One rival.

What a beautiful day for baseball.

The second baseball game of the day between Valley View in Benton.

It's the five day baseball state championship from the beautiful Majestic Park.

As we welcome you into the broadcast booth up JB Brazil alongside my man Kevin Bohanon, the guru.

Kevin, this is one of those games where it's going to feel like a college game talent everywhere.

There's a ton of college signees.

It's going to be a lot of fun.

Yeah.

In total in the senior class you got 16 signees.

You got two juniors that are already committed.

And Sawyer Wilson for Benton, he's going to go to UCA.

And then you got Wil Finley who's going to be on the mound for Valley View.

He's committed to Arkansas State.

So yeah that college atmosphere.

You got college coaches.

You got a few pro scouts in the state as well.

Look at both of these teams today.

That's right.

Coach Silva in attendance for Finley and a handful of others.

He wants to watch a good game also Valley view the visiting team.

And Keith Math is going to be a guy to watch out for for the Blazers.

Yeah.

Originally committed the University of Arkansas changed his signee, close to signing day to Arkansas State University.

He's hitting 444 catching for this value team.

Not as many innings on the mound this year, but he's been very effective two zero with three saves, a 1.91 ERA.

He's the catalyst that makes this motor run for the Blazers for Valley View, looking for their sixth time.

This the six title game.

Royal looking for a three peat.

What's it going to take for the win.

Yeah.

Run run run.

The Blazers love to run.

They have 177 stolen bases on the season.

They want to lead with their experience.

They've got like we said 11 signees.

They're going to play college ball next year.

Lean on that experience.

So for Valley View that's what it's going to look like Benton on the other side they're looking for their second ever state championship.

They want it back in 2009.

If they're going to do it.

Sawyer Wilson likely going to have a hand in it.

Yes.

All year Wilson's their lead off.

He's playing third base.

He can play anywhere on the infield.

May be relied upon to come in on the mound as well.

JB he's got 39 innings a four and three record, 41 strikeouts, a 3.35 ERA.

You know, it's always a tall task.

Valley view got the best of Benton in a closer game back on March 6th.

It was an eight five Valley View win.

Benton wants revenge.

What's it going to take?

Yeah.

They're gonna have to shut down the Valley View running game.

They know how opportunistic the Blazers can be on the base paths.

So Blake Mitchem pitch ahead.

Early contact, early strikes.

They'll be good to go.

Beautiful weather, 70 to 1 degrees at first pitch.

It's coming up when we return.

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Welcome back to Majestic Park Valley view the visiting team 29 and two.

Benton 26 and seven.

The winner.

This one takes it all.

The five.

A state title for the Blazers.

It'll be Owen Roach, Keaton Mathis and Barrett Mallett.

One, two, three in the lineup, Levi Martin, Noah Ragsdale and Will Finley in the four, five and six spots, and then Parker, King, Matt and Tatum and Canaan.

Driskel round out the order against Blake Mitchem for the Panthers.

The South Paul looking to shut down the Blazers.

Yeah, really good fastball.

He will throw off that fastball.

He's got a really good slider curveball combination.

He will throw the changeup at times.

And for our listeners and our viewers at home, if you've seen the name Owen Roach before he was the Slade protector.

He hid behind Slade Caldwell his senior year, third straight state title game for Roach.

Now he's at the leadoff position.

He's grown up a ton since that first one.

Here we go.

Here.

Ready?

First pitch is a swing and a miss from Blake Mitcham.

The fastball is Owen Roach not able to connect.

Oh and one our count with a 405 start time.

So right on cue and right on in there for another strike is Blake Mitchell.

It's oh over two.

Yeah.

Big left.

He loves to work downhill.

Got a lot of good tilt on that fastball.

And he can mix it up.

He can have a cut fastball.

Then he'll have a little two seam action as well.

That one coming up.

And in trying to paint that black move him off the plate a little bit.

And it's 1 or 2.

Yeah.

And you'll see a really good zone today.

Our home plate umpire is Brant Bowerman.

It's his second state championship game Robbie Gar will be at first.

It's his second state title game and Kenny Aiken at third.

So some veterans and Aiken's his sixth.

If I'm not mistaken.

It is.

Kenny does a lot of a lot of college ball and he loves to give back to the high school game as well.

A really good official in the state of Arkansas.

I've seen Kenny Aiken at some U-K baseball games as well.

In the Atlantic Sun, there's a line drive fouled back to the netting.

Owen Roach doing what a good leadoff hitter does fighting at the dish.

Yeah, this team will not strike out.

A lot of you.

Loves to have those tough at bats and puts pressure on you.

That's the trademark of their game.

They're going to put pressure on you every at bat, every pitch.

Another two strike pitch that once popped up on the infield left side.

Shortstop Marcus Bates camps underneath it, and he makes the catch for the game's first down.

As we look at Benton defensively, it's Snellings, Pelkey and Robertson left to right in the outfield.

Wilson baits Hillis and Curry left to right on the infield.

Micah baits the catcher and Blake Mitchell on the bump.

Yeah Marcus Bates right there going to Crowder Junior College.

We talked yesterday about ace two.

He's from Pulaski Academy.

They're going to be teammates next year.

How about and yeah Marcus Bates has a D-1 future in front of him.

First pitch to Keaton Mathis misses up and away.

So Owen Roach you mentioned the Slade protector, one of the best players at the high school ranks in the state of Arkansas, potentially in history.

Slade Caldwell, a very high draft pick from Valley View.

Yeah, you don't see very many first round draft picks.

You can only name a few in Arkansas state history.

Torrey Hunter, Dustin Moseley come to mind.

Slade's having a really good pro career.

Next pitch to Mathis is swung on and fouled, tipped into the catcher's mitt.

Keaton Mathis, another one of those seniors.

He's been in a state title game plenty of times.

He's a seasoned veteran.

Yeah four straight for for Keaton looking for his third ring swings and pops this up right side.

Who wants it first baseman's over.

Got room.

Curry battling things a little bit but a nice job by Chris Curry son head coach of the Trojans A little rock.

Curry puts it away.

Yeah.

Curry hit a three run home run last week in the semifinals against Greene County Tech.

Benton exploded for nine runs in that big inning they had.

And the catalyst was Curry with that one.

He's just a sophomore.

Got a lot of good baseball in front of him.

Well how about the start for Blake Mitchum the junior.

He's retired the first two hitters.

It brings in the sophomore.

Now Barrett Mallett starting third baseman for Valley View.

And Mitchum pumps in a strike to begin the at bat.

Yeah.

Mallett is the one that's been the unsung hero this year.

He's he leads the team in rising, hitting over 400.

It's pretty nice average for a 10th grader.

Certainly does not play like a 10th grader.

Yeah.

When you're hitting third in the Valley, you line up in the middle of all these seniors.

You know you're doing your job.

He is sandwiched between two different seniors.

Fouls that off to the right side to the one and two hitters, both seniors and Roach and Mathis.

Then it's Malik, the sophomore, then two more seniors to follow and Levi Martin and Noel Ragsdale.

So that speaks volumes of Barrett Mallets ability offensively as well as defensively.

Yeah, he's getting to play the hot corner over at third base.

Got to have a lot of trust in the guy that's over there.

Think is some good third baseman Caden Wallace comes to mind.

That's right.

One of the best off to a great start in this year for the Harrisburg Senators.

He prepped at Greenbrier of course missed out on his senior year due to Covid.

But he's off to a great start this year.

Finally healthy for that nationals organization was in the Royals.

Ended up getting traded over to the Nats.

Yeah.

Ran into some injury problems.

Started the bat.

But you know he had ten home runs last year in 121 games.

He's already got nine this year JB hitting close to 300.

His slugging percentage has gone up over 200 points.

And that's so great to see Caden Wallace Barrett Mallett takes that one up and away with a good job walking the count against Mitchell.

What you want to see out of the three hole hitter Mitchum though trying to put him away.

Fastball fouled straight back again a great battle here with two outs to the top of the first.

Yeah, Benson was not going to come down into their zone.

He's going to stay right at the top of that zone with the fastball.

And it's been like we talked about.

It's got good tilt, but it's got right there at the end of it.

So it's going to be at the top of the zone.

It's so hard to lay off of.

Two balls two strikes up and away.

And now the count's full.

Nice job at the dish for Barrett.

After Roach and Mathis route.

Seemingly soft contact.

A nice job.

Work on the count.

Yeah.

And then you got Levi Martin, who's going to be a central Missouri mule next year.

Possibly as a pitcher, possibly as a two way guy.

He's waiting on deck.

He wants to bat in this inning.

And the way that Barrett Mallett is swinging the bat, he's hoping he can work a walk or find a way on to give Martin that chance.

Absolutely.

And talk about Martin.

He had a three hit shutout in the first round against alma for these Blazers.

They won that game one to nothing.

A little bit of a scare I would say.

Alma the four see them again anytime you make of the state tournament are going to be playing good town.

It's hard to make it.

But for Valley View, the pitching by Martin was monumental.

Yeah.

And you know last year three number four seeds upset a one.

You had to make it to the semifinals in Greene County Tech and Beebe.

So not unheard of.

But all four number one seeds won the first round this year.

And how bout it Barrett Mallett walks the walk all now at inside.

That's the kind of at bat you want to see a state title game.

And that's the game's first base runner is Levi Martin will come into the dish.

Yeah.

We've seen you know over the years Valley View has rolled out these sophomores.

And I remember Noah Ragsdale two years ago, his sophomore year, had that big double.

He had two hits in that win over Maumelle, to give Valley View their first state championship.

In this the what could be a three peat.

So, you know, big time big moment here for Levi Martin bats from the right side with a runner at first base and Barrett Mallett he's on the roof.

They're doing what they do best.

Swipe bags and they've got another one runner in scoring position just like that for the Blazers.

And that is the name of the game for Valley two.

And that is number 178 on the year for the Blazers.

We were talking earlier today about Taylor having 144.

And I kind of shocked West.

Westmore was my partner this morning.

I was like, just wait, Valley View.

They got a little bit more.

So far they have put it on full display now.

A base hit to the outfield drives in a run.

And after Mitchell retired, two very tough hitters in Owen Roach and Keaton Mathis, a walk and a swipe of Second and Valley views got business in the top of the first.

There you got Martin has got power.

He can get power to all fields.

He can go line the line, gap the gap.

Mitchum from the stretch.

Big lead over at second.

Now it's drilled to right field down the line, slicing foul it out of play.

But Martin tags that down the line.

Yeah, we talked about it.

There were some people pulling in over there and I kind of warned them.

I was like, guys, it's not a matter of should you park there?

I'm just saying you can, but I don't know if you should.

You might have a broken window too, especially in this game.

You got some guys that can stretch that 305 and 325 down the lines Martin try to protect the plate now against Blake Mitchum and step off the rubber looks the runner back to second base and we'll do it again.

Yeah.

Benton you know, holding him close right there.

Of course.

Marcus Bates is in his pocket, but second baseman, Andrew Hillis is, you know, they can put on the flash play at any moment.

One two to Martin.

Curveball fought off.

That one was a slow breaker tailing to the outer portion.

And Martin a nice job to poke his bat out there.

Yeah.

That's what we call show me curveball just to change the the speed changes.

I level a little bit now.

I wouldn't be surprised.

He bust him in hard with a fastball.

Martin trying to protect again.

Another one ball two strike count with Barrett mallet at second.

Mitchum delivers it.

He got him.

Swing and a miss.

So Valley to a walk in a stolen base.

But he is stuck at second.

Mitchum.

But it's a big strikeout.

And the Benton bats are coming up right after this.

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Well, Benton's defense able to hold Valley View off the more their offense will come to the there Sawyer Wilson our player to watch will lead things off, followed by Marcus Bates and Easton sailings.

AJ Houston, Caleb Curry and Blake Mitchell will bat for five and six in the Noah Robertson, Micah Bates and Landon Pelkey will bat in the seven, eight and nine spots against Will Finley, the Arkansas State commit.

He's got some juice.

Yeah.

And popped onto the scene last year in that final win over Marion.

Came in and close the game out.

I think he had three innings of no hit baseball for them, if I remember correctly.

Didn't walk anybody, just shut the pages down and gave their Blazers their second straight state championship.

So big.

When you've got guys that have played in the big dance before to control the emotions, you can stay a lot more cool, calm and collected because you've been there.

It really helps out in games like these.

Yeah.

We start with Jacob Vandenberg for Taylor earlier, second time he pitched in the title game that was driven into right center field.

Going to be a long run, but a nice job by Noah Scutaro.

He gets on his horse and he tracks it down.

Yeah I tell you what.

There is a ton of speed in this outfield going.

Oh, and Roach in right field.

Then you get Scutaro in center field and Parker King who's A45 for four guys on the football field.

He can they can strike flat.

They'll cover the green ocean out there for sure.

It's a no fly zone out there.

It is an outfield for Valley View Marcus Bates going to Crowder will stand in.

Now he's talked about him being going to be future teammates with Pulaski Academy's ace Deuce Dewey a state champion.

Bates is hoping that he will also end up a state champion all around.

Curveball.

What falls off the table and Findlay's ahead.

Oh, and two yeah, Bates is.

He's going to be an infielder at the next level.

Think that bat will come around?

He's got A62 frame.

He's going to he's going to add some muscle to that frame and he's going to add a lot of pop.

But he's a really good contact hitter right now.

Can I have to protect the plate against Finley oh two.

Just out in front as he pokes it foul down the third baseline.

So we'll do it again with an O two count.

Finley tried to double up right there with the breaking ball, and Bates was sitting on it and just got a little moved around it right there.

Keep the hands on that.

Drive down the line right there.

He got a double.

Not a bad pitch from Finley up a little bit more than probably he would have liked to pitch.

You get a bear in that pitch and he knows it to Keaton.

Mathis.

Mathis is a pillow back there.

And you've heard me talk about, you don't want to be a wall.

You want to be a pillow and a pillow.

He is goes to the curve ball again, and he struck him out for out number two.

That's what he wanted on the O2 pitch right there.

You got the replay right there.

Just falls off the table.

Mathis does a great job tagging him out.

His glove.

Got the ball.

Good job Keaton gets a wink from Will Finley as well.

So two gone.

It'll be all up to Easton Snellings another sophomore batting in that three spot, and he swings to the first pitch and grounds it to the second baseman.

Ragsdale up with it to first and A123 go.

The Panthers in the home half.

We've played one from Hot Springs.

We're still scoreless.

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Well so far early as we welcome you back to Majestic Park.

It's been a pitchers tool.

I'm JB Brazil alongside Kevin Bohan and the rest of our wonderful crew here at Arkansas TV sports.

Top of the second upon us.

The first pitch is a swing and a miss from Noah Ragsdale, the senior.

Yeah.

Sophomore year had two hits in that state championship game.

That's where a Deputy Mighty Mouse.

He's a spark plug on this squad.

We talked about making it to the state title game.

And Valley View's become almost like a second home for them.

It's huge.

Whatever.

You've been here as a sophomore, now you're a senior.

Emotions can come into play.

The nerves.

But you can settle in maybe a little bit more easily since you've been here before.

Yeah.

These guys that are seniors now, they were just role players.

You see the foul ball right there called Micah Bates behind the plate rattled his cage a little bit.

He seems to be doing okay.

They're going to get back after it.

But those guys that were role players two years ago now it's their team.

They're the leaders in this squad.

Going to have to battle at the plate though is Noah Ragsdale Mitchell.

And the one two up and away.

He likes it up and away with that two strike pitch.

He's lived there a time and time again.

Yeah.

He's just changing the eye level right now.

And then busted down in the end.

Got a good three pitch mix.

Look like he's going to go back to the fastball right here.

And he does.

But it's just above the strike zone to run the count for.

Yeah just a bit up right there.

He's going to have to adjust down.

Mitchum's a big kid.

So he's going to get that tilt going down here a little bit more payoff pitch just a bit inside.

Maybe two tall as well.

What an at bat for Noah Ragsdale.

He was down in the count and he works the walk.

Yeah.

Foul it up when you need to battle it off.

Now you got a chance.

Let's see if they get him rolling right here.

One stolen base already.

And, you know, having a left handed pitcher up, you know they're either going to go first mover.

It's going to be a read.

They want to be aggressive right here.

They got the pitcher up will Finley.

Finley's good with the stick two.

He's not hitting in the six.

Oh just because he's in the lineup.

So maybe they get something going right here.

So the leadoff base runner aboard Will Finley, six all hitters.

You mentioned a team that's swiped 178 bags this year.

They like to run one of the most aggressive teams in the state.

KBO.

Yeah, in the state history.

Going back a couple of years ago when they had Slade on the team, they had even more stolen bases that year, set a state record.

It's become a staple for a coach Allison Blazer team.

Yeah.

When they started changing the bats and everything, you had to adjust your coaching philosophy.

And Coach Allison just wants to put pressure on you on every pitch.

Certainly makes it tough.

The oh one pitch is popped up.

Foul.

Oh we got a ball first Mitcham box that's going to allow Ragsdale to second base.

And those are the types of things where you talk about aggressiveness comes into play.

And oh forbidden at first base umpire Robbie Gar called it out right there.

Mitchum kind of rolled through it a little bit.

You want to?

I want to speed it up.

Maybe he's going to a slide step.

We don't know.

But he just got to make sure you get a good replay at it right there.

Kind of.

Yeah.

He hung up a little bit.

That's what the call was right there.

He had a little hanger.

Kind of hitched a little bit as he was going that's a big time play.

So nobody out runners at second base.

Will Finley a chance to drive in a run early.

Curveballs popped up.

Foul pull side Allison coach Nelson giving some instruction.

I know he's a bit out in front of that just a bit.

When you can foul a ball off behind you as a right handed hitter.

Yeah, you're a little early on down.

Valley view the best offensive chance of either team today Finley with Parker King waiting in the on deck circle.

He's going to have to protect now.

Oh two up and away again with a two strike pitch for Mitchum.

Yeah.

He's got to find a feel for that Off-speed pitch.

Just haven't seen it very much out of him.

He's been predominantly fastball.

If he can find that breaking ball, it's going to be tough on these Valley View hitters.

Finley choking up on the bat again.

One ball, two strikes.

Waits on the pitch for the lefty.

That one's lined to center field.

Hit it on the button.

Runner.

Ragsdale had to wait to see if he was going to be caught.

He was on his way back to second.

Nice job.

Taking in center field was Landon Pelkey and that saves a run.

Yeah.

Then you dig deep, right?

There wasn't a Peyton Holt level dig against Florida a couple years ago on the fly ball.

They did a really good job of playing it right now.

Here's the interesting part.

You get first and third offense first and third defense.

This is where you really start to see something going on here.

We'll have a courtesy runner over at first base.

It's Brody Freeman the sophomore to run for Valley View.

So they'll have runners at the corners and nobody out.

And Parker King the left fielder, a chance to do some damage for the Blazers.

He puts down a bunt.

Safety squeeze.

Right side.

Not going to be a play anywhere.

Throw gets away on the flip to the plate.

It's one to nothing.

Valley View King moves to second.

They're second and third.

Nobody out for Valley two and Parker King laying down a perfect bunt.

Speed kills JB.

You talk about Parker King and the speed he has now.

Mark Balestier coming out to talk to his team.

Talking to Blake Mitchem get the out right there.

It was already in a situation where it.

Look, you got to get him out.

Stop the bleeding right here.

Just kind of settle this team down a little bit.

You saw the pitcher Mitchum, with a backhand on the glove.

He tried to flip it with his glove.

That's a really tough play to make.

And I don't even know if the throw is there.

It's going to get him anyway.

Yeah, take the out when they give it to you.

That's the thing about this value team.

When they can get two going on here they were down.

They were up 3 to 2.

Van Buren had a lead last weekend on them two.

Nothing.

Bellevue scores the next 14 runs.

Next thing you know it's ball game in the sixth inning.

You look at that quick.

It could happen.

Now have you got that type of offense.

But more than that it's the aggressiveness and the baserunning the stealing.

They can do it all and they're not done yet.

Second and third.

Nobody out for Valley View in the top of the second.

And Matt and Tatum, the senior designated hitter will stand in lefty lefty matchup against Mitchum.

First pitch is a nice high looping curveball in there for a strike.

The guy they call Mad Hat is heading to Jacksonville State next year.

Really good on the mound.

It's got seven home runs this year as well.

So yeah, one of the most powerful eight hole hitters in the state I would say.

Yeah.

And it's just the thing you know he came on kind of late and in Josh Allison's program just really didn't develop, like the other guys did, but got a lot of potential at the next level if he can figure it out.

One one some velo but misses down and away by Mitchum.

So a hitter's count to a dangerous Matt and Tatum.

And we've talked about this before here at this ballpark down the right field line 305 left handed hitters.

If you get a hold on one to the right side, that's your best chance to leave the yard.

Mitchum does not want that to happen.

Two one is fouled away to even the count.

And we've only had one home run in the state championships on the baseball side this weekend.

That was Cooper Bodie in the top of the first inning.

Brooklyn had gone down three to nothing.

Pulaski Academy, Cooper Brody led off with a solo upo tako to left field against UCA signee William Soda.

Yeah, and he went to one of the deeper parts of the ballpark.

Tough for a left handed hitter to do.

But Bodie, a highly touted recruit for Brooklyn.

Two balls, two strikes though.

Yeah, swing and a miss.

And they got him.

Mitchum a big time strikeout to get a tough Maddie Tatum.

That's a really big strikeout right there.

Just looked like he took a little bit off the fastball right there.

Tatum just out in front just a little bit.

And in a game like this all it takes is just a little bit of an adjustment.

Take a little bit off.

The timing's off just by a hair and it ends up in a K. Canon Driscoll starting shortstop for Valley View coming on right here.

Transferred over from Greene County Tech before last year trying to flip the lineup over with runners at second and third and one out.

Pops this one up into shallow right field foul ground.

Long run for the first baseman.

He makes a basket catch.

Oh my.

They got a chance to get the runner at second base.

The throw down slow.

Here comes the runner from third.

And they didn't get him.

He dropped it at the plate.

The catcher and the throw was there.

But Valley View able to score.

It's two to nothing.

What a catch by Curry down the line over the shoulder.

Allow Willie Mays style.

See it on the replay right here.

Loses the hat.

Has the frame of mind to turn around and shoot the ball home real quick.

See Micah Bates right there.

There's the tag ball came out right there.

Mark Balestier talking to home plate umpire Bryant Bauman about.

Because there was contact before the tag I say it.

Did he slide right there?

I think that's what Coach Balestier he's talking to him about.

Regardless, as it stands right now, bean was that close to a double play, which would have kept it one to nothing.

But I don't think Coach Balestier is going to win that conversation, at least in terms of getting the out.

So now the top of the line up back do up and it's two to nothing Blazers.

But I don't want that to get lost on that catch by Caleb Curry.

That was incredible.

Yeah outstanding catch.

And just the frame around it.

Throw it back home I mean it's huge.

That's the baseball IQ.

It's like he comes from a baseball family.

Something like this.

Got in his blood in his genes.

The son of little Rock Trojan head coach Chris Curry.

And good luck to the Trojans.

That's right there in the OVC third place game this afternoon.

Yeah.

High curveball.

Oh and Roach was enticed.

And he swings and misses.

That was the best curveball from Mitchum so far.

It had good two plane break on it.

You could really see it really kind of had that, downward spin to it that he's been missing.

Get on top of that one one, one curveball.

That one's over the heart of the plate, but he might get out of the inning.

Popped up in foul ground.

Long run for the third baseman in foul ground.

It's Sawyer Wilson who corrals it, but Valley View gets on the board with a couple of runs and they're up two to nothing.

After an inning a half.

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These are great championship keepsakes.

Yes they are.

As we roll on to the bottom of the second.

Glad you're with us JB Brazil, Kevin Bohan and the rest of our wonderful crew here.

Beautiful majestic Park.

It's the final day of the Centennial Bank state baseball and softball championships.

They always seem to fly by cable.

They do it.

Spring sports is always a sprint.

It up.

Whether it was a player, coach, umpire, broadcaster.

They always fly by you ten weeks and then boom, it's state championship time certainly seem to come and go.

The older you get it'll be four, five and six.

Do up for Benton in the bottom of the second.

Looking to return the favor after Valley View scores the game's first two runs, it's AJ Houston, the senior D.H.

standing in and the one zero pitch is fouled away to the right side.

They just got a lot of power.

Saw it last weekend at Green County Tech.

A lot of pop in the bat.

Clean up D.H.

that's what you want right there.

Big time power hitter.

And he's going to be here.

Is it off the bat?

Nope.

It's off the forearm.

That wouldn't feel good.

But a base runner to lead things off in the home half as good command it will Finley head first inning.

You see it right there.

Look to him right off the elbow.

And a little tricep action.

Hey, Jess.

Okay.

Got a little Frogger action there.

I think he's doing okay.

Anything to get on base in a game like this.

Brings up Caleb Curry, now the sophomore first baseman for the Panthers, takes a swing and a miss on the first pitch from Will Finley.

I know Coach Balestier has been in this game for 30 years.

At Benton especially.

He's head coach back in 98 and 99 when I played.

But he's gotta love this sophomore class with Snellings and Curry and Wilson being a junior, he's got a lot of talent in the pipeline.

Curry rolls over to the right side.

It'll do a job though.

So productive out on the three unassisted.

Levi Martin steps on the bag.

But moving to second is AJ Houston.

And there's one going yeah down two.

Oh you want to make productive outs if you're going to make now make it productive.

And Curry knows that he's got good bat control I remember him out there a few years ago shagging balls.

He's out there hitting with the Trojans on the field at Gary Hogan Field.

And and he's just got a bright future in front of him.

I know Coach Curry is really excited.

I texted Chris last weekend after the home run, and you can just tell he's really excited about what what Caleb has going in for him.

Curry certainly a talented player.

It brings in the pitcher.

Now Blake Mitchem a chance to help himself out after Valley View's taken a two nothing advantage in the top of the second.

Benton now in the home half, trying to at least get a run back with Mitchum here and Noah Robertson waiting in the on deck circle.

See how Finley does with traffic on the basepaths.

An experienced guy junior, his future head coach.

Mike Silver's in the stands with us today.

Gets to talk to Coach Silva earlier.

Just talked to him about, you know, what he's done with that Red Wolf program and how he's turned it around.

They've got a lot of money influx into the program.

They're going to they're going to be trouble in the Sun Belt in the next few years.

That's right.

What a big series against Southern Miss this year.

Two did the Red Wolves.

This one's popped up on the infield.

Who wants it.

Shortstop comes over.

Driscoll calls everybody off.

And just like that, two are gone.

Yeah.

Great job by Finley to get back in the zone.

Incomplete after that lead off.

And now the batter gets home to hit by a pitch.

He's got two quick outs.

Now he gets Robertson up here see if they can leave him stranded at second base.

Their senior Noah Robertson trying to come up clutch here at at least get a run back in the bottom of the second against the tough will Finley.

Finally gets the sign from the stretch.

The first pitch is a fastball above the zone.

Yeah Finley last year of course.

And I don't know the relationship situation anymore, but he was dating crater's daughter for Marion and I talked to.

There's a, you know, kid I used to coach Gage Watson that was at Marion and won a state championship back in 2021.

I think he still, you know, still still seeing the same one because he was here watching, Will today and Gage Watson, of course, he signed out of college and was going to go into the SEC but had some arm issues.

And he's done now, but he's going to be an assistant coach at Brooklyn next year.

So we'll look and see.

They're looking forward to seeing what Gage gives back.

A big swing and a miss there.

From Noah Robertson after he stepped out a moment.

Tried to reset.

Evens the count.

Yeah, I remember you brought that up about Finley.

And I remember that thought about Riley.

And I don't know if they're still dating or not.

One ball, one strike, with two gone in the second curveball, lost it and it hits him.

So Robertson, the second hit batter of the inning, second base runner.

And Benton will have first and second.

I would just came up and in.

Yeah, just lost it.

It came off the top right there.

Billy's just got to get on top of that pitch and it's very, very good when it's down in the zone.

But he's lost it a couple of times so far.

So it'll bring in the catcher.

Sophomore Micah Bates, with a chance to drive in the game's first run for the Panthers, again looking for their second ever state title.

They want it back in zero nine, their only state championship.

Believe it or not, it's hard to believe it was Coach Balestier in the success that he's had.

It just goes to show you how hard it is to get here and then to win is it's fouled away by Micah Bates.

There's a lot of legendary coaches that have never even made it here.

I think that goes to show how hard it is to have the sustain, sustained success that you see from Valley View from Taylor.

A lot of these schools, it is so, so hard.

Yeah.

In bounced area, they the last three times they were in the state championship 1518 and 19 and lost to Sheridan twice.

And then Greenwood.

Nice take from Micah Bates.

Just missed inside to even the count.

Yeah.

The 2018 team.

They ran into a young man named Connor Nolan.

I've heard of that guy.

Yeah.

For Greenwood, they were pretty good that year.

Trey Holloway, former Razorback, was the head coach that year.

And then Tyler Kitsch to beat them in 2019.

The great performance on The man.

Yep.

Signed with the Razorbacks.

Swing and a foul back by Micah Bates.

Yeah no one had that legendary game in the College World Series against Ole Miss and ended up on the losing side, but pitched his tail off the kernels.

Great young man, great athlete, two sport athlete.

Of course an Arkansas high school you know championship winning quarterback pitcher.

Yeah his strikeout to walk ratio that year was ridiculous.

It was like 10 to 1.

Wow.

He had over 100 strikeouts I only like ten walks.

Greenwood's finest one of Greenwood's finest.

The one two to Micah Bates.

And he blew it by him.

But Will Finley, little bit of extra juice, a couple of hit batters, but no harm, no foul.

And the Valley View Blazers lead it two nothing after two.

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All right JB it is Arkansas's Governor's Cup quiz bowl time.

Here's our here's our question for class five a who holds the Arkansas high school state record for lowest ERA in a season.

That's any classification in the history of Arkansas high school baseball.

Think of the pitcher David Walmsley and 98 Dustin Mosley, 2000 David, we're still in 99.

Think of Connor Nolan back in 2018.

Tyler, catch Autry some great names in Arkansas high school baseball history and because they know how Bobby Swofford does things and how he he picks usually it's not always, but usually he tends to trend toward maybe one of the teams that's playing that broke the record.

I've got my guess, and I think I might know the answer.

Think about it.

Sports fans will get the answer at the bottom of the inning.

Right here we are in the top of the third.

They go back.

Well, I'm going to go ahead and guess Lance Davis.

What year and what team?

Oh boy.

That was probably two years ago Blake Mitchum back to work in the top of the third.

That's that's my guess.

He had a really low era.

His senior year.

Yep.

So did Eli Crusius that year.

That's right.

I only gave up 2 or 3 runs that year.

That's my guess between two of us.

Surely one of us got it.

Blake Mitchem back to work in the third.

He'll face two, three and four.

Mathis.

And Mathis on a rope laser through the six hole in a leadoff single, raising that 444 average right there.

A little bit.

The senior catcher that's headed to Arkansas State next year.

We will get a courtesy runner for the catcher.

So you know we're 26.

That's going to be Riggs Rasmussen sophomore coming into the game.

Keaton Mathis showing off for his future coach and coach Silva think he probably could care less.

He wants to win this game.

That's what he's out there for.

He's just competing out there.

So brings in Barrett Mallett, who had a really good at bat his first time up, gets a big healthy hack at the first one.

You know Mallett trying to do to kind of pull this hand right there.

Left handed pitcher.

You got to have a center field right center approach right here off Mitchum.

He's going to stay out at that.

Need to work the right right side of the field.

Certainly Mallett did play a pull there on that swing.

Yeah he's trying to pull into those trees out there on the left field wall.

Trying to make it a four nothing ballgame runner at first.

Rasmussen running for Keaton Mathis and another swing and a miss there from Mallett.

Almost swinging out of his shoes.

Yeah.

See it right there.

You see, I've known Josh Allison for 15 years now.

And I know his looks.

I know his his mannerisms.

He's just looking like, come on now.

We got to figure this out real quick.

You know what you need to do.

That's what.

That's how you build a winning program.

The expectations are known, right?

You don't have to guess.

But there's no there's no guessing.

Everything is full, transparent.

You have to wait on the.

Oh, two pitches.

Mitchum checks on Rasmussen over at first, Barrett Mallett in an oh two count.

Naturally, the approach is going to change.

Going to have to really extend and expand the zone a little bit.

Takes the oh two and that was close.

Yeah.

Just off the corner right there.

Pat a really good I mean with both these pitchers you're going to have a really good tight true zone.

It's going to be close to what a college zone is trying to and what it should be in a state championship game.

That's a great pitch from Mitchum just off the plate, but close enough to keep him honest.

That one upstairs to even the count.

And good job by the sophomore to lay off that pitch, knowing that look that's out of my zone, I'm not going to chase it.

That's always tough.

And to know, hey, when it's two strikes, I'm expanding a little bit, but I can't do it too much either.

Two two stays up and out counts full now with the runner at first and nobody out yet, because the biggest thing you don't want to do on that pitch is hit it to the middle of the field.

That's all you can do, is beat it into the ground.

So great job right there.

That's it.

That's advanced hitting mechanics for the sophomore runner on the move.

The payoff swing and a miss.

No throw to second.

So a stolen base for Rasmussen.

And it almost works like a sacrifice.

It does.

And you know that's three two counts a really good count, especially as much as Valley View likes to run.

You got to know that he's going on that when they're going on first leg movement.

And that's what they did.

As soon as Mitchum lifts his leg, he's got to go home.

So, took off one second base.

Rasmussen did.

What is that now?

179 179.

We got we got our tick mark going here.

We got two right.

First out of the inning, but Levi Martin and Noah Ragsdale will each get chances to extend the two.

Nothing advantage mentioned a second time through the lineup right here is going more first pitch breaking ball, which we it's always fun to have the game within the game.

How does the sequence change?

How does he change it up?

Going through the lineup a second time, heavy fastball the first time through.

Now he's mixing in the curveball a little bit more.

Goes with the fast stuff that time it's fouled away to the right side.

That was a well-located pitch down around the knees.

Levi Martin started his high school career at Pocahontas, was really good player for the Redskins, transferred over the value a couple of years ago.

So a lot of really good talent in the northeast portion of the state, a lot of good talent.

And Saleen County also not just including Benton High School, but get, what, three state championship teams that made it to the finals?

Just on the baseball side of things, right.

Of course, the Lady Panthers are going for another state championship tonight at 7:00.

That's right.

Curveball.

That one's ground up.

The middle base hit.

They're going to wave home.

Rasmussen.

It gets under the glove of the center fielder.

Pelkey.

Oh my.

That could end up big time trouble.

They'll pump the brakes at third, but an RBI driven in by Levi Martin and the Blazers let a runner at third and only one out.

That's going to be a single and a two base error right there Leila Martin.

Great job.

Great job keeping the hands inside.

You saw it right there on the replay.

Got the barrel to the ball.

That's a pitch where Mitchum wanted it saw it off on the hands.

But Martin does a great job of keeping the hands inside, taking it back where it came from.

Right there.

Now, with the use not done yet either, Noah Ragsdale, standing in now, he takes a big hack at the first one and fouls it off.

He walked his first time up.

Yeah, Ragsdale knows right there.

He's like, I got to get back in my zone right here.

I tried to pull that ball and that's the ball that goes back up the middle.

This is a Blazers team that's only lost twice this season.

Once in state.

And that was to six eight Rogers ground ball base hit left side.

Another R.B.I.

knock for the Blazers.

And they're up four to nothing on the single from Noah Ragsdale.

Look out the Blazers are rolling right now.

We got a timeout right here.

Bryant Bauman.

All the time here.

We got some stirring down in the bullpen.

That's right Benton is starting to loosen some arms down the way I think Evan Campbell down there.

Number four he's committed to us.

Rich mountain next year a senior at junior college has done really well.

Lance Bogner, who's at UCA now, started that program.

Trent.

My good friend Payton.

Trey Wicks, the head coach there now.

Yeah.

Payton's done a good job coming from ASU.

So I'm going to pop up here on the infield catcher calling everybody off.

And Micah Bates makes the catch in fairground.

Good to see Bates take control right there.

Yeah yeah the tough sky right now the ball is really going to blend in.

You got a little cloud cover right here.

So really good job of Bates to pop that mask off and go find it.

And you see the earpiece right there.

You can't have communication in high school now which is a good thing.

Speed up the game a little bit.

Get those signs in a little quicker.

Yep.

Here's Parker King.

He got the scoring started for Valley View on a safety squeeze to that right side.

It was going to bring in a run anyway.

But the pitcher Mitchum gloved and flipped it home and he threw it away.

And that allowed runners at second and third.

Valley view would get another run in the inning.

Made it two to nothing else in the second.

It was started off as a sacrifice bunt, turned into a circus on the base pass.

So those are the kinds of things that when you play Valley, you can't do it, man.

Do it.

One, one pitch, a big swing and a miss King was trying to pull that one deep over the left field fence.

You know, Josh Allison's going to talk to these guys in between.

And he's like, guys, why are we trying to knock the ball out of the ballpark?

You got to know it.

You got it.

King.

Now with a one ball, two strike count.

Going to try to protect against Mitchum.

High leg kick fastball.

And he got him.

Blows it by him for outnumber three.

But not before the damage is done.

Two more coming home to score for Valley View.

They're up four to nothing as we head to the bottom of the third.

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Welcome back to the class five state championship game here at Majestic Park.

Our Arkansas Governors Quiz Bowl Association trivia question.

Who holds the Arkansas high school state record for lowest ERA in a season?

And drumroll, please.

Lance Davis of the Bellevue Blazers good job.

JB Brazil 0.14 ERA.

Two years ago in 2020 for the state championship MVP.

The current TCU Horned Frog, he gave up one earned run in 2024 and is stupid.

I kind of cheated.

I was on the call of that state title game, so I'd remembered how low his era was.

I felt pretty confident.

He only wanted one earned run and he threw a ton of pitches that year.

Innings pitched.

Yeah.

And his partner Eli Casillas.

Yeah, it was below one.

He had like a 0.32 ERA, if I'm not mistaken.

Stupid.

Yeah, stupid.

The amount of strikeouts and low ERA that they had, it'll be nine nine hole hitter Landon Pelkey to lead things off for Benton is their hole has been dug a little bit deeper.

They trail four to nothing now.

Sawyer Wilson and Marcus Bates top of the lineup due next.

East and Snellings bats if anyone reaches and a four pitch walk for the nine hole hitter, that's a good way to flip things over for the top.

Is Pelkey aboard now?

Yeah.

Coach Matt Snyder down there, pitching coach for Valley View.

He's got to be thinking, hey guys, we got A40 lead and we come out with a four pitch walk, maybe a mental block.

I've noticed Will Finley, he is not as consistent with his command on left handed hitters.

He's away away, away in these right handed hitters.

He's able to use that breaking ball a little bit more.

So he's got that middle block right now.

Fight together.

Oh it looks like there will be a conversation.

Yeah I've known Matt for a while too.

He's the head coach at Pocahontas and took that assistant job at Valley View and Keaton Thomas out there.

Really tell him what he's saying right now.

Matt's one of the good ones.

Should be a head coach in the state of Arkansas for sure.

Got a lot of good young ones across the state.

And, Matt's one of the best you can almost sense.

He's kind of telling me you're tensing up a little bit there to, you know, just settle down.

You got your stuff.

Trust your trust your stuff.

Yep.

So second time through the lineup can always be a little bit more interesting.

Okay.

Bo Benton's a good offensive team.

Their second time seeing Finley.

How will he respond?

Yeah, and Bellevue saw them do it last week to Green County Tech in that semifinal game.

So they know how explosive this offense can be.

You got no outs.

You got to run it.

They're going to be able to start their offense.

Now let's see what the Panthers respond with.

So the first pitch is grounded up the middle.

What a play by the second baseman.

And they can't complete the throw.

The first.

That was going to take one heck of an effort anyway an infield single all the way.

But man Noah Ragsdale nearly robbed him telling you great play by rags but great hustle by Sawyer Wilson, the junior you see a bear commit Levi Martin just couldn't get the stretch right there on the short hop.

But Wilson does a great job of keeping the train rolling.

Roll it around to Marcus Bates right now.

Got the replay right there.

Great.

Stop spin to the backside and just could not get it.

If if Martin would come up with it we would have an out.

Yep.

I don't know if you could tell how hard that is for Ragsdale to glove that.

And then rotate.

The most unnatural way to get that throw over to first was so impressive.

You got to have a lot on that throw.

Yeah.

He went with the momentum of the baseball and some of the best athletes.

They have that right foot they can tuck under and roll to that side.

That's something that infielders actually work on at the higher levels.

Right.

So they can make that throw from every level.

Marcus Brown that with Shiloh Christian with the Oklahoma State Nationals.

He does it.

He was the best at that.

Casey Martin was a good one as well at that really quick shift on that glove.

I mean that's that's a play that if he goes the opposite way, he really doesn't get enough on that throw.

That was his only way to make a play.

So Benton in business though first and second.

Nobody out there just looking for some type of an answer.

Marcus Bates.

Batting with a 100 count, he swings and misses the curveball.

And that's the the little slur that Finley has.

And he's been very effective against right handed hitters with he hasn't shown it to lefties too much.

But that's where he needs to start that pitch.

It starts over the outer third of the plate and then just falls off the table.

He can be very effective with that pitch if he can command it.

Finley, the future Red Wolf, baits the future Rough Rider going to Crowder, swings and misses it.

Another curveball and he's down in the count one and two.

Let's see if he triples up right here I know I was sure they can beat you.

Bates has got to keep that in his back pocket.

Knowing that that curveball has been there two times in a row.

Yeah what Bates is looking for, he's looking for the dot on the spin up, and he's looking for the dot.

If he sees the dot, lay off of it.

One two from Finley.

Curve ball goes back to the well.

But this time Marcus Bates lays off.

Yeah that's one.

You know everybody in the part to kind of go there that we saw the swings with Marcus Bates right there.

May want to just change it up a little bit and just paint the corner with a fastball.

Counts even two balls and two strikes and oh balk by the pitcher family.

So both teams now with some miscues on the ball.

But that's going to move runners his second and third.

And Benton is in business in the bottom of the third.

Yeah I think we had a little double set right there where it kind of started and then reset before he stepped off.

So that's the biggest thing.

You look at it right there.

Yeah.

That's it.

He paused a little bit and hesitated.

You have to have one fluid motion when you're coming set.

Great job by the official umpiring crew to get that ball moving runners in the scoring position.

Now Bates really wants to put the ball in play here.

Two two curveball.

That one found too much of the plate.

And Finley is fortunate that he's getting another pitch here.

Yeah very lucky with that one Marcus Bates.

He was going be hunting on that one.

That curveball found too much at the plate.

And I think Bates wants that one back.

Two balls.

Two strikes will do it again.

Finley trying to get a big out right here in the bottom of the third.

Two two fastball fouled straight back.

And that's the fastball at those after two sliders you should have.

Yeah.

They go back and think about it.

That's where you want to paint it right there.

And I know go ahead I was going to say I want to see if they can bust him and see how Bates does the inside hit right there.

I know it's early in the game, but you got to imagine in the bat like this, at least this inning, you got to get something.

If you're bent.

Absolutely no outs.

Two, two.

Curveball just above the zone.

It's not where it's caught.

It's where it crosses the plate.

And consistency from a home plate umpire has been there all game.

That's a great call.

Yeah.

Just little too loopy right there.

And you know Valley View Vans are giving it to Bryant.

Baumann does a great call right there a little above his own Bates had it clocked in all the way.

So a full count.

Now first base is open with runners at second and third.

Nobody out.

Finley.

The payoff.

Curveball misses up and in again.

And the Panthers will bring the tying run to the plate as they are full of Panthers and nobody out.

Oh, I think that's the most important thing right here.

We got no outs.

I mean, it's been a little crazy.

You know you got to walk right there.

Two walks this inning and the infield hit.

So no Benton has make it hurt.

Last time Easton Stallings had a triple last weekend.

It looks like we're going to get a change.

So coach Allison out from the dugout and Will Finley's night is appearing to be over.

And it will be so Finley Dunn the Blazers head to the pen.

They're in a jam.

Bases loaded.

Nobody out.

They do lead four to nothing, but the tying run is at the plate.

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

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Tomorrow morning at 11.

Welcome back to Majestic Park, JB Brazil, alongside Kevin Bohan and the rest of our wonderful Arkansas TV sports crew.

Glad you're with us.

Valley view is up, but it's getting a little bit dicey for now in the bottom of the third.

And the bases are juiced for the Panthers.

Martin coming into quite the jam with Easton Saleh's do up in the dish.

Yeah.

And leave out Martin their best arm this season.

You talked about in the first round game in the state playoffs.

Three hit shutout against alma.

Blazers won that game one to nothing.

Believe he's ten and zero on the season after that win.

You know he he's been their ace.

And the Blazers are in a bit of a sticky wicket right now.

See if they can get out of it.

Benton.

That's right.

Coming up with East and Snellings right here.

And J.B.

we were talking off the edge a second ago.

Who does each of Snellings remind you of here?

It draws Danielle on his swing.

Looks just like Charles dabble.

You'll see his stance here in a moment.

For those that are Razorback fans, Charles Dowling obviously started his career for the Gulf Coast in the Atlantic Sun.

But here's his stance.

Looks a lot like Charles dabbling a little open right there.

You know, when Devil On Got it was a little bit more pronounced just like it man.

Yeah.

Levi Martin first pitch is a changeup in the dirt and devil on.

Excuse me.

Snellings takes it low.

Yeah.

Snellings.

His dad, Brady Snellings, went to Benton.

I had the pleasure of playing some softball with him back in the late 90s, early 2000.

About that.

I'm telling you, that looks just like Charles Devlin.

That one's missing up two and zero.

And how about this for Snellings?

He's in a great position.

Hitter's count with the bases loaded.

Yeah, if he throws that again, Snellings may be trotting around the bases if he can pick it up.

That's the thing right there.

Barton's got to be careful.

He's a talented pitcher.

He's shown that all season long.

Two balls, no strikes.

Pitch from Martin misses low.

No place to put Easton Snellings.

And it's three.

And oh, yeah.

Fastball for Martin's going to work 85 to 87.

Has a little bit more in the tank right there, but has a good three pitch mix.

We've seen the change up a couple times.

You'll see that to the lefties.

And he'll throw the breaking ball to the righties.

Snellings going to be taking all the way here.

Martin ducks the zone with a strike at the knees and a fastball at three and one.

Yeah, if he can live there he can get a double play ball out of it.

The key for Snell.

He's going to have to get on playing with that and meet that ball out early and try to pull that ball.

Three balls and one strike.

Martin is going to have to have a quality pitch.

You can't prove something here.

Three one.

That one's pulled down the right field line.

Foul by Snellings.

He was a good bit out in front.

He barreled it.

But out in front.

Now you want to throw that changeup but you want to throw it away to left handers.

You leave it right there.

He's going to do that.

But still he just had to keep his hands in on that one.

If he keeps his hands in on that one, that's a triple for him out of the box.

Lefty.

He's got good speed.

Plays a wide receiver for the Benton Panther football team.

He can get to he can get to third on that one.

This is a big pitch here in the ball game.

Payoff curve ball hit off the end of the bat.

Foul just enough to stay alive.

You see a deep breath from Snellings.

Yeah.

Love seeing Martin go to the chain.

He's going to live and die by that change up to these lefties.

You can see he really went to it right there.

It's a true circle change for a right handed pitcher.

It's going to have a lot of tumble a lot of arm side run right there at the end.

We'll see if he can con the latter with the fastball right here.

And he's going to go back to the changeup.

Another one of these payoff pitches curveball.

That one is hit to deep right field down the line slicing.

And it's foul.

He caught it on a hot you couldn't see with the pole there.

But the right fielder oh a roach.

Nice short hop.

Yeah but it's not going to be an out.

Yeah.

Umpire right.

It was right on top of it right there.

It's Robby Gar on first base.

Umpire was right on top of it.

He went back to that changeup again.

And Sterling just a little early on.

It might have been off either the handle or the end of the bat.

Didn't hit it completely clean.

But he's got enough power on the pull side.

Yeah it seems like he got it off the handle a little bit.

Just kind of started to swing a little too early right there.

So another payoff pitch.

It is low.

What.

And it back from Easton Snellings and Benton is on the board.

And got three walks in a single this inning.

That's what you need.

Benton's right back in there.

The home team in this five state championship game, they won the coin flip.

So they get to be home team.

They're nice.

Boy, that at bat from a sophomore, you can tell the future is bright for coach Ballesteros.

Panthers.

They want to win this one naturally AJ Houston the senior bats with the bases loaded.

Still nobody out.

It's four one Levi Martin now facing his second batter of the game.

And he delivers a strike.

On the other hand the biggest thing right here for Martin finding out you know they got two.

They got a three run lead.

Now started with the four run.

But they just need to find an out right here.

That's the biggest thing he needs to do.

Sometimes it takes a batter in to kind of get settled in a little bit.

Yeah Martin used to starting.

Yeah.

That one gets in the dirt.

It's blocked by the catcher.

Nice job to keep that at least close.

Keaton Mathis.

He's a D1 talent for a reason.

Able to keep it in front.

Yeah.

Younger brother Eli Mathis is on this team.

Has a bright future as well.

But, yeah.

Keaton I've loved watching him came up.

Yeah.

He's pitch.

He's played the corner infield spots.

But his future was as a catcher for sure.

It shows why right there.

That's the difference between A42 game one one Houston going opposite field.

But fouls it away.

And now Martin gets ahead a ball and two strikes.

Yeah.

Let's see if Martin climbs the zone right here with the fastball up.

See if he can blow up by Houston.

AJ Houston he was hit by a pitch his first time.

That was against Will Finley.

Martin with A12 pitch.

There it comes.

Fastball chopped on the infield.

That's going to do a job.

Third baseman charges gloves.

The only play is at first.

Mallett on the five three put out but an RBI on the ground out for AJ Houston and more importantly, Marcus Bates slides up to third base and they get the runners in position.

So there's still got two in scoring position.

One hit could tie this game.

Javy.

Man, that is huge.

That is what you talked about earlier.

Even if you get outs they've got to be productive outs.

And Benton now with a chance to tie things up still only one out of the inning.

And Caleb Curry the sophomore will stay it.

Now.

First pitch from Levi Martin is a curve or changeup grounded the right side that's going to get another run home.

Three unassisted runner moves to third.

A runner comes in to score.

Curry does your job and it's 4 to 3.

Yeah the second productive out by Caleb Curry both three unassisted.

But this time he gets an RBI.

Cuts the lead to one.

Great response by the Benton Panthers right here at the bottom of the third inning JB Finley over.

At first he's a little frustrated with himself because of allowing some of this stuff to happen.

But that's that's what you see in these title game.

It's tough to execute every single pitch.

And now Blake Mecham, the starting pitcher for Benton, a chance to tie things up.

Can't hold up on the changeup though.

He went around.

And that's strike one.

And Martin does such a great job of keeping his arm speed the same.

That's why you see these Benton hitters.

You may be watching at home thinking he's not throwing that ball very fast, but the arm speed stays the same.

Right.

And when you can change the your velocity 15 to 20mph like Martin's doing, it's tough to pick up that pitch, really is.

It's easy to be at home on your couch and think, oh, I can do that.

I'd like to see you try.

Yeah.

0012 Mitchum on other changeup.

That one swung on and missed and Martin's ahead.

Oh and two yeah yeah.

You'll see Levi Martin just pitch backwards here.

I mean that's the thing he does with these left hand hitters is it's going to be tough.

They've got to sit and say think I'm going to be pitch backwards two right here I've got to be sitting change up in adjust to fastball.

Likely going to get another one.

Yeah.

Oh two to Blake Mitchum Martin with a long look at what a fastball.

And he got him looking at the knees.

Two in the inning.

But not before the Panthers with a three spot.

They're right back in this thing.

It's 4 to 3 as we head to the fourth.

Tomorrow at 1130.

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Welcome back to Majestic Park for the five state championship game.

Our Arkansas TV student all star for class five eight hot Springs Lakeside utility man Colin Estes.

The senior has a 3.7 GPA.

JB his future plans.

He's going to go play baseball for the powerhouse, the traditional D2 powerhouse, the Southern Arkansas Mule Riders out of Magnolia.

So congratulations to colonists.

Our class five, a Arkansas TV student all star.

Yeah, no doubt that is a powerhouse down there in Magnolia.

Yeah, coach heart was down there for Allen gum.

That's right.

Been coach down there.

And they just keep the tradition rolling down there.

And Magnolia in.

Well, as we move on to the top of the fourth we have got a new ballgame.

4 to 3 Valley View still on top.

But Benton with three runs that was huge.

We talked about the Panthers needing to get a run back.

They got three of them against a Valley View team that's been here a ton looking for their third straight title.

It's their sixth straight appearance for Coach Allison's team as Matt and Tatum, the Jacksonville State signee.

The Gamecocks right.

That's Gamecocks.

Yeah that's her.

Jet Crow went to coach football today.

Tatum fouls this one away.

Random fact of the day.

Yeah that's right.

They were in the Atlantic Sun.

They're in the Sunbelt now I think my phone's listening to me.

It comes up Jacksonville State.

That's crazy correct.

Should conference USA for Jacksonville State you go one two curveball that one stays up.

Missouri State also made the jump up also.

So a lot of fun FCS schools make the jump up.

You're going to have a lot of good fun there at Jacksonville State.

He's a good hitter.

There you are.

He struck out once and he has a nice take on the outer half that time.

That's where you know the zone.

You know what not to swing at and a good take yeah.

The best nickname in this game for sure.

Mad tat.

Oh without a doubt.

Yeah.

Mad tat trying to tattoo a baseball here and he fouls it straight back.

Really good left handed swing right there.

Throws righty off the bump though.

And he's he throws that high cheddar cheese boy.

He started the semifinal game against Van Buren and didn't make it out of the first inning.

Just ran into some issues.

But if he gets on the mound look out.

He's got he's got some velocity.

Another payoff pitch that one misses down and away from Mitchell man a leadoff base runner for the Blazers in the top of the fourth.

See what happens here.

Cannon.

Driscoll coming up and grounded out.

Flew out to first base Caleb Curry last time up.

We'll get a probably a pinch runner right here in high school baseball.

You can reenter one time in the lineup so the starter can't come back in.

So Matt and Tatum will come back in if we can get a number over there.

13.

There we go.

That'll be Chasen Becker.

No he is a the third Becker brother to come through the Valley View program.

He had Cason Becker who was on a couple of championship teams, the oldest one pitched at Arkansas State.

He was a 2022 graduate at Valley View.

It's the Becker Blazers.

For three our score as Parker King well standing now he got the scoring start.

As we mentioned earlier with that safety squeeze bunt that ended up in disaster for bitten.

And you know this as well as I do cable.

When you put a leadoff hitter aboard against Valley View, there's a good chance he's going to be on the move at some point.

Absolutely.

Driscoll is that in the nine hole right here?

He's that second leadoff hitter to roll it around to Owen Roach.

Let's see if they get something going right here.

They attack with I don't think you're Driscoll takes a strike way.

Out.

Yeah.

So Tanner Driscoll the shortstop as the camera angle throw a bit I. And we'll have to wait a little bit as Mitchum steps off the rubber.

Now he's back in and ready.

Checking over there at first, keeping them honest.

See how loose the young man coming in.

See how loose Becker is coming off the bench right there.

They're still checking on him.

They know how much Valley View likes to run.

Trying to keep him close.

I want to say Mitchum's a move when you talk about moves over to first by a lefty.

His arm that's his plus move.

And I don't think we've seen it yet.

One one there to Driscoll skied into right field.

Should be playable though and it will be for Robertson.

Can a corner and that's outnumber Warren.

Great job by Mitchum to get back in the zone right there.

Issue a leadoff walk after your team gets three runs.

Cuts the lead to one for the Blazers.

You don't want to give up that lead off, but great job of getting back in the zone right there by Blake Mitchum.

So now back to the top of the lineup.

And Owen Roach.

Sling County is 1 in 1 this weekend.

And baseball state champions Haskell Harmony Grove won their second state title.

First one was in 2019.

Dax Hamm at 13 strikeouts for the Cardinals the other day.

That was hit off the end of the back to the shortstop knocked down by Bates.

But he's not going to have a play anywhere infield single for the top of the lineup in Valley View's got runners at first and second.

Got to get it rolling.

Owen Roach does a good job right there.

Hitting it deep in the six hole base slid good.

That just kind of lost it right there and just couldn't come up with that.

Was that in between where he can't fully lay out and die for it.

You can't get it on the backhand.

Just gotta knock it down and hope you don't give extra bases.

So first and second for Keaton, Mathis one out in the inning.

Blazers trying to add to A43 lead.

First pitch from Mitchell Mays and offspeed in there for a cold strike.

Mathis is one for two today.

Popped down in the first and he singled in the third.

He was.

Ben still with only one hit today.

They've been out hit 5 to 1, but it's A43 ballgame curveball.

That one's a later to left.

But he hit it right to the left fielder on the button.

But Snellings all over it.

And that's out number two.

Yeah.

Mathis just did not stay back far enough on that.

He kind of got out on this front foot and he was all arms with that.

JB very good bat speed with just couldn't get enough on to get it past Alex.

So now Mitchum is one out away from getting out of the inning unscathed.

But it's going to be a tough hitter.

Barrett Mallet, the hard hitting sophomore, will bat with first and second and two gone.

Mitchum takes a deep breath.

Now let's go for one.

Today.

He walked in the first, but he struck out in the third against Mitchum.

It's now the third time through the lineup for Mitchum.

Yeah, we're here in the top of the fourth inning, third at bat in four innings.

It's popped up foul by Barrett mallet.

And I mean, you look at the line.

Squaw Valley View has got four runs on five base hits, no errors.

Benton's got three runs, one hit on two errors.

That said, they wanted to fill up every column today.

That's right.

And when they got some help with those walks and they took advantage.

Yeah.

Kind of made up for the errors that allowed Valley View to get some runs earlier.

They've had some productive outs like Caleb Curry twice has advanced.

The runner scored a runner.

And that's what you need.

Got to have that.

Games like this is Barrett.

Mallett fouls it back into the netting.

You're going to beat a Valley View team.

You're gonna have to play sound.

And if you don't play sound then you're going to have to execute in other ways.

A couple of errors have come back to bite Benton.

However.

They've taken advantage of some free passes.

That's, you know, Coach Buster's message to his team.

Guys, we're not going to play 100% clean baseball.

We got to figure it out some way, trying to get out of the inning unscathed.

The O2 pitch is chopped to the right side.

It's through the right.

It's going to get another run home for Valley View.

A throw to the plate is late.

Both runners move up and the sophomore Barrett Mallet delivers.

Two weeks ago, talking to coach Matt Snyder before the state tournament, he said the unsung hero on this team was Barrett Mallet.

Great job of hitting right there.

Shortened up goes to right field drives in a run.

See it right there in key situation right there.

The runners moved up to second and third on the throw home.

That's something.

Automatic instinct by Valley View on the basepaths.

The aggressiveness of the Blazers.

They were heading home all the way.

Testing the arm of the right fielder was a nice throw from Roberson but an RBI all the way for Barrett.

Mallett makes it 5 to 3.

And here's the deal.

Not done yet.

Cleanup hitter Levi Martin batting with second and third and two gone.

Yeah don't make a mistake right here Martin can turn it around quick.

Oh.

One pitch.

That one's ground up the middle in the center.

That's going to score a couple more back to back singles for the Blazers.

And three have come home to score Martin's second hit of the game right back up the middle, just about where it was last time.

Didn't try to do too much.

They know with the lefty on the mound, just shoot it back up the middle.

That looks like that's going to be it for Blake.

Mitchum values taking a 7 to 3 lead here in the top of the fourth inning with two outs.

And there is the signal from Coach Balestier.

That's the pitch that knocks him out of the game.

A nice effort from the second baseman, Hillis, but to no avail.

The Blazers all with two outs, a two out rally.

And just like that, they're back up by four.

We'll tell you about the new Panther pitcher on the other side of the break.

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Tomorrow morning at 11.

13 guest Amy, welcome back to Majestic Park.

Valley view with four runs or three runs.

Excuse me.

In the top of the fourth, they have open the lead back up to 7 to 3.

And the Panthers have called upon the bullpen.

It's Evan Campbell making his first appearance of the game.

He's been on the bench.

He's been warming up.

He comes into the game with his team trailing by four.

Yeah.

You get these higher classifications.

It's going to be a pitcher, pitcher only that's what Campbell is.

He's going to go to a rich mountain next year.

Good fastball.

He's going to be in the mid 80s.

He's there because there was a lot of strikes.

And that's what they need right here.

Just get back in it.

And it's 7 to 3.

But it was four zero.

So get back in the game.

Valley view just keeps coming coming coming.

So Ben just has to keep fighting back there.

The home team in this game.

So just keep fighting back.

Get the get on the to the next inning.

Valley view is a team that's going to keep throwing punches.

But if you can kind of steady the ship a little bit, give yourself a chance.

That's what it's all about.

And Evan Campbell is hoping to do that in the top of the fourth runner at first with two gone.

Brings in Noah Ragsdale, who's one for one today with an RBI.

Yeah, we know that this is the third time through that lineup, and Mitchum had shown just about everything he's got the first time through the lineup in Valley View, he's been sitting on.

In the third time, they had to get somebody else.

Watch out.

Ragsdale has to pull the bat back.

It's up and in and on the move.

Easily swiping the bag was Brody Freeman.

He came on to run over at first base for Levi Martin.

So now another runner in scoring position.

And Ragsdale with a base hit could make it 8 to 3.

Yeah I don't think Ragsdale was button right there.

He was just showing that.

Absolutely not in a game like this.

Yeah, but his bat, you know, if you're zero for three and you've really been struggling maybe so yeah.

New pitcher though.

And I think I'm going to get this guy in the scoring position here.

Throw a strike.

Ragsdale a one for one day.

Already walked.

He's been a tough out all season long I think you could say that a lot of these value hitters though.

One ball one strike check on the runner at second first has to scamper back into the bag.

No throw.

We talked about the seniors on this Valley team, the guys that have been around for four years like Roach, Mathis.

This is their 16th state title or state championship game.

State tournament game.

That's the most in school in Arkansas history.

Yeah, 16 state tournament games.

Well, they had a scare in the opening round against Alabama one nothing.

When they were down two, nothing to Greenbrier.

Newland had a home run in the Kennedy that was up two to nothing.

They came back and then the same thing against Van Buren.

They were down.

They came back.

There's no give it there.

Cool, calm and collected all the way around.

They've been there before.

One, two pitch.

That one is drilled to left field.

That's another base hit.

They're gonna wave home.

Freeman.

We're going to have a play to the plate.

The throw is late.

Taking second on the throw is Ragsdale.

And oh boy a four spot for the Blazers in the top of the fourth.

And they're up 8 to 3.

It's funny watching coach Josh Allison over at third base.

You see it go.

He's not waving home.

He doesn't know.

He knows.

Just go.

They know what to do.

That's what this program is all about.

They know the expectations.

Ball's in front of you know what to do.

I mean these guys coached themselves and that's where they're at as a program.

Great job by Ragsdale.

Second hit of the day.

Take second on the throw home.

That's what you're supposed to do.

They do the small things right.

Things that really add up in a game.

Yeah the things that a lot of people just overlook.

That's where they beat you.

It's the difference in at 3 or 4 runs a game potentially based off of execution.

And that's the other thing.

They run.

They're aggressive.

They move up bases, they get extra bases.

But then they execute at the plate too.

Yeah.

It's not like they're hitting two and three run home runs.

They're getting in scoring position to hitting singles.

It's all they need to do.

They're not a team that's going to help you out either.

That one's drilled down the line.

That's a fair ball for Will Finley.

Extra bases and another run is going to come in to score a stand up double for the starting pitcher.

And the Blazers are trying to break it open.

And that's five runs with two outs right here in the fourth inning.

The floodgates have opened.

Five runs for Valley View in the top of the fourth.

And again, this has all been with two outs.

Yeah.

Top.

The lineup came up with two outs.

They just knew how to do it.

Mathis made the second out and they just kept rolling from their own hole.

Brings in Parker King.

He got the scoring started for Valley View in the second.

Takes the first pitch upstairs.

You really want to snatch Benton.

So right here lay down a drag bunt.

Third baseline.

And for an infield single third baseman is playing back.

Yeah, that's where you.

That's where you snatched the cell stone right there.

Okay, Bo, maybe trying to speak into existence, not bunting.

It is chat for like a month to third.

Third baseman charges, gloves throw is wide.

It gets away.

Another comes in to score.

Finley in.

King will stop at second.

It's a merry go round for the Blazers.

That's going to be an infield single.

It wasn't a bunt, but it was a swinging bunt.

Parker ends up at second.

Oh, here we go.

We got him over there.

So a single and then the throwing error.

And that's what allowed the runner to come in to score.

It is 10 to 3.

Blazers down.

Boy yeah.

If you're just tuning in Valley View is scored four runs here with two outs.

It was 4 to 3 at the start of the inning.

And the Blazers have just poured it on here in the top of the fourth.

So we're going a foul back here.

That's it.

Oh and one.

And Tatum started this inning.

Drew a walk.

Man team started the inning.

Came around to score.

Drew a walk.

Now he's up again.

Blazers have batted around.

They have started to bring it out.

The sticks runner at second with two gone.

But this is all banned with two outs.

Fouls that one straight back and it's own two.

And one thing about this state championship run that Valley View has been on JV.

They haven't had a blowout.

I mean they beat Maumelle five.

Nothing.

That was close early on tag Andrews patently two Razorbacks little current Trojans.

Trojan yeah tag Andrews second team OVC newcomer.

But they haven't blown blown teams out in the state championship game yet.

Yeah they're knocking on the door of that.

Yeah.

Here in the fourth Matt and Tatum are ready.

The damage done.

Six runs have scored in the inning.

They've already got ten hits.

I was just glad to finally see some offense.

See some hitting it.

We've seen so many walks and hit batters.

Yeah glad to see somebody break out the lumber up one two from Campbell.

The curveball caught him looking.

The strike three won't matter on the throw to third and will end the inning, but not before Valley View puts up crooked numbers.

They're up 10 to 3 as we move to the fourth.

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Welcome back to Majestic Park five state championship game.

Valley view leads the Benton Panthers 10 to 3.

We're in the bottom of the fourth here.

Kevin Bohan along with my partner JB Brazil JB Valley View.

Just taking it to the Panthers right there in the fourth inning.

Yeah that was certainly an exclamation mark in the ballgame.

It was A43 game after Benton scored three runs, only one hit to cut the lead to one.

But Valley View said that might be as close as you get.

Yeah.

And then they got Levi Martin and it hasn't given up a run in a month of Sundays.

And we'll see if Benton can get back in the game here.

They're going to need some magic and then some Noah Robertson was hit by a pitch his first time up.

He leads things off here and he swings and misses at the fastball of the changeup to run the count.

Even.

You know, this is one thing for Benton.

It's not I mean, at this point now you're down.

You are the home team.

You've got essentially four more at bats, barring a run rule.

You just got to start chipping away, right.

You can't get all the lead back in one swing.

You just got to take it one pitch at a time and get on base any way.

You can't.

Yeah, there are no seven run home runs in baseball.

So yeah they just got to do it one at a time.

You can't put too much pressure on yourself.

Hand it to the next guy.

Just hand it off.

Let the train keep rolling.

And I know it's easier said than done, but what what essentially happens and what a coach doesn't want is you to try to do too much.

You just go in there after the game is tied, like you're just trying to do your job at the plate.

And they were down 7 to 3.

The Greene County last week scored nine runs.

Oh yeah, it can be done.

And we have seen crazier things and this game is far from over.

However, if you're bitten, you keep digging yourself a little bit of a hole and eventually you're going to run out of room unless you start punching back a little bit.

They did an inning ago, but they still only have one hit in the game.

Two two miss is down and away.

And how about this at bat from Noah Robertson.

That's what you want leading off the inning after pitchers give up a few runs the prior inning before in the top half of the fourth inning.

You need a competitive at bat payoff pitch.

What a take from Robertson.

The changeup dips in the turf and the Panthers have a leadoff base runner.

And that's not if you're Valley View.

If you're Levi Martin, that's not what you want.

Get a seven run lead down the strike zone.

Can't give up a leadoff walk.

He cannot give Benton.

And it can't give him breath of life right there.

You gotta be able to step on their throat.

But as long as they have a chance, the Panthers will come out swinging, brings in.

Micah Bates, the sophomore batting in the eight hole, takes a first pitch fastball in there for a strike.

Oh, no.

Of course, Martin came in the game.

This was a tight game at the time and he walked in, got got the run in, gave up a run.

Of course it wasn't charged to him, but now he doesn't have to be as fan with his pitches.

Gets ahead oh two nice pitch again.

But you're right.

When you're up by seven, just attack the zone.

You don't have to groove anything but just hit your spots to to fancy.

Yeah Kate Mathis out there, senior catcher just said, come on, just fill it up, big man.

Fill it up.

No balls.

Two strikes to Micah Bates trying to protect.

Fastball hit off.

The pitcher comes towards the third baseman.

Going to be a tough play and not going to be one infield single for Micah Bates.

Good bat to ball contact right there by the sophomore catcher from Benton.

Now the Panthers have something going right here.

That's what we're talking about J.B.

just make contact.

Get it rolling.

And Martin's got to kind of be kicking himself right there.

JB, that infield is in good position to make a double play right there.

You got Ragsdale at second base.

That's when he could have filled the ball.

Step on the back.

Go to first.

But well played and healthy.

It's hard to keep competitors away from the ball.

No, that's exactly right.

Martin's trying to make a play but he should have one quarter right.

If you'd known it.

Hindsight's 2020.

This brings in.

Landon Pelkey yeah.

Pelkey started off the last inning with a walk.

Came around the score.

They got a runner over at first base for Micah Bates.

It's Aiden Bateman, another sophomore.

Number 14.

It's right.

So first and second.

Nobody out Benton on a. Oh yeah.

Trying to get a little something going here at the bottom of the fourth.

And a strike taken on the outer portion by Landon Pelkey.

As you mentioned.

He walked his first time up back in that third inning that ended up leading to three runs for the Panthers.

Yeah.

Something to see right there, J.B.. That's the first breaking ball slider we've seen from Landon Martin.

The left handed hitters.

Let's see if he goes back to that.

One one is chopped to the right side.

Second baseman thought about going for the out at second.

But he will flip to first to get the out there.

And we've talked about it all game long for Benton.

Another productive out.

Yep.

Get the two runners in scoring position.

Now move him up one and keep the train going.

Because now you got Sawyer Wilson leading off the UK commit who had a single back in the third inning.

He does it again.

They cut the lead in half right here.

Yeah you got to imagine I mean naturally at the very least you got to get a run if you're Benton.

But man you're thinking two runs is what you really need at the very most.

Or at the very least.

Yeah.

So he wants to get something.

He can drive to the right side of the field to at least get one run and stay out of the corners.

Takes the change up in the air for a strike.

I'll give it to Landon Martin.

I haven't seen a right handed pitcher throw that many changeups to right handed hitters in Arkansas high school baseball in a long time.

So kudos to you, Levi Martin.

Levi Martin is a, trusted his stuff to say the least.

Yeah, no balls at a strike to Sawyer Wilson.

Curveball that time catches the outer half, and it's a two.

Ball kind of confuse Keaton Mathis back there behind the plate.

Mathis thought it was going to be a little bit further out.

It kind of caught him right there at the last moment.

Good job by the catcher to realize that.

Not that he needed to frame it, but he did.

And that's all that even more now if you're Sawyer Wilson got to protect.

Oh, and two crouches down in the stance Martin trying to put him away.

Oh two curveball is popped up in to the outfield.

Right fielder coming over makes the catch.

They're going to wave the runner home from third.

Will have a play.

Did they get him?

No.

Just ahead of the tag on the dive was Noah Roberson.

That was nearly a double play.

But the Panthers are able to get a run in.

And they cut the lead to six.

Keaton Mathis comes up and says hey we want to challenge that.

Sorry, but we cannot challenge that is on only bottom of the fourth inning.

But see the replay right here?

I think he's got it.

Yeah, he it looks like he got him right there on the lower back before he got in there.

But Robertson here's a here's a good angle.

Let it right here.

Let's see where the hand is when he gets the tag.

Nope.

Home play umpire Brandt Bauman had a great eye on the ball.

He was third base extended like he's supposed to be.

He could see that if there was any daylight in between the tag and when he got into home plate right there.

So now it's ten four.

Another productive out, not out.

Still only two hits for Benton, but they've got four runs to show for it.

You need at least a run.

You'd love another one here okay great throw by Owen Roach.

Well nice man deep play here.

And right Roach with a cannon Marcus Bates now batting with the runner at third and two going in the first pitch is chopped foul.

He was way out in front of that.

You know a lot of teams they look and say okay let's concede that run and try to keep the guy at second base and throw.

But no, with Owen Roach out there like let her rip.

He was shallow enough.

That's where you know your outfield depth and know your arm strength out there.

For the Blazers.

Yeah.

There's a ground ball to the shortstop.

Charging glove from Driscoll.

Throw to first is high, buddy.

Got him up.

And the Panthers are done in the home half.

But they do get a run a little bit of life for the Panthers.

It's ten for Valley View as we move to the fifth.

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Still got one more to follow and a softball championship, and Benton will be around for that one also.

Okay, Bo?

Yeah, just fans can just mosey right on over to the softball complex.

Michael Westbrook.

Bobby Swofford will be on the call for that game.

But two of the best for Benton and Farmington in the five AA softball state championship.

Hard to believe that's the final game of the spring season.

The 20 2526 athletic season.

For high school sports.

How about that?

Yeah, I got to go back into hibernation.

It's been a fun, fun year.

Curveball from Evan Campbell to begin against Canon Driscoll.

And it's at two.

Oh, hammer right there by Evan Campbell.

Love to see it.

See how Driscoll responds with two strikes on him right here.

Coach Petrie going to love that.

And he almost gets the strike out just off the plate from Campbell.

12 six action right there was just off the outside.

And what we're looking for and the umpires looking for.

If the catcher can keep it within his frame.

Shoulder to shoulder.

It's likely to be a strike.

And it was just outside.

Right there.

One, two.

Trying to bust him up and in for evens.

The count at two balls and two strikes.

Curveball bounced in the turf, and now it's full.

Yeah.

Campbell kind of off balance a little bit right there.

Falling off to the first base side.

He needs to drive that lower half towards the plate.

Present your chest towards the catcher.

He just kind of fell off and lost his balance right there.

Valley view trying to put another leadoff hitter aboard.

They've done it time and time again throughout the season.

Really in this game they've just been pesky.

Yeah.

Driscoll you just I mean, this batter right here, canon Driscoll just shows you what kind of game this has been.

He started out zero two, and now you've got three two county fouls and all.

You just what you want from your nine hole hitter.

And he keeps hanging tough.

Now Campbell's got to be thinking I lost him when I had him oh two and gave up on the pitches.

Now he's just trying to get something by him and not losing.

And you know that's the fine line, right?

You see a lot of pitchers that can get ahead oh two but then they attack too much and they pay for 2 or 2 strike home runs or extra base hits.

But then there's the other side of the coin where your head oh two and then you flirt too much and you nibble and you're too nonchalant.

Yeah.

You seen that?

The collegiate level major league Baseball.

It's just that was my pet peeve.

Oh two and hit somebody that oh two and walk somebody.

Yeah.

And that's going to happen here for Campbell.

How about that at bat for Canon Driscoll.

Down oh two and a walk.

So walk on elevated pitch count.

Now the problem is you got the top of the lineup coming back up with Owen Roach.

He's one for three.

He had a single last inning.

Came around to score.

He's one for three in the ballgame.

His fourth at bat of the game.

And when you had your fourth at bat here in the fifth inning that that's where you know your offense has done a good job.

Yeah.

You scored a few runs at that point, right.

Good place to be in a title game.

First pitch to Roach misses outside on the offspeed.

Really?

Clean off runner aboard.

You going to keep in the back of your mind that blazer's going to run at any moment.

One zero pitch not going and that gets popped up.

Foul ground running out of real estate though, and it will land out of play.

Yeah Roach right there knows it.

Just got out in front right there.

Roach is one of those guys.

He's a gap two gap hitter JB and talking about look he really didn't pull anything too much.

But he stays in the middle of the field and hits.

Just line drives.

He's a line drive hitter.

That's the reason he back to the top of the lineup.

And that's the very reason he's hit throughout the lineup in his career at Valley View.

Yeah, jumped on the runner at first.

It's a high throw, but Mitchum the starting pitcher for Benton, able to corral the throw out.

We talked about it at the onset of the game.

You get 18 college commits or signees in this game.

That's what you love to say about Arkansas high school baseball.

Huge crowd on hand for this one.

It helps when Benton's playing in both of them, but Valley View has traveled well.

Also, the pickoff move.

Yeah, I started getting messages on Thursday from the Valley View faithful.

What time do we need to get there?

We know it's going to be limited, but I think they fit everybody in here very well.

Triple-A and the Hot Springs.

Jessica Parks done a great job of hosting this event this year, and they host the GHC Baseball Championships also.

It's a top notch facility to say the least.

At miss is up and away, two and one.

You've got volleyball state championships here.

You got basketball state championships here.

Now you got baseball softball.

You got cheer, got soccer, cross country you name it.

Everything but football.

That's still at war Memorial.

But darn near everything else is down here in the small city with no walk all the way back here.

And Valley View can really blow it open right here.

This is a critical at bat for Benton right here.

Three and one to the top of the lineup.

Another free pass.

And Valley View just needs four more runs.

And you got to think that Mark Balestier is going to come out and make a mound visit right here.

Man.

It's almost as if you're a crystal ball there Kevin Bohanon because as the moment you said that history, it's almost like he looked up here in the booth at you and said, oh, did you say that Kevin?

Okay, I'm going to go and talk to him.

Give him the sign to get to the pen.

You know, Coach Bell stared.

Been in this game for a long time.

You know.

Hey, bud.

Appreciate your effort.

Let's go.

I think they're going to go to Sawyer Wilson next.

The junior third baseman is going to roll back in.

If I'm not mistaken.

Wilson's going to compete in the zone.

He's going to be mid to upper 80s.

It's got a really good arm I think that's going to be the call.

So Benton will head to the pen.

Looks like Sawyer Wilson.

It's ten four.

But the Blazers have got runners at first and second.

Will return here.

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Well, Benton heading to their third pitcher of the game, and they're going to the fireball or Sawyer Wilson's got some velo coming into a ten four affair.

He's just trying to keep it that way.

Give his Panthers a chance here at the top of the fifth.

Yeah.

Wilson's going to be a fastball curveball.

He does a really good job.

He's a junior right here.

He's already committed to play at the University of Central Arkansas.

One of the top players in that 2027 class.

We talked about the talent that's been coming out of the state of Arkansas recently, over 100 players.

This past fall, JB signed to play college baseball at the next level, whether it be in a junior college Division one, 2 or 3.

It's great to see all the junior colleges in the state of Arkansas, South has been back to the JuCo World Series, and of course, the Division one schools have been just getting better every year.

Yeah, Little Rock's back in the OVC championship game for the second time in as many years.

They got to beat.

I believe it's eastern Illinois twice, but they're back in the state in the conference title game.

Central Arkansas was a game away from being the number one seed in the Atlantic Sun.

Arkansas is all the good Arkansas State high RPI, and then even UAAP B's making jumps from what they used to be.

Yeah, they made some noise in Swac.

They had an upset and round one and, they've just done a really good job around the state.

It's good to see, you know, we had the potential for four teams to hit 30 wins and little Rock got 33 wins for the first time in as many years.

Here's a ground ball for Mathis to short.

Might be to flip to second for one at a six for three double play.

Just what the doctor ordered for salsa.

Wilson.

Exactly.

That's what you want right there.

Wilson!

Coming in.

Get in the ground ball.

Limiting the damage right there.

Good job of Marcus Bates slowing it down.

And six for three.

Good stretch by Mitchum over there.

First base that one that balls that hard in your base.

And you know that you're able to step through it in a nice soft throw.

Just take your time and make the throw.

And that's exactly how he set that up perfectly from the get go.

Yeah.

And that's what you want.

Keep your feet moving.

The shortstop.

All of our young baseball players out here watching, they're watching this game live or on TV, on Arkansas TV.

Keep your feet moving on the infield.

That's a key.

Barrett Mallett continues the tear in the state title game.

Sophomore.

Another R.B.I.

knock man has he been good.

His second RBI single of the day had the sophomore came in he oh for two starting the game.

Had a strike out in the third game.

But back to back base knocks for the sophomore.

Back to back RBI guy.

He's just a sophomore to JB.

You gotta like what he's going to have in front of him.

Leading the Braves hitting the three hole as a sophomore.

And that was a missile past the diving third baseman in Bateman brings in Levi Martin.

Now he takes a first pitch strike.

Martin's had a good day.

Two for three with a couple of singles and a strikeout.

Yeah, just Martin does a good job of shooting the ball back up the middle.

Curveball might have expanded the zone and he fouls it back.

Yeah, Martin's got that.

Or excuse me.

Wilson has that real tight curveball.

It's going to have 12 to 6 action.

So it's going to if you remember Kevin Copps cutter how late it fell out.

It's going to be like Wilson.

It's not going to be as good I promise viewers.

But the Wilson's curveball just falls off the table at the end right there.

And he can even throw it out of the slide step like he did right there.

So that just shows you it's got really good spin this time.

The curveball.

Oh, man.

Just a little bit high.

And the Mike Bates right there is going to apologize real quick to Brian Baumann.

Can't seem to turn his head like sorry about that.

You know he didn't mean to show him up right there.

And he didn't.

But he just got a little excited.

One ball two strikes.

Runners on the move.

That one is high.

Throw.

The sack is not going to be in time.

So another stolen base.

What do we got now 181.

Yeah.

Yes.

That's four for the day.

Yeah 181.

That's a good jump on that throw.

Even if a good one he might have had him if it's not a one hop.

But it would have had two men on the money.

No.

Good job Paramount to stay on the bag right there.

It's tough when you slide on this turf curveball that's fouled away now.

So Martin hanging tough on it.

Got it all year.

But the key thing with that he puts another runner in scoring position.

That's right.

Even when Valley View was up 12 and two last week they were still running on Van Buren because they saw what Benton scored nine runs in just Green County Tech.

They wanted to make sure they can continue with the lead.

Two two hit sharply to third.

Knocked down by Bateman.

Recovers.

Strong throw to first and the Panthers are out of the inning.

But Valley View adds a run there back up by seven as we move to the home half.

Tomorrow at 1130.

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What a beautiful venue it is here at Majestic Park.

So great to have baseball and softball here in the Spa City.

Beautiful facilities here at Hot Springs and it has been really marquee for for a team that's been here.

If you come to watch these live, it's been a treat both softball and baseball.

Really top notch facilities.

Yeah.

And you know, we've had it in a few different places.

We've had it at Benton, we've had it at UK, we've had it in Fayetteville.

It's just great to have everything right here in Hot Springs at Majestic Park.

Troy Mitchell, the staff here done a great job.

It's I'm looking forward to coming back down here for the next four years.

Oh well.

Valley view once again is jumped into the record books in the stolen base department.

You know, they set the record with 230.

You mentioned that earlier, but, they're up there again.

Top ten for sure.

Make it eighth all time as they have jumped in with, what, 182 stolen bases, ties with West Side Ferry back in 2022 at Shane Davis West Side Girls ferry lost in the first round this year.

The Taylor Tigers 7 to 5.

Eagles are always good that they are.

Brooks have had a really good season.

He had close to 600 in his senior year.

Yeah he had a phenomenal year.

So wish Brooks a lot of success in college.

Brings in East and Snellings to lead things off for Benton as they trail 11 to 4 in the bottom of the fifth.

I don't walk the way.

Out Snellings has had a good career, is just a sophomore.

And you said his father could swing the stick as well.

I think he comes by naturally athletic family and played with, you know, Brady's brother in law.

We played softball together and then cause I mean brother in law to both brother in law's had a lot of a lot of talent on the field.

Still go for one today with a walk.

He's out in front of that one.

So a two strike count.

Yeah.

Even the bat wiggles kind of like devil on.

And it does it.

Devil on is, number six in the top 30 in the prospects on the Dodgers organization right now.

He's off to a great start in his pro career after being a first round draft pick along with Zach Root.

All right.

Dodgers organization Gage Wood congratulations.

Made his first start in class Double-A last night.

We will get to see Gage Wood against former Arkansas prep stars Kaden Wallace and Marcus Brown next week.

They play for the Harrisburg Senators marquee matchup.

Snellings strikes out for that first out.

But that swing you're talking about, Casey Martin kind of did similar where he kind of brings it over the top and done swinging wolf control thing.

That's going to bring up AJ Houston and the name familiar Alyssa Houston former softball great at Benton playing for the Stanford Lady Cardinal Jake Allen out on the left coast.

How about that I like how you left off an S because that's right, the Cartwright.

It's a tree, not a bird.

Correct.

Well, that's a good family.

They're too athletic.

You name it.

AJ Houston comes by it.

Honestly.

Senior year hoping this, he goes out with a bang.

They're going to need a comeback.

Down seven with just eight outs to work with.

Martin has been good.

This one's gone to the left side.

Third baseman Mallett up with it on the first tip.

We're going two outs.

Right there.

Two quick outs.

Really good job by Levi Martin being competitive in the zone.

Another change up.

He's about 50% change up right now JB doesn't matter right left.

Let's see if Caleb Curry can get it going with with two outs.

He's had two productive outs so far today.

Ground outs to third base bunt third base or first base.

Excuse me but he has got to get hit right here to keep it going.

And you can't can't have a productive out here.

Yeah.

Nobody on.

Yeah.

But he has been productive in both of his at bats RBI oh for two today Levi Martin has already thrown a changeup to begin the at bat.

Hit the outer corner.

Oh.

One's a curveball that misses low.

Maybe out as well.

Well I was talking to Chris Curry a couple weeks ago before their game with Arkansas State, and he said his son already knows that.

Look, I'm probably going to go the junior college out.

I'm a little undersized right now, but he's got good bat to ball skills and he knows that.

Look, if I want to play and play at a high level, I'll probably start off at the junior college level before I make my move up.

Because of the roster sizes.

Now for the division 134.

They've shrunken down.

So he knows starting out in high school.

Look, I'm going to have to play and, you know, play my way into a spot where he already picked up that changeup.

He let him know what the hand motion grounds is off the pitcher Martin he recovers the throw.

Not going to be in time Caleb Curry that's one heck of it at bat.

He showed in the pitch previews.

Hey that was a changeup.

I picked it up coach.

He gave the hand signal and then rips this one back up the middle.

Yeah.

Great job.

Great speed out of the box right there.

He moves.

Well that Curry athleticism on display.

Coach Kelby Moser first base coach.

One of the top assistants in the state right there.

Now they got a row with two.

We've seen it before in this game one.

See if they can get it going again right here I know it sounds easy in theory, but it almost sounds like it's a must.

But if you're betting you got to get a run again, you you're running out of outs.

You've got to get something going.

This one top to that right side going to be a long run for Ragsdale.

Bare hand throw to first.

He threw it away.

He threw it away.

Curry's going to move to third.

They'll hold the runner at fourth now Curry's coming home.

Nobody's cover the plate.

The throw.

And they got him.

What a recovery.

Ragsdale from second comes home and they get Curry at the plate to in the frame.

Take another look.

Yeah.

Get the replay right there.

Great.

Heads up play by Ragsdale.

Knew nobody was at home.

Gets the tag applies as Kurt was coming in trying to make a play right there because Keaton Mathis was hustling the back up to throw to first right there.

He did a great job, but Ragsdale just followed his throw and went home.

He knew the rotation right there.

He did a good job, so nobody was there and went ahead and got it.

So at the top of the six plays up 11 for.

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Well, a crazy sequence a moment ago.

Break it down for us for gets past him right there.

Thomas backed it up in the first baseman.

William Finley saw what's going on.

So you had a four, three, four put out right there.

I don't think we've seen that very many times, but only in high school baseball.

Yeah I mean Curry's going to score less.

Ragsdale figures out what's going on.

He's a heads up player.

Yeah, he did a good job.

And we talked about it before man.

He came in as a sophomore.

He won a state championship.

Had a couple hits against Maumelle in that state title.

Game five nothing win back in in 2024.

And was big part of that 25 title run.

And he's just a game.

He's going to go to Panola Junior College.

He's going to be a Division one player.

It wouldn't surprise me if he's back at Arkansas State in a couple of years.

Well, his IQ is what he's been so impressive.

We've mentioned it earlier in the game and a play that he's made.

It's the IQ, the staff, the intangibles.

He's got it.

And that was a heads up play.

Otherwise Curry scores with ease.

Ragsdale the only one there.

He realized what was going on and was able to get the runner out at home.

And that's huge out.

Not not that it's over, but Benton needed something in that inning to shift things, and that was a huge out.

Yeah.

Noah Ragsdale is what I call a dirt bag.

He's a guy that's going to lay it all on the line.

He can do the the little things, the things that's going to get you dirty in a game and do all the fundamental things, the small things, right every time.

Maybe he goes out there and hits 286, 290 in college, he's not going to be a 340 guy, 20 home run, but he's going to win you ballgames.

So not like the Long Beach State variety, right?

Yeah.

The dirt back from Long Beach State.

Is it the 40 niners of the dirt bags.

That's right.

Depends on the sport.

Yep.

Oh it's fouled away to the right side.

He does have a little pop.

They'll give him that.

He does.

He's a spunky player no question.

He's trying to add to an 11 four lead in the top of the sixth.

He had to retrieve that foul ball.

Yeah.

Got to go retrieve that.

Those things like $5 apiece.

Payoff pitch is above the zone, and Ragsdale works a leadoff walk.

Man, there have been a ton of leadoff walks for Valley View today, and doing a good job of, you know, they're they're your brother's keeper.

That's the biggest thing that Josh Olson teaches in that program.

The pack first mentality.

And it's take care of your brother and that's what they'll do that no egos get in the way on this team.

If you do, you don't play.

That's the big thing.

No matter if you've coming into the program, you you have to check your ego at the door.

If you're going to play for the Valley View Blazers coach Allison doing it right, trying to lead them for their third straight championship.

Will Finley two for three today has a double and he scored a couple of runs.

Had a double in the fourth inning.

And Finley of course committed to Arkansas State.

And Mike Silva.

He's got one more year in Jonesboro before he stays in Jonesboro.

That's right Finley not going to have to go far.

Hometown kid at it's been a good will try pickoff move to first again that one a little bit nicer and closer from Campbell.

011 to Will Finley.

He started this game for the Blazers on the bump curveball and it hits him on the elbow guard.

So now first and second and nobody out.

And the Blazers ready to make it hurt.

That's what they need.

We're you know we're definitely going to play six innings.

And Valley vs the visiting team right here.

Benton's going to get the last At-Bat.

But if we do get three runs and a hold right here we can have an early game.

Josh Allison going to get a little timeout right here or offensive timeout.

These become more and more prevalent in baseball.

They want to check it down right here.

Make sure that Parker King knows what's going on.

Wouldn't surprise me.

Parker King with his speed.

We saw the infield single last time.

Caused chaos and havoc on the base path.

JB, see if they dial it up right here.

Yeah, it depends on the type of pitcher you're facing.

Two some pitchers are easier to get a bunt down against Campbell.

Some of his fastballs in his curveball.

The bite for Wilson.

Excuse me not Campbell.

Goodness.

It's all your Wilson.

The way he can pitch sometimes it can be tougher to get that ball now.

Yeah.

It's what Josh Allen is talking about.

Like he's been heavy curveball right there.

So keep the bat at the top of the zone.

If it's above it leave it alone.

But you can go down.

But make sure you bend your knees.

Don't drop that bat head and make it pop up so your Wilson or an inning pitch only give it up a hit.

But he has put the first two base runners aboard looking to bunt is king.

Sometimes.

Could be a bluff, but he is squaring and showing early.

Yeah, and I promise we're not in the ear of the coaches downstairs, I promise.

Okay.

Ball just knows baseball and baseball well, King is going to get the bunt.

That's good.

Bunt.

Left side charging third baseman, low throw.

Not gonna get him.

It's a bunt single for Parker King.

He's all smiles and well-deserved.

And boy can fly right there looking perfect.

Spot the ball kind of dead.

And it was a great job.

Eyes behind the bat right there.

You see it.

Parker King out of the box.

The speedster gets down there and it didn't matter.

The perfect throw.

He even choked up a little bit before he hit the first base.

Boy oh boy.

Bases loaded and nobody out there.

You get mad?

Him?

Yeah, mad.

Mad.

Sorry about that, JB.

Oh, you're fine.

Yeah.

Mad tent coming up right here looking to deliver the big boom.

Well, he's got the power.

Oh that one gets away from the catcher.

Runs going to come in to score.

Ragsdale scores easily.

Second and third for the Blazers.

Still nobody out back in Little League to get RBIs for the Troy Mitchell over there shaking his head.

Not no more.

Yeah he probably got a snow cone after the game.

Two in.

Yeah dad I had two RBIs.

They wanted to pitch around me.

They threw him in the dirt.

One ball.

Those strikes to mad Tad Wilson will step off the back of the rubber.

Now, if you're Valley View, you score that runner from second base.

You're up ten.

Yep.

I want to keep pouring it on because Benton can still score.

They get last at bat so you gotta keep scoring.

Nice curveball.

Kind of buckled Matt at at Tatum is going to go to Jacksonville State.

We mentioned earlier he can be a two way guy but he can you know what's going to he can pitch because he's got a lot of arm.

He's a low 90s guy.

They'll figure it out down there Jacksonville State's a good program.

I'm sure Wilson likes the curveball though.

He gets ahead one and two with it will be hard.

So Matt and Tatum will have to protect one and two.

You got to do a job here.

If you're Tatum in this scenario.

Yeah.

What was it second and third.

Nobody out.

And the Change-Up got him swing and a miss in the turf.

They'll complete the strike out on the throw to first and to big out for Wilson.

Yeah.

You see right there coach Josh Allison frustrated down there.

What he needs to do is just make contact.

Keep the train rolling right there.

Now you're going to get Cannon Driscoll up.

Who led off last inning with a walk, came around to score.

See if he can keep the train rolling right here.

That was a first out of the inning.

Yeah.

Man struck out.

He's got the golden sombrero today.

JB.

Yeah, not what you want there.

Ball into Driscoll's in there for a strike is scored.

Yeah not a state title game but.

He's good player.

He'll shake it off.

And Driscoll has had a great game out of that nine spot.

Curveball hit through the hole.

It's short.

Infield was in one run.

Scores.

We're going to have a play at the plate.

The throw is late.

Two run single for Canon Driscoll and the Blazers are up by ten.

All of a sudden, nine hole hitter comes up with a two RBI single.

The Blazers are up 14 to 4.

See if we can get a replay of that.

Josh Allison scooting down the line right there.

That was great.

Get it right there through the six hole.

And Josh Allison almost beat this.

It was a Parker King home right there.

Yep.

Got him in right there.

Great job.

Blazers two little two strike hitting right there by Canon Driscoll was now top of the lineup.

And oh and Roach it's a great piece of hitting from Driscoll.

Roach takes a curveball bounces away.

Runner moves to third.

And boy things are falling apart for Benton.

There's just no he is a pitcher against this lineup.

You just there's no easy breaks.

I mean, just you can't let up.

It's just every pitch is pressure pressure, pressure.

Well, I'm glad that, we're not in Hoover, Alabama right now because they're under a lightning delay.

Oh, boy.

Auburn's up on Arkansas one.

Nothing.

Game but go into the bottom of the fourth inning right there.

There's some people that are watching right now.

They're saying do not say that Kevin Bowling.

And hey you talked about it yesterday I'm not saying it's going to do it here.

Oh that one's drilled right center field gap shot for oh and Roach all the way to the wall.

He's going to leg it for a triple throw to third.

Not in time.

And oh and Roach the senior with a big blow.

And he's looking for a three peat three times.

This is his 16th state tournament appearance that set an Arkansas high school baseball record.

The previous record holder was Steve Caldwell.

He had appeared in 15 state tournament games, but gap shot right there by one roach, like he called it, and a triple for the senior that's headed to Panola.

He said he was pointing at his head.

He could feel it.

Third ring now for Benton.

They're going to need at least two runs to avoid the run.

Roll in the bottom of the sixth and there's a runner at third with one out.

Still more damage can be done.

Keaton Mathis batting now and a curveball in for a little bit up, actually.

So ball one.

Ground ball right side.

Another base hit Keaton Mathis an RBI single and Valley View is busted.

A wide open that turned into a coronation really quick.

You think back it was 4 to 3 at one point in the fourth inning.

Valley View exploded for six runs.

That inning.

It is 16 to 4 right here.

Coach Mark Balestier is going to pass it on to the next one right here.

Let's say he's going to talk to his infield.

I think he's going to leave Wilson in.

He's their best shot to get outs right here.

So guys are we going to play for pride right here.

That's what he's telling his Panthers.

It's like look guys we can.

This game's not over with I know it's tough to say being at 16 to 4 in the top of the sixth.

But look guys we scored nine runs last week against Greene County Tech.

That's right.

You know we've had games like that.

I mean Arkansas came back from way down against South Carolina years ago.

Double digit lead that came back from that.

It's a low probability putting into play.

Yeah Kentucky was down 11 runs last weekend.

That's a good example.

Yeah they tied that game up JB 812.

Yeah that's exactly right.

But you got to play the game.

There's no time limit right.

There's no time limit.

You can go as long as you want.

But you got to make it manageable.

You got to stop the bleeding.

Yeah that's what's great about baseball.

There's no time limit.

There are a limited number of outs you have.

But what you do with those 21 outs, you can do whatever you want to with.

That's exactly right.

Well, Barrett Mallett has had one heck of a game.

He drives this one into right center field.

Can be a long run for Pelkey in the gap.

Makes the catch.

Got a chance to double off the runner but the throws off line scampering back to first.

No problem.

At number 26.

Riggs Rasmussen was been our courtesy runner for Keaton.

Mathis today got a little extended right there, but the throw by center fielder Lynn Pelkey a little off target right there to like Mitchum, I think if you get it there in a hurry and you lined up, you got a chance to double him off.

Yeah, but certainly Rasmussen off further than he would have liked.

Yeah.

You're drifting away from first base right there.

It's really tough.

Especially if you're a lefty.

That's a tough throw because you you almost have to throw across your body because it's got a natural arm side run to it.

Yeah.

So you almost have to aim to the inside of first base more towards home plate to get it back over to first base.

That's exactly right.

And there's a strike on the outer half to Levi Martin.

And now for the Blazers.

They're three outs away from the third straight state title three peat three peat.

Their sixth straight state title game that they've appeared in.

It would be their sixth overall state championship also yet going back to 2009.

Kate Lynch threw a no hitter in that state championship game.

What great lefty.

Had a great collegiate career.

Just carved them up.

2021 they beat Magnolia 2024, beat Maumelle last year.

They beat conference foe Marion in four.

And just a little bit out on that fastball.

So three and one to Levi Martin tell you it makes that drive back to Northeast Arkansas a lot better.

Oh it does.

It's going to be a long drive but it's going to be a fun one.

Three one.

It misses inside.

Runner takes second.

Won't matter.

Runners at first and second.

And Benton still not out of the inning yet.

Down 12.

They're going to need at least three runs now to avoid the run rule.

Yep, it's the second time Valley View has batted around in this game.

They did it back in the fourth inning yep fourth inning.

And now they're doing it again in the sixth.

It looks like Brody Freeman is going to run over at first also.

So Erasmus's at second.

Freeman's at first and Noah Ragsdale back to the plate.

He is not been retired today.

He's two for two officially two RBI singles.

And he's walked a couple of times.

Talk about going out with a bang.

Yeah, he will continue to be teammates with Owen Roach next year at Panola Junior College.

Line to the right.

He's got another base hit.

They're going to wave home.

Rasmussen throw to the plate in time.

The catcher didn't realize it and Rasmussen dives around the tag to throw beat him cable.

But he's able to score.

Yeah a teaching moment right there for Micah Bates.

Keeping your head in the game.

The young sophomore just did well, if you're getting beat by 12 runs and you just didn't pay attention right there and he's like, oh, well, he's going to score.

Kind of almost like he didn't catch it cleanly.

Hit it when there's in his right hand two.

He can attack him with his glove all day.

But you know.

So now Will Finley will bat.

The junior Finley scored three runs today and two hits.

He walked his last time hit by pitch right.

And he'll take a strike on the inner corner to begin the at bat.

17 to 4, Valley view.

And man oh man Finley a base hit to the outfield could all but seal this thing.

Got them.

If if it isn't already.

I think we're pretty close to that.

Looking ahead, you're going to need at least four runs.

Now, if you're Benton.

Yeah, the base hit makes it six.

You've only scored four once today.

Oh, strike out two in the inning.

So Finley's out.

But Benton is down to their final three outs of the season.

Valley view going for the three peat.

When we come back.

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Well, there's a look at the state championship trophy in Valley View is three outs away from getting to hoist it.

They can feel it.

Benton's going to need a lot of magic.

It's seven, eight and nine.

Do up for the Panthers.

And Roberson leads things off.

Pokes the first pitch.

Foul against Levi Martin and Levi Martin looking for his 11th win of the season.

He picked up his 10th win of the season in the first round.

The state tournament three hits, shutout, A10 win over alma.

This will be his second win of the state tournament in 2026.

And I got the Blazers 17 runs on 16 hits.

Panthers four runs on four hits and three errors, and a team that has not needed no help scoring runs.

Today.

There's a drive in to right center field that's going to be a long run.

Trouble to the gap.

It's off the wall.

Roberson extra bases all lead off double for the Panthers.

And Roberson says hey we're not done yet.

Not yet.

Robertson's headed to Seminole Junior College.

Really good JuCo that is showing good power to the opposite field right there.

Roberson gets it to the gap and gets a double.

A's first extra base hit for the Panthers today.

They can keep it rolling with the ball in the lineup right here.

That's right.

Going to need a lot more where that came from.

That's eight more of them is Micah Bates stands in.

First pitch fouled straight back.

And this is where you mentioned games like this.

And Martin.

And you have to see it.

He's just attacking the zone.

And that's one where he left.

He was trying to throw a strike.

Maybe too much.

So.

But you're okay with it.

You want to throw strikes in this scenario.

Absolutely.

And I think that's the first hit he's allowed, if I'm not mistaken.

Yeah.

Dynamite.

Yeah.

Sorry.

Wilson had a hit in the first.

How many hits is that for Benton today?

Three.

That's just their fifth.

Yeah.

Caleb Curry had a hit last inning.

That's right.

I guess until it gets out, there's a pop up Fowler slicing out of play giving Chase the first baseman Finley.

But he will quickly run out of room.

We talked about this Benton team is very talented.

You know they've got seven kids that are going to play college baseball in the junior senior class, six of those seniors.

So Wilson's the junior.

Their sophomore class is really good.

History always has a good program.

They've made 20 straight state or state tournament appearances.

So that is the highest classification.

That's really tough to do.

Your finishing at least in the top four of your classification of your conference every year.

To be consistently that good is it takes a coach that knows what they're doing.

Yeah, they do it at the right way.

A lot of community support, a lot of really good youth baseball and insulin County.

One to the bench job to that right side.

Ragsdale gobbles it up.

Throws on the first.

Moves the runner to third.

But now Benton is down to their final two outs of the season.

And Landon Pelkey is going to come up.

He had a walk back in the third inning, came around to score help.

We'll see if he can keep it rolling right here.

Just make contact.

To drive Robertson in.

I stay locked in some Pelkey, a sophomore.

Three sophomores and Thornton, though for sophomores.

Yeah, yeah.

Bates, Snellings Curry and Pelkey.

Future is quite bright for coach Ballesteros and company.

Yeah, I don't know how well their pitching is in the future, but, you know, they always have arms down at Benton, so they grow on trees down there as well I do man man.

My senior year they had they were so loaded Kyle Pryor, Boyd Gooden or somebody you may know Clay Goodwin, University.

Goodwin.

So he's still on staff.

Yeah.

They had three guys go in the Razorbacks.

And then BJ Kettner was 93 from the manage.

Didn't know where it was going.

There's a chopper to the right side again.

First baseman covers Will Finley too far off the bag.

That allows the run to come in.

That's an infield single off the bat of Landon Pelkey and an RBI to boot.

Lane and Levi Martin's got to be kicking himself right now, but baby, a FP that was a that's where you want to hit it.

No man's land right there.

Now you got the top of the lineup coming back around.

They can keep it rolling that they can.

It's all your Wilson Juniors already had a hit today.

Bounces to the third baseman.

Might be to second for one Valley view for the three peat.

Not going to be in time Wilson beats it out.

Benton's down to their final out.

And the Blazers and the faithful fans that have trekked all the way down from the northeast corner.

They can feel it.

You see how quick he turned that that was Fancy Ragsdale, his hands at second base out there.

We can get a replay on that.

The replay was phenomenal.

And then we got Marcus Bates coming up right here.

It was a great turn to try to get Wilson.

That play was close at first.

Marcus Bates the senior his final at bat of his high school career.

What a career it's been for all these seniors.

First pitch fouled away Bates and Houston and then also Robertson.

Yeah here's the replay right here.

Appreciate it.

But went to Malik Malik came out.

Throw it.

Watch the turn right there.

Boom man that was a bad throw.

And he almost doubled him off.

Ragsdale did a great job of getting that turned right there Bates trying to hang tough oh one that one's lined into left field a base hit for the senior and his final hit of his high school career will end with a hit and a great piece of hitting.

Right there.

Martin hangs the slider.

Bates hammers it out there to left field.

Just keep the train rolling.

Now we're going to get sophomore Easton Snellings up one snellings with two outs.

Just trying to keep things going.

They more runs is all they need.

And I say that has been tough to come by.

Three run bomb will do it Sherwood baby devil on baby devil on I love it.

First pitch for Martin Sterling swings and foul tips it the seniors Marcus Speight, AJ Houston, Noah Robertson and then for Valley View.

Oh and Roach Keaton Mathis, Levi Martin, Noah Ragsdale, Parker King man Tatum Cain and Driscoll and noted Noah Scutaro, what careers they have had one of the next chapters of their life, and then other seniors that aren't in the starting lineup as well.

We're seeing the best of luck.

Absolutely.

And, you know, they're learning a lot from the coaching staff.

Kelby Moser, you know, will be a head coach in the state of Arkansas, a 5 or 6 high school.

Very soon.

He's had opportunities, to move up to different places.

So a lot, lot of talent on this team that's leaving.

But, they did a great job getting Benton Panthers back to the state championship.

Martin trying to seal the deal.

Stallings trying to hang tough for a fastball.

Misses out.

Yeah, I think you're right.

I mean, you've been around this game.

You've seen these assistance, these programs.

It takes a lot to be great.

Takes a lot to be great.

As an assistant, you'll get your chances.

But it's been a fun weekend of baseball.

Benton is trying to keep it alive.

Martin trying to shut the door.

One, two.

Snellings grounds it.

Right side.

Panthers aren't done yet.

A base hit for Snelling stole to the plate.

Not in time.

RBI single for Snellings and the Panthers are hanging on by a thread.

Really good job hitting right there by East Easton.

Snelling goes down and gets the pitch.

Now AJ Houston has a shot to keep the train rolling.

It's 17 to 6.

For that hit just that's all he can do with that pitch right there.

Just drive it to right field.

Snellings has it shot to definitely be back.

Just a sophomore one of four sophomore starters in this lineup.

Now the senior AJ Houston takes a change up for a strike.

Arguably his final at bat of his high school career.

Trying to go out with a bang Martin trying to make sure it does not happen though.

One from the righty is a fastball and a big swing and a miss.

Yeah really good job by Martin right there to keep it on the black on the outer third of the plate right there.

Does not want to come into AJ Houston.

If he does it's going to be 17 to 9.

Certainly the case.

Oh to see if he rolls off speed right here.

Goes off speed.

Chop to third.

That should do it Malik.

Throw to first and it's over.

Valley view for the third straight year atop the five mountain.

Rack them up blazer fans.

Valley view of champions once again make it three straight.

Make it a three peat in class five eight.

In the state of Arkansas, the powerhouse, the PAC.

Josh out in school I guess their third straight state championship.

The dynasty continues.

The Blazers get it done again.

A whopping 17 to 6 victory over the Panthers.

And I'm going to tell you right now cable, what a fun game it was.

But the Blazers brought the bats and they kept them coming.

It was 16 hits.

They put pressure on Benton.

The entire game.

They got to they got the starter out.

Blake Mitchem did a good job.

This game was 4 to 3 at one point.

Fans and Ballard you just kept putting on the pressure putting on the pressure.

Every pitch.

They got to hit 16 hits in the game.

JB Benton didn't help themselves with a couple of errors and you know, he just kept going and got the mercy rule.

Win six innings 17 to 6.

The final will step aside of the trophy presentation.

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Nine six.

Welcome back to Majestic Park.

In the wake of the Valley View Blazers sixth overall state championship, but their third in a row.

And Kevin, what a game it was.

But again Valley View flexing their muscles.

They showed why they're the best team in all five.

Yeah 31 runs scored in the last two games.

They beat Van Buren 14 to 2 in the semifinals.

Took care of business against the Benton Panthers, another number one seed.

They knocked out the West number one in the semifinals, 14 two.

And then of course, the central champs right there.

And here come the highlights right here.

Close game to start out.

Get the ground ball right there to Marcus Bates Bates could not handle it.

And then they just kept putting the pressure on Barrett Malik shoots one through the right side.

That would score a couple of runs for the Blazers.

And then Noah Ragsdale does his job.

Single to left field.

Scores another run and then just kept going.

Will Finley with a double to left field.

Now Ragsdale would come around to score Parker King with an infield single right there.

He would come around to score good six for three.

Double play by the Panthers right there to get Keaton Mathis carry right there.

And heads up play by Noah Ragsdale back in the fifth inning.

Right there.

And then they poured it on again in the sixth inning.

Two run score on that on that triple by Owen Roach.

His third straight state title.

Gets one for the ring right there.

And you see the final out over to Will Finley.

He's going to come back for another year trying to go four for four.

And the Blazers are once again your five a state champions and Valley View fans.

You can celebrate the Blazers victory with official championship gear.

It is now available.

Visit Arkansas High School sports.com to find the apparel and memorabilia.

Well, as fun as this one has been, there's still one left for Benton fans.

They've got a chance at least to win one state title in baseball and softball.

The softball team a chance against Farmington that's coming up here at 7:00.

The final game of the 2025 2026 athletic season should be a lot of fun.

That's going to do it for us, though.

For this one, please join Bobby and Michael for the five day softball championship for my partner, Kevin Bohannon, and the rest of our wonderful crew here at Arkansas TV sports.

It's been a pleasure.

JB Brazil signing off.

We'll see you next time.