Archive
May 23rd, 2011
CONWAY — The Conway Wampus Cats won their first 7A State Title since 1989 by defeating the Bryant Hornets Sunday 12-3 in seven innings thanks to a complete game by tournament MVP Connor McClain.
“It feels awesome and we had a great time,” Conway head coach Noel Boucher said. “This is our sixth time to be here and a couple of bounces here or there, things would have been different.
“I’m just real pleased with the effort tonight.”
Conway scored seven runs in the top of the second.
May 21st
In a true roller-coaster ride of a ball game, the Benton Lady Panthers lost 7-5 Friday to Searcy in the 6A State Tournament championship game.
The Lady Lions won their first state title at Bogle Park on the University of Arkansas campus behind pitcher Amber Rollins, who struck out 11 Lady Panthers and was named Most Valuable Player.
Down 7-2 late in the game, Benton scored three runs in the fifth inning to cut Searcy's lead down to two. However, Benton was unable to capitalize with runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings, resulting in a runner-up finish after a great season.
Mr. Charles T. Cates III, age 89, of Fort Smith formerly of Benton died Friday, May 20, 2011. He was born April 18, 1922, in Maryville, Tenn. Charles graduated from the University of Tennessee and was a decorated WWII Air Force Veteran, an FBI Agent, employed for over 25 years with Alcoa, a Hospital Volunteer, an avid Razorback fan and golfer, and a member of the First Baptist Church in Benton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles M. and Grace Johnson Cates, his wife of 62 years, Elizabeth Pickens Cates and his sister, Penelope Bishop.
Doris Annette Mills Smith , 90, of Haskell, passed from this life on May 20, 2011. She was born April 20, 1921, in Haskell to Reuben Lee Mills and Thursa Evalyn Allen Mills.
Billy Ray “Bill” Hogue, 72, of Heber Springs, formally of Benton, passed away May 17, 2011. He was born June 3, 1938, in Altheimer to the late Earcle and Edythe Hogue. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Joann Hogue.Â
For the second straight year, the Bryant Lady Hornets are coming home with a 7A State Championship trophy.
Bryant beat North Little Rock 11-1 Saturday in Fayetteville behind an outstanding pitching performance from Peyton Jenkins, who was named Most Valuable Player — also for the second year in a row.
Jenkins didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning. She ended the day with 10 strikeouts, giving up one unearned run on three hits.
May 20th
Like their softball counterparts, today the Bryant Hornets look to accomplish a rare feat in high school sports: back-to-back championships.
Bryant (23-6, 10-4 7A Central) takes on its conference foe, the Conway Wampus Cats, in the 7A State Finals at 5:30 p.m. at the University of Central Arkansas.
Anyone who has ever played the “telephone game” knows how easily the simplest of information can get distorted as it travels from one person to the next in the span of just 10 minutes.
Now, add about 30 years and you will end up with what one Benton coach calls “distorted history.”
Benton track and field coach Lewis Pryor has become something of a legend at Benton High School, where his accolades include a state championship in football and a runner-up finish at a national championship with Henderson College.
This weekend is what the Lady Hornets have been waiting for all season: the 7A State Tournament Championship.
And in order for the defending champs to be successful Saturday against its 7A Central foe North Little Rock, the Lady Hornets will need big games from their pitcher-catcher combo, juniors Peyton Jenkins and Jessie Taylor.
The 17-year-old “beats,” as head coach Debbie Clark affectionately calls them, have led the team in the field and at the plate.
May 19th
It takes a monumental event to wake me up early on a Saturday morning.
If there’s no hunting season on and you see me roaming around before the sun’s above the horizon, run for the hills because the apocalypse might be at hand.
So when I heard the old wooden seats at Ray Winder Field were being given away, I did the unthinkable: set my alarm.
And I wasn’t alone. Last Saturday hundreds of us descended upon the old home of the Arkansas Travelers, eager for an opportunity to take home a piece of team history.
