance to hit for herself.

She had one pitch today they don't for the exact same part of the field but Houston retired on a groundout to third base.

That's one of those lovely spring sports statistical to the lady.

She has had four plate appearances and seen two pitches.

Houston is an aggressive hitter and it quickly retired away in the inning as Benton inching closer to a third consecutive state championship.

But that brings up to the plate Lydia Bethel, who has had arguably the best day in this Panthers lineup for RBI, is already day for Bethel.

She's really benefited from Green County Tech potentially walking Elissa Houston those two times and betters has three hits on the day A pair of doubles scored a run back in the first inning, batting with the bases empty here in the 6 seconds one one count to the Panthers number three hitter who was a 474 hitter coming into this game from a first pitch.

So Bay and cruising right along here in the bottom half of the sixth inning the top half of the six we told you was just five pitches from first pitched to the final out, recorded just a minute and 40 seconds in the top of the sixth inning.

That one hammered better together right in there is Burnside shading her to the left field line.

And you think Burnside remember the previous three at bats?

Yeah.

It's clear that methods was sitting on that and able to turn on it like she's done most of this day.

But great defensive alignment by Burnside just takes a few steps to her right for the second outs of the inning, Burnside may be getting a little pre-game pep talk advice from older sister Braxton, who had just a little bit of success of her own.

Braxton Burnside, of course, played high school ball for Paragould before going to play at Missouri and then eventually transferring back to be the starting shortstop, the Arkansas Razorbacks, part of that core group that really helped to elevate Courtney Haifa's program into the national stratosphere, really turned Arkansas into a top 15 national seed.

A big reason why some of the Arkansas State Championships can be in northwest Arkansas.

That's right.

Used to be local.

Park used to be anymore see Arkansas.

But now with the regionals the same weekend as the state finals, you can have both.

And obviously they're going to choose to host the regional ball, bounces off the turf, change up to Emily Reed two and one.

Do these senior first baseman Reed over three on the afternoon pop up ground out fly out skied out to center field This ball is deep.

It's going back Carter can't get it It gets stuck on top of the netting and Reed going all the way around and the ball off the fence got caught on the padding in dead center field.

I've never seen that before.

It's kind of kind of a unique play, you know Carter tracks and just couldn't elevate enough as that one ticks off the top of our glove then stays on top of the padding, sometimes you'll see at the big league level it gets wedged underneath the fence.

That's that's unique.

Not sure I've ever seen it actually stay on top of offense for, but most time you don't have padding.

It sticks out farther than the actual fence surface.

Well, the fans in center field were at least helpful trying to tell her where it was.

It's a two out triple off of the bat.

And Emily Reed brings you back.

Cam Cole Clogher, who is three for three, kind of reminds me of when basketball.

You just have those ones that sit on the back of the rim.

Cole Clogher puts it in play right in front of the play.

That's going to be an infield single.

No chance to get coach factor in lead in on the down the first.

So Benton once again utilizing that aggressive baserunning to their advantage Nice job by Cole Clogher just to put it in place she knows her speed is going give him a chance to beat out the throw.

But if you're green Kenny Tech, you have to realize who's at bat there and understand, okay, the ball's right in front of play.

I don't need to make that throw because more times than not, I'm not going to throw a rock.

That's a great look at.

As soon as the ball leaves her hand, the run comes home, the score.

And I had another one for the beaten Lady Panthers, seven runs in now for beaten in the bottom of the sixth inning first pitch swinging grounder over to short throw over to first in time to retire AC Mitchell but the Panthers plate one more as we go to the top of the seventh inning final three outs for Green County they'll try to extend this game.

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First Pitch Strike delivered to Zoe Reynolds Year in the top in the seventh inning.

Benton leading seven nothing, just three outs away from capturing their third consecutive five eight state championship standing in their way.

Reynolds Spear Burnside Mrs. Logan outside Emma Thompson is should anybody for Green County Tech reach.

It's been tough sledding for the golden Eagles against the Stanford commit Houston has been electric inside the circle that one flared out to look at It's going to get down for a leadoff single the third hit of the game for Green county tech and the Golden Eagles not going quietly here in the top of the seventh story, Reynolds had herself a nice day pair of singles bolster that left side her number 25 running single through the five six hole in the last four lost the bad as you see the hitting summary three for 20 for the golden Eagles 1326 for the Benton Panthers seven runs coming off of those 13 hits as Marty Spears stepping in for two a pop to first and a strike out in the fourth not one running in on the hands count even at one and one no Bobby if you're green county tech here what's the mentality You just got to chip away you got to lead off later on.

And so now use your station to station.

You can't make any extra outs on the base fastest.

Just try to make her Alexa Houston throw you strikes.

And it was really moved 60 feet at a time because you need almost two grand slams and so you just kind of pick away pick away and and hope maybe Benton, you know, makes a mistake or two to to help you out elevated and slapped found down the left field line we've seen Green County target points make some really solid contact and just the majority of that contact has either been fouled down either one of the lines.

It's so hard to time up when you don't see this kind of velocity that Houston's throwing.

And so you try to jump out early for that time a little bit behind another strikeout for Alissa Houston.

There's one away here in the inning.

I mean, you can go against a pitching machine all all you want.

It's not the same thing.

You step onto the field to get someone actually thrown at you.

It's really hard to time that up.

And so you tell yourself, okay, I've got start my swing just a tick earlier because that one's fouled back and all of a sudden that's how you get those that are being pulled foul just like really saw 12th strike out of the game for Alyssa Houston she is allowed three hits issued no walks no hit batters.

And so the three hits, the only baserunners of the game for Green County Tech.

None have advanced past first base right.

You had a single a two out single by three saves in the third a single to lead things off in the fourth that Reynolds was doubled off on the pop up by Burnside and now another single but on to the count now to Burnside's standing in the box on the right side over the second base lead runners out at second over the first not in time Burnside able to beat it out but there are now two away here in the top of the seventh.

Let's see a double play turn very often, but a hard hit ball to the right side, really well executed by that bench defense.

The relay throw just not in time as Burnside was able to beat out the throw nice turn by batters but those Burnside's they run well a lot of softball talent in that family Two out one on first pitch swinging Thomas in and that will do it three times the Ben Panthers had been the five a state champions the Panthers make a statement today against Green County Texas just the 11th school in state history to complete a three peat in fast food softball and Vinton always just dominates in the state tournament and dominant again here today.

And unless Houston a big reason for that 12 strikeouts in this contest and the beaten Lady Panthers here again your state champs unbeaten going to get some very familiar hardware.

We're going to step away from just a minute.

But Bobby Swofford and I will be back with the trophy presentation and a recap of the action when we return right here on Arkansas PBS Sports.

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The Benton Panthers are your five state champions for the third year in a row after defeating Green County Tech seven nothing in today's state championship game and Bobby.

This one felt like it could be close but Benton really putting their mark early on this game.

Joe Softball's got to go the full distance and you see crazy things happen in that first inning.

Really seem to set the tempo.

Let's see, Houston comes out and just goes two three quickly, I believe is about ten pitches the set down Green county tech and then the bitten off it's came up and it's really hammered the pitching of GREENE County Tech put pressure on them early a couple mental mistakes not necessary errors as far as not going to the correct base to get a get an easy out allowed Benton to push across a couple runs and that first inning really set the tempo for this and led away to Benton holding that trophy for third straight year.

It doesn't matter how many times you've done it, it always feels special.

Is Benton now the state champion for the third straight year, Benton improves to 29 and four on the season.

Green County Tech, a second straight runner up to the Benton Panthers.

This turning into a little bit of a rivalry, which we certainly hope will continue for years to come as you take a look at the Golden Eagles.

But Benton, there's the trophy.

Here comes the banner as well.

And smile, big ladies.

That's a special moment.

It really is.

I mean, this team, I mean, it's a dynasty.

You can go ahead and call it that again.

Just the 11th time in the 24 year history of Fastpitch so far in Arkansas, the team has won three in a row.

Really impressive to see them complete it and a really impressive program that Cox and Company have built there and settling down three state championships in a row, only four losses dating back to the 2020 season just before COVID hit.

So Benton establishing themselves as the premier five eight program in the state, one of the premier programs overall in the state.

And this is how this game unfolded.

Bobby mentioned that it was a huge thing, came up and retired the first three in order in the top of the first inning, but it was the bottom of the first where things really got started.

For Benton.

They had three hits in a row, ended up plating three runs.

Davis scored.

Alyssa Houston had a double, ended up scoring, and then the single by Cameron Cole.

Kluger The throw came to home.

The run ended up scoring and then this the tag and score on a pop up that was 15 feet away from the plate really set the tone for Benton.

And they went back to work in the bottom of the second inning.

Violet Mendez scored on the double by Lydia Bedford's GREENE County Tech, making a great play to cut down a run at the plate for Benton.

Still doing damage at the dish in the fourth inning.

It was better to get another RBI double that.

There's the beneficiary of GREENE County Tech trying to work around Alyssa Houston.

And then Cam Cole clatter.

What a day for four for four singles and Benton getting production from up and down the line, up 13 hits seven runs in route to their third consecutive state championship.

Yeah, the pressure was put on early and often, and Benton just continued to lean on them.

Lean on them.

The lead off batter was on base so many times for this Lady Panthers squad, a GREENE County tech.

This really never could stunt the momentum.

And any time they seemed to get something going, they ran themselves out of a potential inning.

Granted, at the end of the day, that one run wouldn't have mattered.

But you just never know what happens if you put a little pressure on a team who's not used to handling that Hugs all around as Benton celebrates their third consecutive state championship.

Well, that is going to do it for our softball state championships.

That was the sixth and final game.

But there are still plenty of action still ahead here in Conway in here on Arkansas, PBS Sports.

Coming up next, the three eight baseball state championship, River Crest and Harding Academy.

Stay tuned for that with Kyle Dekel, mom and Kevin Bohan.

And so for our entire crew here at Arkansas, PBS Sports and, Bobby Swofford, I'm Doreen Crossing so long and thank you for joining us once again here on the weekend of champions.

Don't go anywhere.

There is still tons of fan tastic high school action still ahead here in Conway.

We'll see you later