Rival.

This weekend of champions continues with a matchup between a couple South Arkansas Conference rivals Washington and Woodlawn for the two eight baseball state championship.

Thanks for joining us from Conway on this spectacular Saturday afternoon.

Kyle Oberman, the guru Kevin Bohanon, let's talk about Woodlawn because where else do you start?

We are talking about simply the most dominant baseball program in the 21st century in the state.

They win today, Kevin.

They'd be tied with Pine Bluff for the most baseball titles ever.

Yeah, this will be number ten from an all since 2008.

They did not make a state title game till 2007.

Tommy Richardson, 31st year.

I talked to him earlier this week.

If they win today, he's got to get one for his pinkie ring.

I'll tell you what, he's excited about this.

He loves this loves getting better with these kids.

He was calm out there.

There's no doubt about that.

Hey neither team is going to put up flashy offensive numbers.

But for Washington, it starts with Jake Knowles.

Yeah.

Jaden Alston 404 on the season, 22 RBI's.

He's the guy in the middle of the lineup.

They can get this Warriors offense off to a great start today against one of the best pitchers in class today Payton Wells.

Talk about him.

That's exactly right Payton Wells.

He's also going to be the leadoff hitter for Woodlawn today.

He's hitting 423 on the season.

But his pitching stats he's eight and one on the season 48 innings pitched, 72 strikeouts, 23 walks.

He had a no hitter going into the fifth inning in that quarterfinal win over the Riverside Rebels, hitting 423 as well on the year.

Should be a good one here between a couple teams that know each other quite well.

The two games between them, this year fairly close.

They've played, twice, seven three in March 29th and nine six on April 23rd.

As you see Warriors getting set here.

Woodlawn 34 and one.

Their only loss of the season came to Gosnell earlier this year, who, by the way this morning won the three eight championship.

That's exactly right.

And Kyle this is the third season since 2016 that Woodlawn has only lost one game, during the regular season in the state tournament.

So, a lot of history on the line today for the Woodlawn Bears.

Yeah, we will harp certainly on how dominant they have been.

Those nine state titles, three straight for Woodlawn.

Let's take a look now at the batting order for the visiting Washita Warriors, 29 and 11 on the year, led by head coach Hayden Thornton and Colten Braswell about to dig in to lead off Tyler White, Jaden Alston, Trey Cox, Judd Smith, Braylen Ligon, Caden Lee, Larsen Fowler and Tyler Abernathy.

The batting order in the starting nine there for Washita.

See if they can pull off what I think would have to be considered an upset as this game gets underway.

Yeah.

Payton Wells trademark he's going to pound the zone.

He can be considered a crafty lefty.

Neither of these pitchers are going to overpower the velocity today.

But as Wells he's got a 3 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio.

Getting ahead early is key for him.

Washita as we mentioned 29 and 11.

A couple state titles for this program, their first appearance since they won it all back in 2015.

Their first title came in 2000, class one A.

They were just a couple years removed from the one AA level.

As you mentioned, Kyle, two years ago they were in class one, a Hayden Thornton his first year.

They move up to two in that very tough 828 conference that has Woodlawn, Horatio Parkers Chapel, very tough conference in the southern part of the state, a Washington team with nine seniors, five in the starting lineup.

Swing and a miss.

They're down on strikes.

Good start for Payton Wells.

Very good.

One two pitch from Payton Wells.

Climbs the ladder a little bit.

He can work all four quadrants.

as a pitcher you talk about he can go up down in and out.

Be interesting to see early on we talked about neither of these teams are going to hit the ball out of the ballpark today.

If he can keep it in on the hands of these right handed hitters for Washington Tall, he's going to have a successful day after that one foul by Tyler White.

Good guy can put the ball in play.

Sophomore second baseman.

A Tommy Richardson the Woodlawn coach talked about.

Kind of like looking in the mirror.

When you look at Washington, a couple scrappy teams, senior laden teams, right.

Payton well, it's looking as you see, a lot of wristbands today.

You don't see a lot of signs anymore.

They call everything from the dugout.

A white now in an oh two hole.

Wells is quickly roped ahead of two straight batters this game.

Keep the pitch count down.

If they do have to go to a second pitcher, you think it could be Braden Jones or Tate Hall?

Hall, a really good junior that leads the team with 49 RBI's, but Braden Jones leads the team in home runs.

Both really good on the mound.

And that pitch high to make it one and two, well, you could feel the difference in these two teams.

They knew I were out there down on the field before this game.

Woodlawn just been here in the championship nine straight years, as calm as could be.

And Washita certainly feeling the pressure and the excitement.

Breaking ball a bit upstairs.

Yeah, that's what Coach Richardson said from Woodlawn.

He said I like our preparation.

I like how relaxed we are.

They just go out there and take care of business.

Coach Thornton, his message to his team keep everything the same and that's what they've tried to do all day long.

Easier said than done.

Well, that'll load the count.

Yeah, it had a lot of distractions this week.

That's one thing you don't want as a head coach.

You had senior festivities that graduated Thursday night.

The head semester test.

But now that all that's done, he had to get his team ready, get them prepared, come out here and they're in their gold uniforms.

They wish they would.

They've played in all year.

Swing and a miss.

A couple strikeouts to begin this game for Wells.

West are having a lot of trouble with that fastball up in the zone.

And like you said, it's not going to be a lot of velocity, but he's going to work 80 to 82 and above the Haynes.

That's going to be tough to handle.

Do you see the defense there for Woodlawn Weatherford Johnson, Lunsford left to right in the outfield.

Cowart, Jones, Hall and Bates around the infield.

Jaden Wilmoth is back and he is catching for Woodlawn.

And that's a big deal for Woodlawn.

Yeah, Jaden Wilmoth one of the best defensive catchers.

I don't care what classification you talk about.

He can handle it really well behind the plate.

Jaden Alston up the middle.

The play over to first.

Not in time.

Close play.

That's a grounder that took a while to get to the second baseman.

Hall made it close.

Yeah we take a look at the replay right here.

Stay and it gets a barrel to the bat.

That's good.

It didn't get too extended right there with his hands, Alston was able to beat that out.

The first base.

Now we'll see how Wells handles it with traffic on the base pass.

So now Trey Cox, a 286 hitter, 22 RBI guy who is not afraid to swing, he'll coach, Thornton said.

Well, Walker hit it off the wall.

That's right.

Yeah, he's an all or nothing guy.

Interesting right there, Kyle.

The first time the first three batters, Will starts him out with a fastball.

Cleanup hitter Trey Cox starts him out with a little breaking ball.

Wash it all.

The three seed from the south with breaking ball in there for a strike there.

Road a six.

Nothing win over Greenland for one over the number one seed McCrary in eight four over Richter in three.

Big wins by watch.

How to get to this championship game.

Good crowd on hand.

A lot of people from Woodlawn making the trip up here, they can pretty much mark it down on their calendars every single season.

It feels like for this program.

That's right.

They the second or third week of May mean the third weekend of May.

They can make that track to Central Arkansas and in the past in northwest Arkansas.

Oh, nice stop there by the catcher.

Wilmoth.

Yeah.

You see how good of a defensive catcher he is.

And when they were doing their bullpen this week, Coach Richardson got with his pitching staff and say, who do you want back there?

Wilmoth can really handle the ball in the zone.

He can turn some of those borderline pitches in the strikes.

So you tech signee is a catcher.

This one right back to the pitcher Wells who throws over to first.

And that'll do it for the top half.

So Woodlawn coming back as we get underway here in the two day championship.

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Two.

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Is going up in.

Back at Bear Stadium.

Washita and Woodlawn.

Coming to bat here in the bottom of the first.

Take a look at the lineup and the batting order here for the bears.

And it will be Payton Wells actually leading things off.

And then Garrett Weatherford.

Jones, Hall, Wilmoth, Lunsford, Arnold Johnson and Cowart, the lineup there for the bears.

So the starting pitcher, Payton Wells to lead things off for Woodlawn.

Yeah.

Wells, right handed hitter for 23.

Let's take a look at watch tall starter Trey Cox.

Scouting report on him.

His fastball will be 78 to 80.

He can run it up 8182.

Coach Thornton said his curveball is good when it is on.

He will know early on if that breaking ball is good and said he can go to a changeup if he needs to, turn it over against lefties and not overpowering by any stretch.

So pitcher against pitcher to begin things here for Woodlawn, tap at the bottom of the first inning.

Worth harping on just how dominant this Woodlawn program has been.

Is that one is softly hit diving stop there by the pitcher, soft toss to first.

A nice job there by Cox diving on that turf.

Yeah, he's so hurt.

In the top of the first inning he saw how slow the infield was playing right there.

He wanted to take it into his own hands.

Good pitch on the inside part right there.

That's a broken bat if we're playing with wood today.

Woodlawn, by the way, does play on turf.

A handful of schools and two a half turf scared Weatherford.

The left fielder comes to bat.

Yeah.

Last two years.

Palestine.

Wheatley, of course, hosted the two day state tournament this year, along with for city Palestine.

Wheatley has turf and of course Greenland does in northwest Arkansas.

Junior left fielder swinging this right back to the pitcher and the throw in time.

Nice job by Cox.

Played that well again.

Well you can see the spin off that that's one thing that these infielders are going to have to get used to today.

The spin on turf is a lot different.

That thing it looked like a pitch and it's checking up right there coming into a green.

So great job by Cox to field it throw it get the out.

Take a look right here.

Your pitching wedge.

That might be way out in the outfield.

So now Braden Jones the shortstop.

And Braden Jones this is their power guy.

He's got six home runs in the year 35 RBIs leading the team with a 488 batting average.

UAM signee.

See the defense here for Washita.

We've seen those nice defensive plays there by Cox.

Lee is catching him.

Ligon Braswell white and Smith around the infield.

This one popped up and it's going to stay in the infield.

And three up three down goes Woodlawn.

To begin this game we head to the second.

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How about the job by Washington coach Hayden Thorton, just his second year getting this Warriors program to the state championships.

Bismarck native spent a few years at Conway Christian Fountain Lake in Center Point for taking over Washita.

You know, one of the Conway Christian teams.

He was an assistant on in 2018.

They started out the season 25 and one loss to Spring Hill in the quarterfinals that year.

Doug Smith, the first baseman to leave things off here for the Warriors, wash it taught, by the way highway 67, right near Caddo Valley.

Donaldson, Arkansas.

Yeah.

Yep.

Not a bad place to be in the summertime.

Good breaking ball there from Wells and good breaking ball.

Getting ahead in the count once again Payton Wells he gets these two a pitchers.

It doesn't matter.

The classification they're throwing strikes.

That's exactly what you got to have.

No freebies.

They're pounding the zone early on.

You mentioned those uniforms Kevin.

Yeah undefeated in the state tournament in those gold uniforms for Washita.

Yeah.

The Washita oh is a lot like the Oregon.

Oh, they just got the arrow through it with the Warriors.

And off the knob there.

Unfortunate for the hitter.

Right in on his hands and off the knob for fouls.

Take a look right here on the replay.

Right there on the knob.

Talk about a game of inches, Kyle.

It's a base runner right there.

And no foul ball.

And still in A12 count Joe Smith, a sophomore first baseman 329 average, 21 RBI.

Good spot by Wells Smith encouraging his pitcher right there.

That's exactly where they wanted it.

Trying to get him to chase even up count.

Right now he's going to go right after he.

Came to right field and caught Lunsford.

Didn't have to move much thought for a second and might go above him, but he played that well.

Yeah, and one thing that we've seen, the ball hasn't been flying very well.

That was one of the more well hit balls that we've seen this weekend.

Kyle.

really good contact by Smith.

Right?

Right.

Right above his belt.

Let her high.

Drove it just right at him.

Has been a theme to this Weekend of Champions, hasn't it?

We have not seen a ton of offense.

That's right.

You know we haven't seen it.

We had two.

We had no hitter yesterday.

a lot of low scoring ballgames.

This is Braylen Ligon, the third baseman.

Senior batting one 8412 RBI.

Coach Thornton knows.

He said.

Look, he even though the bottom half of the lineup guys, they don't have very good batting averages.

They're solid defensively and they're going to do what they can to get on base.

Home plate umpire David Coleman was the crew chief for the two.

A state championship veteran umpires called.

I think this is his 10th state final.

You got a couple teams like this that are looking for one hit.

Yeah.

You talked to the coaches across any classification coming into this week?

They say usually the game is decided by 1 or 2 pitches and then get that first hit.

That's a it's a key thing to get their offense going.

To to now to Ligon.

The Washington team with just five home runs.

They play in a ballpark that got to 70 down the left field line.

Not a lot of power to put it lightly, but just really good defense.

Great gloves all over the place.

Scrap small ball team.

They come up in big spots.

Yeah.

Coach Thornton throughout the lineup.

He said his guys can handle the bat if they need to lay it down, play some small ball.

They can do it.

That one is in there called strike three for out.

Number two strikeout number three for Wells.

Good curveball right there.

Caught the top of the zone Good pitch by Payton Wells right there.

Take a look at the replay right there.

And just bottom falls out of it right at the end right above the belt.

Well that's a nice job by Wilmoth framing that to Zach.

Yeah.

Just like we tell catchers.

Look if you if you can keep it within your frame.

And he kept it head high right there which is right at the top of the strike zone.

Now the catcher Caden Lee, swinging on the first pitch.

211 hitter, 12 RBI for the senior catcher.

Yeah.

Payton Lyles doing a great job.

He's first pitch strike two seven.

All seven hitters so far.

That's that's key to working ahead.

Let his defense play for him.

Just got a piece of that.

One and two with two down here in the top of the second inning.

Yeah.

The pitch from Wells but outside.

Good.

One two.

Pitch.

Change that level right here.

I wouldn't be surprised.

They come back with something down in the and maybe get that curveball, that breaking ball down in the dirt.

He can rely on Wilmot to back it up back there.

Right down the middle.

That'll do it.

Strikeout number four for Payton Wells.

We head to the bottom of the second inning.

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One legend of a coach there is Tommy Richardson joined his alma mater back in 1994, so his 31st season with Woodlawn, he won his 700th game there in the first game a year ago.

Got him.

Now it's 763 career wins.

Yeah, and I remember talking to him about that 700 and win.

I sent him a text message.

He said he really didn't know what happened till they brought the ball up to him after the game, telling him congratulations.

And that's just like Tommy.

He's just worried about getting the next one.

Yeah, well, this is Tate Hall.

Lead things off here for Woodlawn.

So the bears nine state titles overall.

They've won three straight.

And they are a machine.

They've won six of the last seven 2016, 1718, 21, 22, 23.

Remember it feels like ages ago, but there was no 2020.

That's right.

And they actually were in the state title game in 2019.

Lost Junction City to Junction City.

Junction city was really good that year.

Keelan Hodge on the mound I remember that game from Bomb Stadium like it was yesterday.

Hole on the ground to third.

Throw across the diamond in time and four up four down so far for Cox.

Cox pounding the strike zone working his fastball.

Like we said not a lot of velocity but he's locating it very well.

Look at this pitch right here.

Our third hall rolls over on it.

That's exactly what you want.

Let your defense work for you.

Got a really good defensive team behind you.

That's exactly what Cox is doing right now.

This is eight straight championship game appearances for Woodlawn 13 since 2007, as Jayden Wilmoth, the catcher, will step in.

We mentioned it briefly, but senior catcher, it's a big deal to have him back for Woodlawn.

He broke his helmet bone in his hand the second week of the season.

He played through it until spring break, and then he underwent an MRI and they realized he need surgery.

So he just came back in the semifinals against Cedar Ridge.

Started that game getting better by the day.

And this is just his second game back since that surgery.

But to put in perspective how big a deal it is, he was a cleanup hitter last year, so that's a big hole to fill with him out having him back.

Big deal for the bears.

He will take first.

That's exactly right.

Wilmer comes into this game only 26 at bats.

He hit over 400 last year.

He's getting into his rhythm right now.

He's had enough reps, enough at bats to work out trips and thinks he'll do some big things today.

Just caught the jersey out there.

Yeah, just grazes him.

So the first base runner for the bears.

Don't.

Lunsford now the right fielder.

Yeah.

Lunsford 30 RBI's on the season, hitting 316.

You want your six on guy to be a really good RBI hitter.

And that's exactly what Lunsford has done in the lineup this season at SMU.

Tech signee.

That's a you tech, one of the new junior colleges in the state of Arkansas, along with South, South Park.

And they've won the regional last weekend in Enid, Oklahoma.

You got University of Arkansas Rich mountain that Lance Bogner started and current UCA assistant coach junior College is doing big things in Arkansas and a lot of good baseball around the state.

A good stop there by the catcher, Lee.

I like Lee behind the plate.

Kyle.

He does a great job keeping everything in front of him.

A lot of people, they say be a wall, be a wall.

I tell the catchers, be a pillow.

You want to knock it down in front of you, be a pillow, be soft back there as much as you can.

I like that.

Love for Woodlawn.

The road to get here.

11 two over mountain Burg one nothing narrow.

One over Riverside.

Eight five over Cedar Ridge.

And that quarterfinal win one.

Nothing over Riverside.

That was seen by a lot of people in the state to be the best matchup in the state tournament.

Thrown on to second.

And it's going to be the in time.

Boy, what a tag.

What a play by our second baseman Tyler White goes up and gets it.

Comes down on the tag on the upper part of the body.

Good.

The replay right here.

Base runner did not get a very good jump that the throw is really high.

Great job by Tyler White to get that tag down.

We got our second out of the inning right there a good look at it here.

Yeah.

Watch white in the air comes down.

Goodness.

Yeah a base runner right there slid in his his heel was up.

That's the that's the difference in that play right there.

If his heel is down he saved.

That's the difference in the call.

Great job by Tyler White to get the tag down.

Keep it on him.

All right buyers in this one by the way David Coleman Patrick Wilson at first and Lenny Clark at third.

Come on.

The two one pitch here to Lunsford.

Now with two down.

Up the middle.

That's in there for a base hit.

Good job by Lunsford right there to go down and get that ball.

That mat may have been called a strike, but this is the very bottom bottom part of the strike zone.

It's it was Kyle.

Good job by hitting by Lunsford.

So you like the aggression I do.

You hate that you sort of run yourself into it out there.

Yeah.

You know you're trying to get something going early right now.

That hit might have I don't think it would have been deep to score anybody.

But you know they're trying to get the base paths going early.

Great job by Lunsford to stay through that ball and not beat it into ground.

Here's Packer Arnold designated hitter.

Arnold another one of those guys 22 RBI's on the season hitting 287 as a designated hitter.

Coach Richardson talked about he's he's hitting for Tristan Bates, who's the first baseman?

Woodlawn.

They got sophomores in the lineup, a good senior laden group as well.

Arnold's had a knack for driving runs in very few left on base this year.

Did a great job filling in for the injured Jaden Wilmoth when he missed time with that hand surgery.

Right.

Yeah.

Arnold, just a freshman.

Breaking ball in there for a strike.

Good bender right there by Cox.

We knew, as we said, the outset of the broadcast, we knew we would know early on if his curveball was working.

It looks like it's got some really good shape to it right now.

Kyle.

Swing and a miss.

Down on strikes goes Arnold.

First strike out of the game for Cox and Woodlawn.

Will strand a runner scoreless through three at Bear Stadium.

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Top of the third, we go here between Washita and Woodlawn.

For the two day baseball championship at Bear Stadium in Conway.

I'll bomb Jeff Bohannan with you.

Carson Fowler, the center fielder to lead things off.

For a very clean baseball game so far, Kyle.

That's what you want.

Clean innings.

Not a lot of traffic on the basepaths.

Pitchers game so far.

Fowler batting at 135 nine RBI.

A senior.

Hitters getting adjusted to the strike zone early on in the game.

That's part of it.

Every time you go out there gets a hold of this one down the left field line and it's going to fall, it's going to bounce against the wall.

Fowler's heading into second.

He'll stand up and stop there.

And it's a leadoff double for Washington.

What a great piece of hitting by Larsen Fowler coming into this game.

Hitting 135 on the season.

Gets it out there about 2 or 3.

Hopper to the wall.

Gets down in the corner.

The Warriors have some offense working right now Kyle.

It's a good sign for Washington to get a little bit of production from the bottom of their lineup.

Got Ahold of that.

That would have been gone.

Oh that was it was by mile.

That had been 50ft behind the left field wall.

And Donaldson definitely.

So now a nine hole hitter, Tyler Abernathy, the right fielder.

See if we see some bunt.

There we go.

Yep.

Try to get it down to 13 hitter ten RBI on the season for the sophomore.

Yeah coach Thornton told us.

He said if we get down at the bottom of the lineup and we got runners on base, we're likely to run them over any way we can.

That way, you get a runner on third one out, you get a high probability of scoring that run.

Plus you want to see what the defense is going to be.

They're not big hit of the game.

They're they might have peeled that one he said David Tillman saying he pulled it back.

Looks like he attempted at the bunt.

They're not good.

Look at a replay right here.

He shows you don't have to pull it back.

But if you attempt at it it's a strike.

Yep.

Coleman said he pulled it back.

Looks like he may have attempted that.

It gets this one down.

Fowler's going to head over to third.

The throw to first one away but a runner at third.

Now with one out for Washington.

Nice job by Abernathy.

And Abernathy does his job.

Tough pitch to bunt right there down in the zone.

What you're looking for is a pitcher right there to get that ball to pop up.

You drop the barrel of the bat.

Did a great job.

Abernathy getting that ball down went right to the pitcher.

Runner at third one out now.

Now he gets top of the lineup to drive them in.

Colton Braswell the shortstop.

Second best batting average on the team.

Another one of these seniors five of them in the Washington lineup.

That has been the key to their season.

And certainly the state tournament run.

Yeah, these guys have been in the program all four years.

Two under Coach Thornton, two under Anthony.

Now, who's the current head coach at Gentry.

Wells doing a great job still working ahead of hitters right now.

Pounding the zone, being sure to see what he does second time through the lineup.

Is he going to start a breaking ball or stay with that fastball?

Well, as you mentioned, pitching that close quarter final one nothing win over Riverside six and two thirds allowed just two hits in that one.

He's close to some tight used to some tight ballgames I should say eight and one on the season, 72 strikeouts, 23 walks.

Coming into this one.

Just missing there.

Yeah.

The two times that I've seen him this season, he did have five walks against Riverside, but 23 walks seems high with the amount of command for his fastball today.

And.

This one from Braswell theme to center and a diving attempt.

He's got it.

Tagging and scoring is Fowler.

Washtenaw takes a one nothing lead.

Great catch by Aiden Johnson in center field.

Sliding right there getting the catch getting up throwing.

But West takes the early one.

Nothing lead against Woodlawn.

Did his job right there.

That's all he need to do.

Braswell get it to the outfield.

Score the run.

That one hung up just long enough for Johnson to come in.

It's an excellent catch.

Yeah, we've seen a lot of outfield alignments this week.

They've been playing very shallow.

It looks like the ball's coming off the bat a little better today.

That humidity cleared out last night.

The ball seems to be flying a lot better.

You couldn't ask for a more perfect day after we had storms.

Postpone last night's five eight game.

We'll play that one to swinging a miss there from Tyler White, the second baseman.

It was electric atmosphere last night.

Over 2000 people in the stands again, I know, reminiscent of the five day final we called last year between Valley View and Little Rock.

Christian.

A great crowd today between Woodlawn and West Talk.

Both cities up here represented very well.

This one in play to right.

And that will be out number three.

And Washington scoring the first run.

They are on the board leading the three time defending state champs one nothing.

We head to the bottom of the third inning.

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We head to the bottom of the third inning.

It'll be 891 in the batting order for Woodlawn.

Aiden Johnson, center fielder, to lead things off here leading off a clean first inning for Trey Cox and West top pitcher.

Second inning Jaden Wilmoth hit by pitch.

That's a that's the only baserunner for Woodlawn so far through the first two innings.

Well, you and I talked to Woodlawn coach Tommy Richardson this week.

Year number 31 is this one is popped too short.

It'll stay in the infield out.

Number one in the bottom of the third.

He said this is just as exciting as 30 years ago.

He loves what he's doing, never gets old.

And he called this the icing on the cake.

The cake said getting to work with the kids and watch them develop and mature.

The icing would be the championship.

I tell you, he has no signs of slowing down.

Does not at all.

He works out four days a week.

Works all of it works his arms out.

So they didn't do me much leg day.

But he's joking with us out there.

He loves it.

Yeah.

Is every year he hates losing his kids.

The four he graduated this year.

Just like family.

This is Grant coward, the third baseman.

Yeah.

He was joking.

Monday arm day.

Tuesday arm day.

Yep.

Wednesday arm day.

Thursday.

They want to do legs, but they figured out a reason not to do it.

And they end up doing arm day.

Good breaking ball in there for the strikeout.

Number two for Cox.

Cox really got that curveball working today.

Really good shape.

Take a look at it right here though.

It just rolls off the table at the end swinging right over it.

Another good angle right here starts at the midpoint right there at the belt ends up at the knees.

That's what you want for breaking ball.

Now the top of the order Peyton Wells is Woodlawn team by the way.

Richardson was saying he certainly had some ups and downs that may not reflected in the record, but he talked about he said people say growth is like climbing the stairs.

It's not.

It's up and down and these 20 young men have experienced that.

And he teared up a little bit.

He was talking about this.

That's one thing that, you know, he's always going to keep it in perspective and keep it real.

That's why you love talking to Tommy Rich and just about baseball, about life, everything.

I think my favorite thing I learned from talking to him and he's he's one of the favorite coaches around the state to talk to you just he's done it so long.

Always interesting.

But so his sister is a professional pickleball player.

Of course we start that stories and it comes to an end.

Rosie Campbell pretty neat one.

Nothing.

Watch it all through.

Three.

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Our Arkansas PBS student all star Ty Tilton from Cotter, Arkansas PBS highlight student athletes.

They get it done in the classroom and on the field.

Tilton did it this year for Cotter the pitcher senior 4.0 grade point average had a game high 16 strikeouts on April the 12th in a win versus LifeWay.

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North Art College yeah, Washita.

Leading the three time defending state champs Woodlawn, trying to win its 10th title in 16 years.

That would tie Pine Bluff for the most Arkansas State baseball titles.

And you think about it, Woodlawn has won them all since oh eight.

The zebras last won in 1995.

Charlotte, think of a lot of the names that went through Pine Bluff High.

Of course.

Torrey Hunter drafted in the early 90s, 22nd overall.

Are you?

Went number 20 overall to the Minnesota Twins.

Had a really good career in the MLB ranks.

This is Jaden Alston.

Yeah, it is hard to believe the Z's haven't won it in.

What would that be almost 30 years.

Yeah.

And they had a really you know they had some really good teams back in 2014 2015 that made the state tournament.

Just haven't had the participation as of late.

That one in there for a strike.

Also at the first hit in this game.

Grounder third base side chopper, throw across the diamond just in time.

Great job by our third baseman right there for Woodlawn.

Grant Howard coming up on that ball, attacking it, not letting it.

Getting deep on him.

The replay right here.

Ball takes a weird bounce off that turf like we talked about earlier in the game.

Cowart comes through the ball accurate throw to first base to get the first out of the inning.

To one of those where it helps to play on the turf.

Be used to it.

This is Trey Cox the pitcher.

How impressed are you so far with him by the way?

On the mound?

Man, he has looked really good.

We knew if he was I like Coach Thornton said at the breaking ball on.

He's going to be one of the top pitchers in to a.

He's looked really good so far.

Gets a hold of this.

Another good play by count.

Throws across in time for out number two.

Calvert playing in right there.

Playing on the Incut.

We're the the we say the dirt meets the grass.

But right there on the brown turf in the cut right there at third base.

One hop right into his glove.

Easy throw for him.

So now Judge Smith, the first baseman, flight out to right in his first at bat, swinging on the first pitch down the first base line.

It stays fair and Bates takes that the entire way.

Three up, three down for Washington in their half of the fourth.

We head to the bottom of the fourth, a one nothing Washington lead.

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Think about the lofty expectations for Woodlawn every single year.

So if you're a senior this year on this bears program, you've won three straight.

The pressure to win a fourth boys it's tough.

And you certainly I would think right now have to be thinking about that down one.

Nothing is this game whizzes by already to the fourth.

Yeah they've had some close games this year.

The 34 wins aren't having just been dominating.

They've had some close games.

So these guys know they're always in it.

This is Weatherford.

It's 234 in the lineup for Woodlawn, Weatherford Jones and Hall.

Coming up a good chance for Woodlawn right here to get something going with the heart of their lineup.

Weatherford, Jones and Hall all hitting over 300 with Jones and Hall hitting over 400.

Haven't had too many hitters.

Counts two one right here.

Pitchers have done a good great job working ahead today, working quickly as well.

Weatherford gets a hold of this one out to right field diving attempt is made.

What a catch there by Abernathy.

That is a sports center highlight catch right there Weatherford got all of that ball.

Look at this I think getting his legs a lot right there.

Great hit by Weatherford.

And then laying out tracked it all the way.

Great angle taken.

And that's how you look back.

Ended up saying hey this is how we won the ballgame.

Great defense right there by watch.

All.

What do you do if you're Weatherford.

You tip your cap.

Yeah.

You hit the ball.

You hit as hard as you can is tip your cap.

Go back and get the next one.

What a play.

Now Braden Jones, the shortstop.

Flied out.

His first At-Bat.

And you want to tell your hitters that.

Look, let's get Cox's pitch count up.

But he can't because he's pounding the zone with two pitches.

Not much you can do.

We we really we've had that.

One hard hit ball out to left field off the wall.

That was a hard hit.

When we've seen a couple spectacular plays in this game.

that one foul Jones doing a really good job of slowing everything down right there.

Cox gets ahead O2 Jones does a great job calling timeout.

Getting his breath.

Woodlawn top hitter ready to get on base right here.

Now.

The job staying alive by Braden Jones.

Cox is pitching with so much confidence right now he just thinks everything that comes out of his hands is going to be a strike.

And great job.

Oh two pitch right there up in the zone.

Not much Jones could do with that.

Hitting 488 six home runs, a couple triples, 11 doubles, 35 RBI.

He's headed to UAM.

Another big, powerful lineup for Woodlawn like they've had in the past.

I think Jones has six of their eight home runs on the year, six of seven.

Plays off that even at at two.

Now, Woodlawn has never really a team in these championship runs you think of is like that flashy in terms of offense.

But they've had some great lineups for sure.

Yeah, it's one thing that I pointed out the other day in our state finals previews.

Look, it won't be anything that flashy, but it'll be a clinic on how to win championship baseball.

Is fundamentally sound and doesn't have to be flashy.

They just go out and do the small things well.

Three two pitch mark hit but foul.

Well good job by Jones here to work the count.

He was in an oh two hole.

Yeah Jones veteran hitter right there working the count having a great at bat.

You talked about quality at bats.

You come back from zero two deficit.

You get six six or more pitches.

That's a quality at bat right there.

Pitch just missing a bit upstairs and inside.

And a much needed base runner for Woodlawn.

So how about that drawing the walk after being in an oh two hole?

Yeah.

We'll talk about the other day.

I talked about with our man J.B. Brazil.

One of my two pet peeves as a as a coach was the first one was oh two.

And you hit a batter, the second one was oh two.

And then you throw four balls.

But great job.

You know, Cox pounded the zone right there.

Jones did a great job of fouling him off doing it and getting in a spot to where he could get on base.

Now you get your RBI man up.

Third base runner of the game for Woodlawn.

This is Tate Hall.

Oh.

Had ten RBI's in the state tournament.

It seems like every game you look at, he's got 3 or 4.

He's up to 49 on the season.

Yeah.

He has been the hottest hitter of late for the bears.

Just on an absolute tear in the state and regional tourneys.

15 doubles, four triples, team high 49 RBI.

And it feels like all of them, if you ask a Woodlawn fan has come over the last couple of weeks.

That's exactly right.

Quarterfinals one nothing win tripled to lead off the bottom of the sixth and then stole home for the game's only run and in the semifinals drove in four runs in an eight five win.

Yeah, the triple.

He got to third base and the ball was overthrown and the pitcher was backing it up where he needed to be, and Jones took off and got into home for the one and only run.

This one, a grounder to short misplayed.

They will still get the out in time and second to erase the lead runner.

Good play right there by Braswell.

Staying with it.

The ball was hit really well.

Got it on the one hop.

Stayed with it.

May have got ahead of himself a little too much right there.

Kyle trying to turn two because that was tailor made to step on it and go to go to first right there.

Look at it right there.

I'll hit that one.

Well, just right to the shortstop, right to the teeth of the defense.

So Hall at first for Jaden Wilmoth, the catcher.

Wilmoth checking his arm band.

They've got their entire offensive playbook on those armbands.

Sends this into.

Right.

It's going to get down for a base hit, and Hall will stop at second.

Two on, two out for Woodlawn.

That is textbook Jaden Wilmoth right there.

He has a really good swing.

You can see it go down and get that one.

Drives it to right field.

But the more that young man hits and he's young for his class, he's a senior but he's only 17.

He's got a lot of his best baseball in front of the short compact stroke.

Goes with it right there.

Doesn't try to do too much.

Look let's hand it off to the next one.

That's the goal.

You can tell the the way he hits, how big a deal it is to have him back in this bears lineup.

Absolutely.

We ask coach and about it.

You know offensively how does your team.

He said it's a lot better with Jaden Wilmoth in that lineup.

So now Lunsford.

A base hit in his first at bat.

This is the most traffic that Trey Cox has had to deal with today on the base paths in that second inning.

And he had a couple of guys get on hit by pitch, had a single, but now you got two on, you know, and it all started after he was ahead oh two on Jones and then walks him.

That's exactly right.

That's what you want from the middle part of your lineup.

To your point, he was in such a groove, such confidence before that.

That's exactly right.

Now you just got to reset yourself your head.

You got two outs.

One, one to Lunsford ways off that one.

And he's had confidence in the breaking ball so much that he's thrown it a lot.

Now the Woodlawn hitters have seen it.

They're able to pick up the spin a little quicker so they're able to sit.

We talk about hitters.

Sit on the spinner.

Sit on the spinner.

They see the spin.

They sit down.

They're going to sit on it, not go after it.

However, right.

Lunsford ahead in the count three one.

Big at bat right here.

Lunsford finds a way to get on.

You get bases loaded.

All of a sudden for the D.H. Arnold.

That's all right.

Three one pitch.

Oh, good.

Breaking ball to load the count.

Three, two.

Talk about confidence.

Three one pitch and you flip that spinner in there, Kyle.

That's having a lot of confidence in your secondary stuff.

Now the runners and take off three two.

Count.

See if Cox check him right here.

Hauls at second.

Will Smith at first for Woodlawn trailing one nothing.

Great job by Lunsford to foul that one.

All live to fight another pitch.

Three two count.

The runners are going to be going.

Anything down the line right here may score.

Both runners.

This is a nice job by Lunsford playing on his time.

That's exactly right.

You don't want to get in that box to where you get jittery.

You lose your rhythm.

That's how strong it is.

Hitting is a lot about rhythm.

3 to 2 on two down the pitch outside, it'll be bases loaded for the bears.

See if Coach Hayden Thornton comes out and talks to his pitcher.

Right here.

Settling down.

Look, we got the lead.

Let's go get this one.

Bottom part of the lineup coming up.

You're going against the freshman Parker Arnold.

There's Hayden Thornton right there making a visit to the mound right there.

This of course is Coach Thornton's, second head coaching job.

If I'm not busy.

He was a Fountain Lake for a little bit.

So one of the top young coaches in the state got a lot of respect for Thornton.

And we talked about during the week, you know, when he's when they're playing Woodlawn, he just finds himself watching Coach Richardson a lot because you can learn.

So much just by watching watching Tommy Rich and his coach under some great guys like Justin Kramer at Conway Christian, Coach Thornton building a great program for washed off and Kramer, one of the good ones, the Conway Christian Hayden Thornton saying, the guy's a legend.

Like you were saying.

I just I just watch him see what he does, he said.

He's been really good to me.

So what a big moment here.

Bases loaded for Woodlawn trailing one.

Nothing with two down here in the bottom of the fourth.

It'll be the D.H. Arnold stepping in.

I'll think about how big that catch was in right field for the first out of the inning.

That's a great point.

Swing and a miss there.

Big moment here for the freshman.

Arnold 287 batter, six doubles, 22 RBI in the season.

Arnold struck out his first time up on three pitches.

Got a piece of that one.

He's behind in the count.

Oh two.

Arnold was asked to step in at catcher when Will Smith was injured.

Did a great job learning on the fly.

Got ready.

Bases loaded.

Oh two count here.

The pitch.

Fouls it back to the screen.

Stay alive.

Trey Cox really working his arsenal right there.

He saw in that strike two ball was down in the dirt.

Then he comes up with a good oh two pitch fastball up in the zone.

Now we'll see if we go back to the curve.

Ball down.

Back right.

Cox to reset the pitch.

And he stays alive again.

Great job by Arnold to foul that one off.

He got crossed up right there.

Able to get a little bit of a little bit of bat on it.

And.

The O2 again that boy Arnold staying alive for a third straight pitch.

Cox got lucky right there.

That one was center cut.

That's the one that Arnold likes to drive.

You talk about pitch location.

Now that was middle middle like that getting much better than that for hitter.

That go higher.

Good I didn't chase that one.

He chased the first breaking ball that was down.

Now Arnold saying he's seen the spin.

Now he goes to work.

Now he's got to work back.

I love the plate discipline in the approach by the freshman.

Michael Cox in a stressful situation for the first time in this game.

Bases loaded one two breaking ball just missing high and outside two and two.

The freshman trying to work the count.

Hall, Wilmoth and Lunsford.

The three men on for the bears here.

The washed out fans they wanted.

That was up and out.

They wanted that one as a strike.

Now that was a little up, little out.

Even though it was a bender.

We got a ball call, so we got our first run of the game for Woodlawn.

What happened was Trey Cox came set, put his hand in his glove, and then he came out again.

Something you cannot do when you're engaged with the run.

Engaged with the rubber boy.

Woodlawn saw it right away.

Yeah.

Hayden Thornton settling his pitcher down, making sure he knows what he did.

Let's look right here as it goes to his glove.

Then he breaks it wide.

Well that's tough now.

Pitched Arnold inside three two.

And suddenly it is A11 game.

And that's on the box.

All the runners moved up to second and third.

It was hauled and scored.

So three two pitch here to the freshman.

Lays off it and the bases will be loaded again.

Great at bat by the freshman Parker Arnold right there.

Oh two count.

Fouled a couple of balls off against the wall.

Now we got a ballgame Kyle.

One one game on a box.

Bases loaded again.

The eight hole hitter Aiden Johnson the center fielder Johnson four said that Sportscenter highlight reel catch in center field when West Star scored their first.

Their one and only run of the game.

Looking in the second round, an emotional lift for this Woodlawn team.

Gets a strike call there.

The senior center fielder.

Flied out to short in his first at bat.

Second time this inning.

Kevin, that Woodlawn has been able to work the count from an oh two hole to a walk.

Yeah, that's big right there.

Two spots.

Arnold, the freshman doing it.

First time Jones did it.

And ever since the first time Jones did it, Cox has pitched with a little bit of stress.

Tough.

You don't want to say that's what got to him in a balk, but it's such a little thing.

Sure, it rattles you a little bit.

And that's what Hayden Thornton ran out of the dugout.

He wasn't question the ball call.

He was just making sure that his pitcher knew what he did and settled down.

Two one pitch to Johnson.

Lays it in there two two.

Hawks looking to get back in a rhythm right here.

Trying to escape trouble.

And bases loaded for the three time defending champs.

It's upstairs.

It'll be a full count again.

Full count.

Runners will be taking off right here.

Cox need to bear down.

Control the breathing.

Go with his best pitch.

Three two.

Swing and a miss.

He got him.

Cox escapes the jam.

Woodlawn leads the bases loaded.

It's just a balk to bring in one run.

In what could have been a huge inning for the bears.

It's A11 game.

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What a game!

So far we've seen some spectacular defense in this one.

One game.

Absolutely pitching in defense so far.

Payton Wells getting the strike out there early in the game.

Then we've seen some defense.

Good play at second base right there.

Second baseman goes up gets the ball.

Then we had some Sportscenter highlight plays.

Watch the Tores right fielder Abernathy getting a good catch.

Then we get to go to the third inning.

Great.

Great hitting right there.

Gets a double right there down the left field line.

All Jaden Alston third Braswell drowsy man with the sac fly.

Great play by as you said.

Woodlawn center fielder.

We're tied up at one one Kyle going into the fifth inning.

Well still out there.

Payton Wells for Woodlawn.

It's Braylon Ligon, the third baseman leading things off.

And how about Cox getting out of that inning?

He was in such a groove pitching with such confidence.

And there were more than a few reasons for him to be a bit rattled in that inning.

He was ahead in the count a couple times.

Oh two and both at bats ended in a walk, and then the box with the bases loaded to tie it at one, but finds a way to get out of the jam.

Yeah, absolutely.

And, you know, we talk about high leverage situations, traffic on the base paths.

You had everything that in he was able to get out of it.

Huge huge strikeout right there in the inning.

For Payton Wells deserves a lot of credit for the way he's pitching in this game.

Absolutely.

He comes into the fifth inning.

He had 50 pitches through four innings 12.5 standing.

That's what you want.

It's what you want on your pitcher working very efficiently down the middle for the strikeout.

Number five on the day for Wells.

Wells going back to the fastball right there.

Getting the low inside corner, getting that hit.

That is a pitcher's pitch right there going down.

The great job by Jaden Wilmoth keeping him within his frame right there low inside corner.

Not much you can do with that as a hitter.

Wells gets his fifth punch out of the day.

This is Caden Lee, the catcher.

I don't want to be consistent.

That's one of the toughest pitches for a catcher to get around and get under.

Kyle coming from a lefty and that tough inside pitch right there.

Jaden Wilmoth controlling the glove.

Very well.

Back on the plate.

A big presence in the batter's box and a great defensive catcher as well.

Is Will Wilmoth.

For stealing.

This is the kind of game we would see, Yeah.

Well, you know, last year with Long Beach passing Wheatley by one run these who know each other very well.

No surprises yet out here.

They've they've competed against each other two close games all season.

When you get both of your best pitchers going, this is exactly what we expected.

Well that's what both coaches said too.

Yeah.

They played twice this year.

Woodlawn won both of them.

But now you line up your pitching.

Yeah, yeah.

You got a one off game.

You got a week off.

Like Coach Thornton said.

You get seven days.

It's tough to know what to do in those seven days, but you have all your pitching lined up.

You got your one, you got your two.

So it's best on best.

And that that is a that is an X factor for a lot of these state championship games.

That may not be thought of that if they played in the regular season.

Those two losses by Washed to Woodlawn this season.

By the way, the only two conference losses for the Warriors this year.

Good pitch from Wells.

Yeah.

We asked Coach Thornton if there were any wins that really stood out to him.

He said.

All ten of those conference wins and their ten and two record, because of how tough that conference is.

Three two chopper foul.

This is the kind of game you want on this Weekend of Champions spectacular defensive plays, great pitching performances, tight ballgame three two pitch missing up and away.

And the leadoff man.

Check that.

The second guy up in this inning.

Cayton Lee is aboard on a walk.

First walk allowed on the day by Wells.

Yeah.

And now you get Larsen.

Fowler, the eight hitter who came up had the big double in the third inning come around to score it on the sacrifice sacrifice fly by Colton Braswell.

Fowler having a big day so far.

To go Lawson.

What got luck.

The only hit to the outfield in this game.

That was a hard hit ball.

Yeah it was.

Wells only allowed two hits on the day.

First inning, Jaden Austin got on.

Then Fowler's double in the third inning.

So be interesting to see how both these coaches, Kevin, how long they can stick with their starters.

These are the guys that they believe in.

But in A11 game yeah.

Start to see they get up around that 60 pitch mark.

That's when you start to see a little laboring.

Wells hasn't had much traffic today on the basepaths, so he hasn't been any high leverage situations, hasn't had to work out of the stretch very much.

Well.

No room for error.

You see a good crowd down the right field line.

Yeah.

All of Donaldson Arkansas made the track up I-30 today to Central Arkansas.

Swing and a miss.

Larsen Fowler shaking his head right there.

He know he knows.

That was ball three.

That was up and out of the zone.

Take a look at the replay right here.

Anxious to hit already got that one double on the day.

Wants to do a little too much right there.

Now.

Just has to reset.

Take a breath.

Still in a good hitter's count 21I think everyone from highway 63 is here to rise in and Star City.

That one is in there.

Strike three called throw down.

Not in time.

And so a runner in scoring position for Washington.

Now a little bunt bunting run right there a little delayed steal.

But watch it all.

He went after it.

Wilmoth back pick.

Runner takes off.

Very good Heads-Up base running right there by Caden Lee.

It's one thing you always teach your kids.

Look, if you're on the base paths and we have a bunt called, you want to make sure he gets it down.

They got very lucky right there.

That one hits the outside part of the plate for strike three.

The sixth on the day for Wells Abernathy.

How about a six strikeout performance and just a couple hits allowed.

Yeah great job by Payton Wells coming back right there was down two oh in that count.

Comes back gets that strike one on that high outside fastball then powers back.

Good curveball outside corner for strike three.

So a runner at second two down for Tyler Abernathy.

And the throw to second.

Not in time.

Yeah.

They had, the scatter play called right there.

What will happen is Woodlawn pitcher.

He'll have it in his glove.

He'll step off because when he steps off, he becomes an infielder.

And then there's the middle infield.

Supposed to jump like you threw it in the outfield.

But they didn't quite have it lined up right there.

And he saw the disappointment on.

Well, Wells did.

He is in some kind of groove right now.

Payton Wells yeah, a program that has done that in state tournaments a few times.

Harding Academy's coach, Shane Fullerton, doesn't surprise me that Tommy Richardson has it in his arsenal as well.

I don't know how.

Oh two.

Yeah, well, he's feeling it right now.

Let's go right after him.

You got your nine hole hitter up.

Abernathy grounded out to the pitcher in his first at bat.

Okay.

Lee at second swing and a miss.

Three strikeouts in the inning for Payton Wells.

He is up to seven on the day.

It's A11 ballgame.

It's a good one.

They'll go anywhere.

As we head to the bottom of the fifth.

The Centennial Bank State Baseball Championships in Arkansas, PBS sports.

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Sports fans, for a copy of any of the state championship games, go to M and M productions dot net to place your order.

Mason Little bright Matt Johnson and the staff do a great job producing all of our state championship action this weekend.

Oh, they sure do tip the captain.

Matt, his staff and this one lifted by Grant coward.

And a good catch there at Short by Braswell.

Brings up the top of the lineup here for Woodlawn, Wells and Weatherford Bears.

The last inning had plenty of activity for really the first time in this game, and amazingly, Cox was able to navigate out of it.

This game is tied.

If you're just joining us, thanks to a balk with the bases loaded from Cox.

Other than that, he has been pretty outstanding in this one.

It's been a great pitcher's duel.

Payton Wells just as superb on the other side.

Popped up here from Wells to second.

Two down.

This is exactly what Cox needed after that last inning where he threw over 30 pitches.

Two quick outs.

Keep that pitch count down, get back in the dugout, go score some runs to great point.

Garrett Weatherford now.

Weatherford hit one of the hardest baseballs we've seen all weekend.

Tackle that fly to right field last inning.

Great play by Tyler Abernathy.

Diving catch hard hit again into right.

Oh my goodness did he run him again.

He did it on cue.

He taps his yeah.

That's all you can do.

If you get Garrett Weatherford tap your head again.

Two balls that were absolutely blistered off the bat Tyler Abernathy coming up with a huge catch.

That ball goes to the wall.

That's an inside the park home run.

Oh man.

Abernathy with a couple spectacular plays to Rob Weatherford twice.

This game goes to the six tied at one.

The Centennial Bank State Baseball Championships on Arkansas PBS sports.

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Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Oh thank you.

Thanks.

Thank you.

This is terribly kind of you.

We are just, you know, beyond grateful for the support that we get.

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Let me take you for a ride on the baseline.

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Such as the six inning We go well, still out there.

It was a three up, three down, quick inning for Woodlawn.

I'm out here in the quickest inning we had all weekend.

Yeah, that was really good.

So what you want to see in the state championship game is the leadoff hitter, Colton Braswell.

The shortstop.

He has the RBI on the day for Washington's one run.

The sac fly.

Wells relying heavily on the breaking ball right now.

He's got a good feel for it.

Good spin on it.

Attacking hitters.

Struck out three last inning.

He's up to seven strikeouts for the day.

Only one walk.

Only two hits allowed.

But a great pitch game got him swinging.

Eight strikeouts for Wells.

Will start the top of the lineup up pitching them backwards.

Go curve turn.

Fastball right there.

Wells getting his eighth strikeout of the day, elevated just a little bit.

Peyton Wells cruising right now.

Eight strikeouts, one walk.

This is Tyler White, the second baseman that pitch a cold strike.

White two for two on the day.

Yeah, yeah.

Last two hitters starting him out.

Curveball.

Curveball.

Let's see if he stays true to form and goes with the fastball elevated right here.

White the sophomore.

Yeah.

Now we're missing low one and two.

So Washdot down to five outs.

Woodlawn six outs.

Each team trying to get something going.

Each team looking for that one real big hit in this game.

This one caught that short two up two down so far for the Warriors in the sixth.

Yeah.

Curveball in on the hands right there.

White just couldn't quite get the barrel to it off the handle.

Left fielder Jaden Nelson break Jones easy catch at shortstop right there Jaden Alston the left fielder one for two on the day.

Got a base hit in the first.

Let's go by that.

Grounded out to third in the fourth.

Austin.

Highest batting average on the team 404.

He's really come around this year as far as hitting goes.

That one will fall for a base hit.

And Jake Cohen aboard for the second time in this game.

Off the bat I thought that one was hit pretty well, that it was off the end of the bat right out front.

Right fielder out there.

He just it's kind of funny.

The Dylan Lunsford out there was ready to throw him out at first base, but the first baseman wasn't quite.

There goes.

He Alston's a guy who Washington coach Hayden Thornton will tell you was sort of DH for in his sophomore season.

But he's really come a long way.

Yeah, he's worked really hard in swing.

And what what Coach Thornton was talking about, he was cast in the bat, barreled out too much.

He couldn't keep his hands inside the ball too much.

We saw it right there.

Drives that ball to right field.

Now.

Trey Cox the pitcher sliding a 10th throw to first.

And that will bring the first baseman base off the bat.

So nice job there by Jones to keep it from going into the outfield.

But the throw a bit wide and two aboard with two down for the Warriors.

Great job by Tristan Bates at first base as well Kyle a lot of situations.

First baseman may stretch out and try to catch that.

But Bates does a good job coming off knowing there's a lead runner out there at second base so he doesn't move over to do we have second and third, but still have a force in just about any bag right here.

Courtesy runner in for Cox.

Number 13.

Thank you Caleb Force.

Judge Smith the first baseman.

There's force Smith out for two today hitting 329 on the year.

The philosophy wouldn't surprise me if force gets a little too far.

Will made back pick at first base.

Still an out.

We've seen a couple times this weekend on first and second scenarios with that first baseman.

Kind of gets off the first base, runner gets off a little too far, get it back.

Picks situation go safely left.

But Alston at second, Caleb Faust, the courtesy runner at first, George Smith, the first baseman in the batter's box, two down on him for Washington in this one one game and good eye there from Smith.

The lay off and runners will hold their left on left situation right here.

Smith kind of shook his head after the first pitch called a strike on the outer third, and as he could have gone with that one to left field, Wells going heavy with the curveball right here, see if he goes after him with the fastball and challenges in.

No hard hit ball, but that's foul.

Smith was sitting on it.

Go.

Yeah he was right.

It's a great call sitting on it.

Now you know we got an even count.

You got to think to advantage right here.

Can go to Payton Wells.

He can go with a couple things right here and keep keep him keep Judge Smith guessing at the plate.

Give me that ball back.

I liked it.

Pitchers are creatures of habit, Kyle.

They are.

Man.

They get one that they field.

Things spin really well.

They'll get that thing out there.

He see it in the body language, though.

Just how calm they are in these situations.

Here's the pitch.

And that one is fouled.

Great job by Judd Smith right there on that breaking ball.

That was a good breaking ball down in the zone.

Stays back on.

It just wasn't quite able to keep it between the lines.

Walsh Utah this week making their first appearance in the championship game since they won it all back in 2015.

Trying to keep things normal for Woodlawn.

This is number this is a Tuesday for them.

That's exactly right.

Here's the two two pitch.

And Smith lays off the low.

The count.

Three two count two outs.

You're going to have the base runners started right here.

Let's see if Woodlawn has any kind of defensive call like left handed pitchers right here I like to sneak my first baseman up right behind that runner hitch from Wells.

This one will get down for a base hit.

Alston is coming around.

He will score.

Washington takes A21 lead.

How about Jed Smith right there.

Over two on the day.

Drives that three two pitch to right center fields.

One run.

The Warriors lead 2 to 1.

Great job staying back on the fastball right there.

Drives it right back where it came from.

Count.

That's.

So the Warriors back in front.

At Woodlawn.

Still not out of the inning.

Runners at the corners with two down and Braylon Ligon stepping into the batter's box.

He has struck out twice in this game.

Let's go.

Courtesy runner force.

He's the one at third and the pitches in there from Wells rather than Ligon struck out looking twice today, looking to do some damage up there with the runner at third.

Ligon pops this one up into foul territory and it gets out of play.

No good attempt there from Jaden Wilmoth to get over there.

Will Smith very athletic behind the plate, quick.

I remember the first time I saw him, he was 15.

He was about 135 pounds soaking wet.

Done a great job working, living in the weight room, working on his craft.

Like I said, he's a young senior.

He's still only 17 years old.

He's got a lot of good baseball in front of him.

Where?

Ligon, a senior.

He's 184 hitter, 12 RBI.

A plate change to do a bit more damage.

No, that one just missing.

Yeah.

Wilmer trying to bring it back a little bit right there.

A little, little too much movement.

David Coleman just wasn't quite going to give it to him.

Tommy Richardson making his first visit out to the mound today.

No coach is going to have a better feel 31 years.

As we've mentioned for Tommy Richardson looking for his Kent State title at his alma mater.

I love interesting moves here, right here.

Richardson had to have seen something moving Peyton Wells, removing it out of the game.

Five and two thirds innings, two and two count.

I did not think he was going to make a switch there.

Yeah they're going to go to Tate Hall.

It looks like I let God oh my god.

So two one.

And we've got a pitching change here for Woodlawn Peyton Wells after eight strikeouts.

And we'll talk about the new pitcher when we come back.

Runners at the corners.

Big moment here in this one into two on wash a tall lead in the top of the sixth.

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123.

Hello?

What's going up in this?

Oh, a new pitcher is Tate Hall four, Woodlawn eight, no, 2.37 ERA, and he will replace Peyton Wells.

Kevin doing so with A22 count.

Yeah.

Hall has really good stuff.

The JR. And he lets he leads the team with innings pitched.

This year.

He's got 56 and two thirds innings.

Teams are only hitting 205 against him.

But let's give him a little different look right here.

Coach Richardson knows his team better than anybody else.

Likes the situation to go to Hall right here who has been big all season at the plate on the mound.

One of the top players in class two.

You're going to see his fastball is going to work in the mid 80s, a little bit more velo than what Wells had.

Of course, the Wells have given up a few hits in a row.

He had given up just one to that point.

He'll leave with eight strikeouts, one walk.

But how about the decision by Richardson?

Like what?

What did he see there on that two two count.

You take that in.

The curveball had lost a lot right there.

And you saw early in the early in the inning he was going curveball curveball fastball right there.

Look in this situation right here you go.

Right on right.

He likes Hall in this match up a little bit.

Better to get out of the inning.

Good move by Richardson in market.

Oh we talked about it.

Just two fantastic pitchers in what has been a superb pitcher's duel but no room for error on either side.

Yeah high stress situation Tate Hall.

He's he's a pro I mean he's been he's been in this program for three years now.

He's played a lot of baseball two plays plays in the seven plays 3030 games during the summer as well.

So now this is not a big situation for Hall.

It's just another another bat another pitch to throw.

Had this situation yesterday when Gavin Moore came in for Springdale Harbor, one pitch was out of the inning.

Let's see if Tate Hall can replicate that.

So Ligon suddenly seeing a new pitcher here in this two two count, two down runners at the corners.

A pitch fouls it back to the screen, swinging on the first pitch he sees from Hall.

Yeah, I didn't want to give away the what Richardson was really thinking right there.

He's like I take it throw that curveball good 12 six breaker right there breaking away from the batter.

That's exactly what he was thinking.

You know that one caught a little too much of the plate hung there.

Swing and a miss.

Two pitches.

Hall gets out of the inning.

Washtenaw strands two.

They do score one.

Take A21 lead as we head to the bottom half of the sixth.

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When it comes to building a program, Woodlawn certainly sets the standard for the entire state.

The best program, without a doubt, in the 21st century.

Nine state titles, all since 2008.

They find themselves trailing 2 to 1 with six outs to play with.

This is what coach Hayden Thornton is trying to instill.

This is the culture he's trying to build for the washed out Warriors.

Done a great job his first two years.

You know, if they can keep him down there and Donaldson looked he was tall.

Could be one of those programs here in the next 1015 years.

Cox coming off a quick one two, three inning.

Braden Jones for one with a walk.

Cox pitch counts up to 74 now.

So he's well under that 110 limit with six outs to go in the game.

Go be.

Last inning really really helped.

Only seven pitches last time.

This one popped up into left field.

Going back and into the shadows and making the catch.

Is the left fielder.

Austin.

Oh, spectacular plays by Washington.

This game for Braden Jones.

Touch that one.

He saw these outfielders today for us to take a look right here.

Jones thought he had it a little out on his front foot.

Didn't get all of it.

But like you said it was right at the wall.

At home.

Great catch by Jane Austen in left field.

These outfielders for holiday.

Right.

Look at how he turns.

Yeah.

Or the angle on them.

One that's almost impossible to kids at that angle.

Grounded a short two yard.

It's a great play there by the first baseman.

Smith.

Smith hanging on right there going after the first pitch.

Three pitches in.

Cox has two outs.

Here's Jaden Wilmoth.

Will Smith one for two today or one for one hit by a.

This will be its first time up.

Yep a breaking ball in there.

Boy Cox is really feeling it.

You knew if it all.

All right.

If they're going to make this a game against a team in Woodlawn that I think is heavily favored.

Considering you're the three time defending champs, they'd have to make plays like this.

They've made three of them absolutely spectacular catches.

Yeah.

It's not just about the talent.

Sometimes if you if you win a state title, I say sometimes every time when you win a state title, you get to have a little bit of luck on your side.

You think back to anything that's happened this weekend during this game.

there's been 1 or 2 plays that have really made a difference in the outcome of what's happened, no matter what classification it is.

Abernathy and also the corner outfielders have just been incredible for the Warriors.

Absolutely.

Perfect.

One, two to Wilmoth fouls this off.

Stay alive.

Hobble around just a bit.

Let's go, let's go.

Big hack by Will Smith right there.

Going.

He was ready to launch that one I think that look at Richardson.

Let me kick it.

Yeah let me kick the tires just a little bit here.

Make sure it's okay.

Yeah I guarantee you Tom he's telling me right now you got that shin guard down there.

What are you talking.

What are you looking?

I think you missed the shin guard.

Oh, no.

Oh, will Smith, as we mentioned, playing just a second game back since missing time after him.

Surgery.

I think a big part of this Woodlawn lineup.

One, two.

And that one got a piece of him.

Curveball just ran back over.

Ouch.

Yep.

They got him right in the knee.

Take a look here.

Yeah, yeah, right where it hurts.

Well, I mean, give him credit.

He turned, you know, he didn't turn into but held his ground right there.

Just ready braced for it.

So he's going to hobble into the dugout.

That is a big part of this Woodlawn lineup.

And right on that bone too.

Yeah.

Hope for Woodlawn case.

He's he's okay.

I to bring it Dylan Lunsford.

Lunsford.

One for one today.

Got a walk back in the fourth inning and a really good at bat.

Well, a runner at first, two down.

Goal that struck Lunsford to sue.

Tech signee, 316.

Batting average, five doubles, six triples, 30 RBI.

Swiss Army knife.

In this lineup, Coach Richardson says, this is a guy who can play anywhere.

Senior trying to win his fourth championship.

Yeah, he's played third.

Some played both corner outfield spots.

Can really handle the bat.

Small ball situation if needed.

Good learning.

Good learning moment right there for the catcher.

He let that curveball drop out of the zone.

If he's very firm with that holds it up under he gets that strike call.

Cox checks the pinch runner at first.

Mason Edmonds, junior.

Pitches outside Edmonds going down to second.

And he's in there sliding safely.

Our viewers and fans out there may recognize that last name.

Edmonds.

Cal Edmonds was really big for Woodlawn two years ago.

State title winner.

His junior and senior year came playing college baseball.

Right now.

So a runner in scoring position.

Over a good.

Get me over a fastball right there for run the count for 3 to 2 down hits to Lunsford.

Chopper just got a piece of it a slow roller.

The second baseman flips to first in time.

They got it, boy.

Spectacular defense again from these Washington Warriors.

They're putting on a defensive clinic in this game.

And they're going to hold on to A21 lead as this game goes to the seventh.

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There's a lot more going on behind the scenes than you might expect in these and other shows from Arkansas.

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We are going to start.

Start.

Experience the action all over again next week.

Watch all the championship games on the PBS app at any time.

Some great games to go back and watch.

Absolutely.

How about watch Utah?

Looking to add to a one run lead here in the seventh inning?

Trying to end Woodland's bid for four straight state championships.

This is Caden Lee, the catcher.

So Tate Hall remains out there pitching for Woodlawn, who replace Payton Wells.

Last inning, Augusta face 789, in the West hot line up.

Well, he's out for one with a walk.

Imagine what you're feeling right now if you're in that Washington dugout.

We've got three outs and we're state title winners.

We want to add to our run total.

That's two of a million things that are running through their heads right now.

I love saying these one day, two schools, big schools, huge rosters, 30, 40 kids lifestyles going to roll in here at 13.

Probably.

You may have noticed there, by the way, the on the side of the wash, the tall hats that is to remember Brady Honeycutt and that would have been a senior this year.

Passed away in December of 2022.

Number ten.

He just wants a top team.

Base runner aboard here for the Warriors.

Doing awesome power.

A pinch runner for courtesy.

Runner for Washita.

It'll be Aiden Witherington, the junior.

Try to add to this two one lead.

We'll see if Coach Thornton breaks out the small ball here.

And we've seen it earlier in the game.

Say small ball.

I call it opportunistic baseball.

Take take advantage of opportunities.

His coaches have said small ball this week.

Both teams have talked about how they're a little bit like looking in the mirror.

And you got to think Tate Hall right here.

They're going to give you an out.

Take it.

You got to trust your stuff.

Bottom part of the lineup go go and get that out.

Check over to first Larsen Fowler that hard hit ball off the wall back in the third.

Struck out looking in the fair.

What's amazing is Woodland's only run in this game came on a balk with the bases line.

Yep.

Lucky blue.

But.

It's squaring up to bunt.

Gets it down and does his job perfectly.

Does Fowler.

Advances a runner to scoring position with one away.

I feel the color.

Never never, never.

So now the nine hole hitter.

Abernathy.

Great job right there.

Keeping.

Not dropping the barrel.

You dropped the barrel.

That ball is going to go up even more right there.

So it kind of dead in it right there.

Instead of poking at it.

Well, abernathy's day defined by two highlightrillioneel catches in right field.

That's exactly right.

And that's why Hayden Thornton has him in the lineup.

Make defensive plays, be that guy that can flip the lineup over, be that second leadoff guy for us down there at the bottom of the lineup.

Squares up to button this goes down so runners at second.

And.

Hall trying to send this game to the bottom of the seventh.

And give his team a chance to need just one run to send it to extras.

21.

That one is in there.

Strike three and two.

Abernathy tried to hold up the swing right there and just went too far to get a good look at it.

Right here.

Non check swings in high school baseball.

That one was an easy right.

Easy one right there.

Get another good camera angle right here.

The home plate umpire and all the other umpires are looking.

Did the did the batter make an attempt at the ball.

The bat doesn't have to cross the front part of the plate like it does in college baseball.

Did the batter attempts to go after the baseball?

Second strikeout for Hall and now the top of the order.

Colton Braswell.

Oh.

Braswell had the first RBI of the day for the SAC fly to center field.

Right above him, there.

Oh, just enough of the inside corner right there.

Oh, they're both kind of backing up on Hall a little bit.

These get it more out in front.

Snap it off some.

Pitch to Braswell.

There you go.

That's what he's looking to do right there.

Keep it on the outside.

Third right there.

Break it off the outer part.

Down there.

Pops it up.

This will stay in the infield for the pitcher hall to make the catch.

Washita strand one.

This game goes to the bottom of the seventh.

Can Woodlawn do it?

Looking for their fourth straight state championship?

They need a run.

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Today can be a new beginning.

Bright things ahead, darling.

Brightness and joy.

That's genuinely classic.

This won't be right here in this moment, as you can use that kind of a high bar.

I'm just getting started.

Television will never be the same again.

Magnificent.

Get your live action photos from the game at my R PBS.org.

Backslash photos.

Grant free downloads.

Have prints made.

These are great championship keepsakes for your student athlete.

No doubt about that.

All right, so here we go.

Two one Washington lead.

Woodlawn has won three straight state championships looking for a fourth eight seven, eight nine in their lineup with the final three outs remaining.

Arnold Johnson and Cowart.

Trey Cox doing what he's done all game Kyle pounding the strike zone.

Working ahead.

Washington looking for its first state championship since 2015.

Pitch from Cox.

Swing and miss.

One and two.

Cox two.

First six innings only allowed.

Two hits, four strikeouts, three walks.

Outstanding performance today.

He's been great.

He's had some great defense.

Slow grounder to short throw to first one down.

You can hear these fans for Washington.

Not the end of the bat there for Arnold.

Good breaking ball by Cox.

Tell you what the defense today they have put on a clinic.

I sure have some amazing catches, some great plays even in the infield.

This is Aiden Johnson, the center fielder.

He's oh for two.

Big thing Cox to do right now.

Just don't try to overthrow.

He's going to have a lot of adrenaline right now.

Just keep doing what he's been doing.

He's worked quickly all afternoon.

But I love it especially quickly right now.

I love pitches that work quick, but I just can't just tell him to slow down.

Slow it down just a little bit.

Catches the outside part of the plate.

Two.

Two.

Did he go?

He did.

Two down in the inning.

Wash it out.

Away.

Oh, yeah.

Cox running it up and in right there Johnson.

More defensive getting out of the way.

But bat went.

He knows it right there.

You see Johnson.

Good.

Look at it right here.

Play by the replay booth.

He knows it.

Oh now we're one out away from Washington winning by nine hole hitter Grant coward third baseman swing and a miss.

And a big cut.

these fans can taste it right now.

Working at warp speed, they're a strike away.

Let's go.

Oh, God.

Cox wines delivers a bit of adrenaline at the moment.

I think he tried to throw that one.

It's harder than good.

He's like, all right, now I'm good.

Now I'm just going to flip this curveball in there and we're going to go home.

State champions come off the bat.

The one, two.

Swing and a miss.

Washington wins the two.

State championship.

The first for the Warriors since 2015.

Incredible defense in this game to take down mighty Woodlawn.

Wasn't all you talk about, Kyle.

It's tough to beat a team three times in one season.

Woodlawn won the first two Washington wins when it matters most outstanding job by Trey Cox today.

Complete game two hitter man.

Congratulations to coach Hayden Thornton.

This is what he was looking for as an assistant coach back in 2018.

Now he gets to say he's a state championship head coach.

Incredible pitching incredible defense to put it lightly.

As you see, Washington run out and celebrate.

And there's the Gatorade bath for head coach Hayden Thornton winning the state championship in just his second year.

We'll come back.

We'll see you.

The celebration is washed.

It all wins.

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We never going to stop.

So.

Well, for the first time since 2019, there is a new state champion in class two A, the Washita Warriors.

What a game by coach Hayden Thornton's crew, pitching and defense.

We talk about it all year long.

He got good pitching.

He got good defense that can win the state championship.

You see right there.

Trey Cox MVP of the state tournament.

What a performance by the Washington Warriors finishing 2111 on the year.

Let's take a look at the highlights of the game.

See a lot of great defensive plays right here.

We're talking about defense Tyler Abernathy right field Jaden Austin in left field crashing up against the fence.

The shadow fool I mean yeah just right in the shadows that Braden Johnson touch that ball very well then right there Lawson Fowler hitting 135 on the season gets a double.

And then Colton Braswell drives him in sac.

Fly to center field.

Scores the first run of the game to make it one nothing loss at all.

Fowler coming around the score after getting that double in the sixth inning.

Judge Smith coming up huge.

Runners on first and second.

He laces a fastball to right field.

Gets the deciding go ahead run 2 to 1 right there judge Smith.

Big day was tall.

Comes back seventh inning.

Trey Cox working very quickly gets the strike out.

Trey Cox your state championship class two a MVP.

And the washed out Warriors are champions for the first time since 2015.

Oh, that's a pretty good indication to the kind of team this team was for Utah.

Fantastic pitching.

And you saw the defense there mile by play after play.

What a season for the Warriors as they finish third and 11 state champs for the first time since 2015.

We do have another game coming up by the way tonight should be a good one.

Hackett and Lincoln for the three.

A softball championship here in Conway.

And there is one more baseball game to be played.

A good one tomorrow.

We'll see all that SEC talent between Valley View and Maumelle.

That's right.

Valley view of Maumelle tomorrow, 2 p.m.. Should be an electric atmosphere.

But don't forget.

Yeah.

Hackett and Lincoln, they know each other very well.

Sydney Farley and Dorian Kraft will be on the call for Arkansas PBS this evening.

Two of the good ones for Kevin Mohan in our great Arkansas PBS sports crew.

I'm Kyle Bob.

Congratulations.

Washita two a state champs.