Rival.

We have reached the final game of the Arkansas high school state championship games for the weekend, and it is going to be a fun one.

A six day softball showdown between Bentonville and Harbor here on the beautiful campus of the University of Central Arkansas.

Great to be with you.

Welcome in.

Alyssa Orange alongside Kyle Sutherland and Kyle.

This is a game we've been waiting all day for.

Literally the rain pushing us back a little bit because of weather this morning.

Supposed to start at four, but getting going here at 6:00.

But two teams with a lot of talent, very familiar with each other.

That's right.

Played in this game last year.

Bentonville won that one one to nothing.

And also conference foes out of the six.

A West Bentonville won both of those games, 7 to 1 and four to nothing this year actually have won every game dating back to 2011 against the Wildcats.

But Bentonville, looking for their seventh state title since 2016.

Meanwhile, Harbor looking for their first in school history as we wrap up the state games for softball.

The baseball games are being changed because of the weather.

There's going to be a Sunday game.

That six day game on Sunday at 2 p.m. between Rogers and Fayetteville.

Then on Wednesday, the two way baseball game between Cedar Ridge and Riverside.

That game slated for 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

But you mentioned a rematch from a season ago.

And let's show you exactly how it all went down.

Yeah, it was just a pitcher's duel, really.

There between freshman Sierra Dodds now is an exceptional sophomore that everybody knows who she is against Ryan Sanders, it was the senior leader now playing at the University of Louisville.

And as you said, it was really just those two that took control of everything.

Then finally there was a sacrifice fly from Kylie Wyman, who was also a freshman at that time that scored Marissa Jimenez.

She and then they got the throw out to end the ton.

A controversial call there.

Yeah, absolutely.

It was definitely a close one.

But, of course, as soon as that happened, they we know that they, they got the dogpile going and they're trying to do that again has been Bill.

So here is our harbor player to watch in Savannah Woods Kyle.

Yeah.

Savannah woods batting just a just a shade under 354 home runs.

Currently committed to Oklahoma Christian.

One of the three commitments signees that we have on these Harbor Wildcat team on the other side for Bentonville, who did keep an eye on starts with the senior leader, Anderson Wright, who actually was on the other side for the Harbor Wildcats last year, played her first three years at Harbor.

She is committed to actually signed with Drake University, bat in a little over 400 right now and trying to get another home run.

Well, we talked about the weather.

It was rainy all morning pushing this game back to 6:00, but right now looking quite beautiful out there at Shark Stadium, a beautiful 72 degrees, a little bit of humidity, a little clouds out there, but a beautiful night to crown a softball champion in the six A division.

We're ready to go.

So are they coming up after the break we're going to get you go in from Conway as Harper and Bentonville battle for a title.

Stick around.

This championship game is made possible by.

Since 1937, the electric cooperatives of Arkansas have been providing power to homes, farms and businesses across our state.

The cooperatives are member owned and work together to serve Arkansans.

The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas proudly support high school students and athletics in Arkansas, and hope you enjoy watching the state championship games on Arkansas PBS sports.

Better connected together the electric cooperatives of Arkansas.

UAMs is a proud supporter of Arkansas PBS.

Sports UAMs health provides orthopedic and sports medicine care across Arkansas, supporting athletes and teams throughout the state.

Find out more at unmatched Health back home.

Win Rock automotive supports Arkansas athletes as a sponsor of the Arkansas PBS sports broadcast of the high school state championship games, with seven dealerships across the state serving little Rock.

Conway and Jonesboro.

When Rock automotive is community focused and provides vehicle sales and service across Arkansas, we're honored to be a part of these unforgettable moments celebrating Arkansas student athletes.

Win Rock automotive connecting communities through service and support.

South.

Well, here we go.

Let's get it started as I. Palmer steps into the batter's box to start things off for Harbor.

Let's look at those who will bat behind her.

It's going to be Zamora, Sanchez, Kennedy.

Smith.

Jasmine.

Thomas.

Sierra.

Savannah.

Mounts.

Brylee Bratcher, Belle Haney, and Madison Little.

That is your lineup for the Harbor Wildcats on the other side.

Inside the circle, Kyle is Darby Burnett.

She has been exceptional in her junior season, the Texas A&M commit force.

Last year, she sat behind.

Ryan Sanders was a little bit banged up, too.

She pitched a little bit her freshman year, but she'll sit about a sixth consistent 63 to 65.

She's topped out at 68.

Work a lot of that heavy drop ball.

There.

Her first pitch of the game a ball a little high.

That one though.

Right down the middle for strike number one.

It's already known around the softball world is Z. Palmer.

And she's been a four year starter for these Lady Wildcats.

Swing around to bunt.

Trying to draw.

Got a high ball inside close to the face mask there, but no damage for ball number two.

We mentioned these are two teams that met during the regular season at Bentonville and at Harbor Bentonville, winning both of those matchups.

Sorry that 337 on the year, 28 hits, eight of those doubles with 18 RBI.

Harper would love to get a leadoff hitter in their lineup on base to start things off battling, and sends that one back into the net.

Got a full count now on Palmer.

Count here and be shocked to see Darby try to utilize that drop ball.

This one back up the middle through the infield.

And that is a leadoff single for Zaria Parker and Harbor likes that.

If you're going to get to Bentonville, who will talk more about just the history that this program has in this state championship game?

You got to start being aggressive early and that is a way to start it off.

We got single.

Yeah.

Couldn't ask for much more to get the leadoff single on.

That was one of the things last year as we talked about with the one zero victory for Bentonville, was just trying to get runners across.

So great start there to get somebody on base, leadoff on base.

This is the catcher Zamora Sanchez now squaring around to bunt pulls back.

That ball gets away from the catcher.

And now Palmer is in scoring position at second taking advantage of anything they can.

Or the Lady Wildcats today.

That's one thing that Coach Early had talked about a little bit earlier in the season was I wanted to make sure that, you know, Alexis Lorenz there behind the plate, make sure that she blocks the ball because there has been some wild pitches here and there.

So a little bit uncharacteristic for the most part of Bentonville.

But now the Wildcats have a runner in scoring position with no outs with that ball just kind of looked like it bounced off the edge of her glove.

That one handled, but still A20 count early on.

Sanchez.

Now Woods or Oklahoma Christian commit.

So she'll be playing with Z. Palmer in college as well.

There's a lot of players on this field going to be playing.

We'll see a lot next level.

We're going to talk about that as well.

Just so much talent that has come from both of these programs.

And now once you kind of get that started, Kyle, you start to attract more talent and more of these college programs are well aware of the talent you do produce.

And so they show up more often to practices.

That's exactly right.

You have that to you is whenever a coach comes to recruit one kid, they might see another one, Sean.

And now.

But also to the schedule that these two teams play.

You look at Bentonville especially that's gone.

They've gone to Melissa, Texas.

The consensus number one team.

They've gone to Sterling Louisiana, Calvary Baptist.

So just getting to to play some of these top teams really regionally has also helped get their kids noticed.

Good exposure for sure.

Two two pitch and in for strike three swing and a miss.

And that is the first out and the first strike out there for Burnett.

It's going to bring up catches the Amara Sanchez outstanding sophomore.

You think about now you know of course I know that we're talking about Carver's batting order right now.

But Zamora and Sierra Dot's, they're a really outstanding sophomore battery made.

So, Carver is going to have them around for even two more years.

That one outside for the catcher over.

And that just errors are going to be taken advantage of.

And there you have Zarya Palmer in to score the first run of the game.

And just like that very quickly harbor up one nothing over Bentonville.

And I tell you, these Wildcats know exactly how valuable that run is.

Taking advantage of some errors there by Bentonville.

Yeah, that was a really good catch there by Lorenz.

That was way high and outside she was able to glove it, but just a little bit too high of a throw.

And really great baserunning there by Sanchez.

And they took advantage.

And now they've got the one zero lead.

Sanchez here watching ball to come in.

Nicely.

This one back to Kylie Wyman at shortstop.

She gets the out at first.

And that is the second out of the inning for Bentonville.

Let's take a look at who's playing around here for the defensive side of the ball for the Bentonville Tigers Jimmy Donahoe, Kierra Burkhart Marissa Jimenez.

She Isabella mears, Aniston Wright, Kylie Wyman, Violet Wynn, Bella Mirrors and Alexis Loren Edge.

And so for.

This Bentonville team, who has played a lot of softball together over the years, just feels a little out of sync early here in the first.

Yeah, and I think it's kind of just one of those I'm hesitant to say nerves just because Bentonville is so used to being here.

But that's the thing too, is you got to imagine Harbor is as pumped up as they've ever been, especially with how last year's final ended.

Of course, how the regular season games also ended.

They know they've got a huge opportunity here.

So then Mills just got to settle in.

Right now, I think it looks like Burnett just trying to find a little bit more control on those pitches.

The rice ball sailing on her just a little bit.

And Kennedy Smith here batting for Harbor.

The third baseman.

Not giving her that outside corner might have been a a ball length outside but very close two one count.

Here.

Now to two on Smith.

Bentonville.

Just trying to get out of this inning.

Get this third out, regroup, get into the dugout and get their offense going.

That one sails outside for ball three.

Now full count.

Already had a couple of full counts here.

Hays.

Burnett went with that drop ball when they went through it.

The when they hit the single up the middle when Zoey Palmer hit that one up the middle.

Let's see if she goes back to that drop ball.

And then.

That one sails on her outside again.

And so she walks Smith.

And this is going to bring up Jasmine Thomas, the sophomore here.

The first baseman for Harbor.

And right now again Harbor taking what they're giving them.

Bentonville Thomas.

Not as tight as we're used to seeing them.

And the Harbor Wildcats taking advantage as much as they can.

And Justin Thomas having a great year batting just under 400 on the three point range and also second on the team with 34 RBI.

See?

Strike one.

Come in there.

Quickly.

One out.

And that one in for strike number two.

I think Darby's really just trying.

Especially you saw in that outside corner that was close a second ago.

I think she's really just trying to like most pitchers are in the first inning, just kind of figuring out what they're going to get and what they're not.

Yeah, we were talking about that in the game earlier between Hackett and Riverside.

This first inning is just an I well, wait for these pictures to kind of see what this strike zone looks like.

The throw down.

Not in time.

Oh, it looks like maybe she got off of the bag and they were able to hold that tag, which we talked about earlier on this turf.

It's slippery.

You slip past that bag, you're probably going to slip maybe further than you're used to, because it's still a little wet from the rain.

Taking a look there.

Oh yeah.

And she just slides off the base.

Just that little hand off that said edge of the base there.

Really.

Heads up play by Kylie Wyman to just hold on to that tag just in case that's out number three.

And we head to the bottom of the first.

But Harbor striking first with a one nothing lead.

I think it's important for Arkansas PBS to have sports, because it provides sports on a greater platform to the entire community, and it also gives people in various other communities an opportunity to see other schools and other athletes and to have a greater appreciation for not just their own community, but the sports that are available across the state of Arkansas.

There's so many lessons that sports provides, and it's one of the reasons why it's so important to the next generation of athletes coming up.

This broadcast is underwritten in part by Centennial Bank, supports communities across Arkansas, and is a proud supporter of the Arkansas Activities Association and Arkansas PBS sports, providing financial services since 1999.

Member FDIC.

More at my 100 banks.

Com.

And.

Welcome back.

And we are here in the bottom of the first is Bentonville looking to start things off offensively with Kylie Wyman the shortstop.

And then Demi Donahoe, Violet Wynn, Aniston, Wright, Marissa, GNC, Alexis Loren, edge, Lana Carlton, Kira Burkhart and Bella myers rounding out their batting lineup inside the circle.

We talked about her a little bit before the game started in Sierra.

Yeah, Sierra Dot's also known as CC.

She's got 152 strikeouts on the year.

She's going to work a lot of East and West 99%.

Curveball has kind of the scouting report that I've mostly gotten on her.

So we'll see a lot of curves.

As well, Bentonville as a team.

Pretty impressive what they've been able to put up numbers wise this season.

Kyle 311 hits, 32 home runs.

100 and yeah, 109 strikeouts to 129 walks.

I mean, they they know how to get things done offensively.

That's right.

Hitting for 13.

That's anything over 400 is pretty great if you ask me.

But that's what Coach Earley has done really his whole tenure here.

I mean you go up and down the lineup and you see college signee, college commit big hitter here or even his slapper.

He's got some power slappers.

I mean, they're just a very, very well-rounded team.

And that's why they've done what they've done throughout the years.

This one hit to shortstop Savannah Woods able to get it.

But the throw into the dirt not in time.

And Kylie Wyman safe at first.

That's a lead off single for Bentonville.

And just like Harvard, their leadoff batter standing at first base.

That's right.

She's that's her 43rd hit on the year.

And really last year, basically one injury kind of moved her from the freshman team to the shortstop spot.

They coach early.

Had to kind of put the puzzle pieces together.

Was when it was violent, when went down before the season.

And so that caused some shifting in the infield.

And she was one of the pleasant surprises that came up out of that.

Now Demi Donahoe, the left fielder, had three hits in this state championship last year.

Turns around.

Lays beautifully down that bunt back to the pitcher but able to get it but not in time.

The speed of Donahoe showing off there.

And Banville now has runners on first and second base.

No outs as Violet Wynn stands into the batter's box.

The third baseman here seeing if she can tie this game up.

Now you've got really the heart of the order here with Violet Nguyen coming up at the three hole and the clean up.

You got Aniston right.

All 13 home runs from right.

So real heavy hitters coming up in the next two batters.

That's the one thing.

You know Kyle when you face this Bentonville team a team of this caliber and harbor on the same side as well.

One through nine is just going to be a hard out.

Yeah.

That's right.

It's they we were talking about that in the Benton game.

I mean you just look really one through nine.

And there's not one that you look at saying oh maybe they run a little bit of a slump there.

Kind of it's it's just pretty much dominance across the board dots trying to work that outside corner as well.

But both of those just a little outside.

Two balls, no strikes on one.

That one she got.

When as a college signee going to Dartmouth we talked about Aniston right.

Going to Drake.

Demi Donahoe by the way.

Going to Yale.

That's a big deal.

Not only are they impressive on the field, also in the classroom, I always envied those who were that kind of smart and athletic.

Our valedictorian went to Harvard, but he was.

I've heard of that place on the football team.

He went to go play football at Harvard.

I know at Torian, we've had 1 or 2 come out of Arkansas and go to Harvard.

It's been a while, but we've had them.

So she draws the walk and now it is bases loaded, no outs for Bentonville is there looking to tie things up and then do a little bit more here in the bottom of the first.

And Aniston right.

She was our player to watch.

And you talked a lot about her.

But there are some significance Kyle you were saying to the number that she wears.

Yeah she's wearing number 15.

She wore 18 at Harvard last year but now wearing number 15 because she hits a home run today that's going to tie the school record for most in a single season from back for all the way to 2010.

Now of course she gets 15.

That's going to break the record.

But I think a big reason on top of the bases being used, why Coach Austin wanted to go talk to Sierra Dodds is because obviously Sierra Darts knows Aniston right very well and vice versa from playing together.

So Coach Austin knows I think it was 14 or 15 home runs that Aniston hit last year.

So he knows exactly what she can do.

Coaching her last season, she talked about that school record.

It was set by Alex Sullivan in 2010.

Like you mentioned, but I love that.

A daily reminder of your goals right there on the back of her jersey.

Watches ball one.

And these two teams, probably about 25 minutes apart from Springdale Harbor up to Bentonville and maybe a little less depending on which route you take.

These are girls who have played together their whole entire lives on travel ball games, on Little League teams.

And now, just because of where they live on different high school teams.

But you're right, I, I remember facing a lot of people I knew.

One of my best friends was a pitcher for another team in the district, and every time I would step in to the plate against her, she would just start laughing.

So those relationships, these, these, this sport definitely.

It's crazy what that crosses the line of the ice and chips it can create.

And speaking of smiles, I know Sierra didn't care for that not being a strike, but I'll tell you what.

I got to give it to the home plate umpire, Ray Burwell.

He's not giving either one of them that corner he's been.

He's as consistent as you could ask.

Really?

Yeah.

She she's saying I'm.

No, I'm not getting that one.

So they're going to make me come in and pitch at her.

That's all they want it.

That's all they asked.

They just asked.

The coaches asked for it to be consistent.

Long as it's consistent, that's all you can ask for.

And there it is for strike number two.

The Tiger or the Wildcats?

Excuse me.

Still looking for their first out here in the bottom of this.

First bases are loaded.

That one into left field.

That's going to score a run Jimmy Donahue going to come around and score as well.

And that is a two RBI single for Aniston Ryan.

And just like that one swinging the bat.

And Bentonville takes the lead 2 to 1 here in the first.

Still no outs for the Tigers.

It's a really tough spot for Sierra XP.

And she's one of the best pitchers in the state.

But regardless of who's in that circle, when especially you've got someone like right up there that's a big hitter and knows the pitcher really well and the bases are loaded.

That's just a really and especially with no outs, that's extremely tough to be familiarity just from growing up playing the sport, but familiarity also in the fact that these two teams have already played twice this year.

They know each other very, very well, though Bentonville has won in both of those matchups 7 to 1, four to nothing.

As you mentioned at the top of the show, it's hard to beat teams three times, though.

That's what they always say.

This is Marissa Jimenez.

She the right fielder for Bentonville now, stepping in and seeing if she can add to this lead.

Bentonville has now given themselves.

Excuse me, this is Alexis Lorena edge.

I apologize, I had it slips on my paper.

The catcher here for Bentonville.

And she is not a college commit or signee because she's a sophomore.

But she will be.

Someone has got eyes on her, and she will be.

She is.

She was kind of another one of those, like Carly Wyman I was mentioned that stepped up as a freshman last year.

Yeah.

Draws a full count here.

Against Sierra Dot's.

Up.

Takes this one off the end of the bat a big catch there.

And caught doubled up a huge double play there for Harbor.

And that is really going to help the Wildcats try to stop the damage and get out of this inning.

A great catch there by Savannah Woods.

Just an unfortunate circumstance slipping there on the turf and able to catch Aniston right in.

Double her up at first base.

A quick two outs right there and the defense can relax a little bit.

And also for sure the defense especially Sierra Dodds knowing that she goes from 0 to 2 outs with multiple base runners on, definitely gives her a little bit of confidence.

Just knowing she's got to get that last out and the worst damage that could possibly be done is just being down by run.

Now Morris again as she steps into the box for Bentonville.

Another college commit going to Zuri, Kansas City.

And this is really the Kangaroos upset the Kangaroos.

That's right.

She has really improved this year right around the Harrison tournament.

Right before spring break.

She hit two home runs in that coach early.

Kind of described that as her coming out party and batting 425 on the year, which is significantly much better than what she was at last year and just really continued to improve.

Watch as a ball there.

And I think dots is just kind of wondering exactly where on that outside corner she can get the call in two balls, one strike.

A swing and a miss.

There.

Now to two.

One strike away from ending this inning and getting their offense back.

Going at it in the second.

But you got to get out first.

Still a runner on second.

Pops this one into foul territory.

Madison little unable to get there, but no damage done.

She'll come back and try it again.

There.

This is already the sixth batter that has faced this inning.

Her pitch count already up at 22.

Almost a great effort there by Jasmine Thomas to try to lay out and end the inning.

But again, a foul ball is going to give you another opportunity at the plate.

You really that's one of the things to that I know that really about Marissa G. And she is she does battle I mean all these kids want and regardless of what team we're talking about, all of them have a are battling at the plate throughout the year like we've seen.

But still just battling I love it.

Do you know she looks tall.

How tall is Marissa?

Don't say I when I was I stood when I went down there to Melissa to watch him, I was kind of I was pretty close to her.

She was probably, I would say maybe about an inch or two short of me.

So at least about probably five, nine, five, ten.

Yeah.

She is tall.

You can tell.

And continues to battle.

They're fouling off these pitches, and all that does is just get his pitch count up a little bit higher.

Getting pretty close to the cars out there.

If they don't have a it's always a look at the draw.

Yeah.

When you're parking around baseball or softball fields.

My parents had a couple broken windshields.

Oh a collision there, but a catch still made by Kennedy Smith to end the inning.

And that is going to do it.

Harvard going back into the dugout to get ready for their next at bat.

But now they're trailing 2 to 1 has been will puts up two runs and the bottom of the first we roll on here from Conway after this.

This month on Arkansas PBS.

It's too dark.

It's one Cole Porter showstopper after another.

In a comic look at the staging of Shakespeare's Taming of the shrew, starring Lisa Davidson, Freddie de Tomasso and Quint Kelsey and Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

Conducts.

Don't miss Puccini's opera thriller One Gentleman.

Show me his coffee mugs that he had received as a wedding present, and they were $900, so that was surprise me only on Arkansas PBS.

This broadcast is underwritten in part by Summer Woods Sports Complex in Bryant features four courts across two gyms located off Interstate 30, offering space for tournaments, practices and training.

Proud to support the Arkansas Activities Association and Arkansas PBS.

More at Summer woods Sports.com.

And.

Arkansas PBS sports is supported by Wendy's.

One of the menu choices is the Salted Caramel Frosty.

Available availability may vary by locations.

Salted caramel.

Frosty at Wendy's.

That sounds very good.

Oh, all you need is a little bit of French fries to go after this long wait for my salted French fries.

Sounds absolutely delicious.

Welcome back!

Here in the top of the second inning, Ava Stevens, Kiara Burkhart, and Isabella Mia's going to round out the bottom of the lineup here for the Wildcats, who got one on the board at the top of the first.

And Bentonville answered with two of their own.

So now Harvard trying to see if they can continue what they started.

And Burnett went right back to that outside corner, just a little bit too far outside for a ball.

But I'm really interested to see, especially now that we were heading down.

Let's see what we get from both Burnett and Dodds and Albert.

They kind of understand where their spots need to be.

But are.

One one count on Steinmetz.

Excuse me.

Jasmine.

Thomas.

I apologize.

My lineups are all over the place on that piece of paper.

Karl's laughing at me up the scribbles.

And you know what I've learned?

Don't use a pen.

Yeah, that's what I've learned.

I'm going to take that.

I when I first started doing okay with me.

Yeah.

Don't use pen.

I use nothing but pencil when I'm scoring.

Because I'm very pro, I'm probably more prone to mistakes.

And anybody on this planet for being honest.

Anybody that's worked with me.

Yeah.

So again, Jasmine Thomas here, the sophomore, she's going to be followed by Sierra Dots.

And she takes her walk to start off the inning.

I'd be interested to know how many times a leadoff hitter has gotten on against Bentonville.

Twice this year, twice in a row and back to back innings.

Yeah, probably few.

If I had to be a betting person.

Your Harvard head coach here, Randy Moss, and, he's got quite a talented lineup to work with.

And again, he is looking for a state title to bring home to Springdale.

They're going to have to beat their crosstown rivals and Bentonville to do so.

Kyle goes off.

This is he's got a few state championships.

They're all from Farmington.

But we got really two of the best head coaches in the state of all time frankly on this field today.

But Coach Austin's near three decade career won state titles in 2000, 2005 and 11, also had five runner up finishes with the Lady Cardinals.

The field is named after him, so coming up on 700 win the noise between 615 700.

So a very established career.

If the field named after you, you know you're doing something right.

Absolutely.

Sierra Doc's here.

We've seen her in the circle.

But right now batting 288 on the season, she's got 815 hits.

And six RBI.

She's got a runner on first right now in an oh two count.

That is strike number three.

And that is outnumbered one.

Strike out.

Number two for Burnett.

And now up to bat bring Savannah Mouse.

We'll only see pitcher on pitcher when Darby is on the mound because she is IPO at the time.

So pay the bills.

So another sophomore in mount here in this line up for Harbor.

And when you look at the lineup overall Kyle you lead off with a senior in Zaria Palmer.

But then it's junior sophomore sophomore sophomore sophomore.

And then you have two seniors at the bottom of the lineup and Brylee Bratcher and Belle Haney.

And so a lot of young talent for this Harbor team.

That's the crazy thing about both of these squads is there's just so much young talent, and they're always in the mix, too.

Obviously, Bentonville has done what it's done at Harbor two over the past few seasons especially, and so they're not just doing it with a lot of seniority.

It's the younger kids that are stepping up and playing at extremely high levels.

A11 count now on Savannah.

One out.

Watch this strike to go in there and.

You can see right here with head coach for Bentonville Kent early.

He's giving signals to Darby Burnett on the mound in the circle.

And then Alexis Loren edge behind the plate.

And then they're looking at those wristbands, which those weren't around back in my day, but, it's always interesting to see how each team chooses to communicate, whether it's coach to catcher than catcher to pitcher or coach to pitcher and catcher at the same time, or, you know, sometimes, depending on how confident you are in your catcher, they're calling their own game by their senior year.

That's right.

I know Sarah Watson who was the back there for gosh, I guess she was a 3 or 4 year starter and now playing in college.

I know that she used to call games and good.

Yeah.

The wristbands are becoming more popular.

Of course in college they've got the like the the watches that I've seen too, that they'll signal stuff in.

We're not quite there yet, but seeing a heavy uptick in wristbands when we had Sandy Searcy on with us yesterday from, the director of sports for the NFL, she was talking about those kind of communications technology, communications and whether or not you could add those to the high school level, just like they do now in college, especially a communication device from your coach to the catcher in their helmet to make communication a little bit more easier.

So this is Brylee Bratcher the senior at bat.

Two outs now.

Jasmine Thomas still on first base for Harbor.

That one right down the middle for strike number two.

Archer's got 28 hits on the year.

11 of those are doubles.

So she has the ability to get something going here for her team.

A little two out rally watches.

That one.

Yeah.

A swing and a miss.

And that is another strikeout.

And that is going to end the inning for the Bentonville Tigers.

No damage done in the top of the second.

We've got Ava Steinmetz, Kiara Burkhart, and Isabella mears coming up next for the Tigers.

This month on Arkansas PBS, I must face the fact that nothing will ever come of my writing had opportunities squandered them.

Let's get you inside.

If you're looking for us to take her in the answers now you are about to take your first.

Do you feel ready?

Her voice catapulted her to stardom.

She seduced the world super Kayla French.

But for Julie Andrews, fame was overwhelming.

Who is ever prepared for something like that?

Only on Arkansas PBS.

This broadcast is underwritten in part by Everett Buick.

GMC provides vehicles to Arkansas families and supports local organizations.

Community involvement has been part of our story for generations.

Proud to support the Arkansas Activities Association and Arkansas PBS sports.

More at Everett BGM, KGW.com.

Like this is what we were given.

Well, welcome back here in the bottom of the second right now.

Bentonville with a one nothing lead.

But here's a look at the defensive line up.

Thanks to win Rock automotive Madison little Brylee Bratcher.

Savanna Mount in the outfield, Kennedi Thomas, Savannah Woods, Zaria Palmer, Jasmine Thomas, Sierra and Zamora Sanchez behind the plate.

For the Wildcats is now we see Avis Dimas come to the plate for the first time.

The bottom three batters of this Bentonville lineup, this time as the junior, normally comes in to pinch hit typically in that seven hole.

And this has been pretty successful this year.

Batting 382, got 13 RBI and coach early.

Only saw something in the matchups that he really liked putting her in that spot.

Two balls.

No strikes right now.

And you see these shadows as the sun is coming out here at Shark Stadium.

The assistant coach Lindsey Davis, having to shield her eyes a little bit there at first base because there's a glare off this turf.

That's one of the negative things about the turf, but I'm not going to say anything else about the field because it drained beautifully for us today so that we could get these games in so, you know, we've seen it be a little bit slippery, a little slow.

The first one that maybe a little bit that last out.

And then we saw it in the two a game.

Same thing.

They slid into the player slot in the second.

That went a little bit too far.

So that's something to watch too.

You can have to go get Coach Davis some sunglasses.

Coach Davis and I go back a few years.

I'll send her a text, let her know, be like, coach, you got to bring your sunglasses out next time.

Coach, you go out there in the, that first base coach's corner over there.

Yeah.

Coach Early's always got the black hat in his shade, so I'm sure he's well protected.

Their coach in third.

Yeah, but the sun creeping out today, it's good to see the sun, because in a little bit of an issue on the field or the third base side, they're they're in the shade right now.

Well it's tough sometimes as a hitter when your pitcher is in the sun and you're in the shade and you're having to kind of squint to see her as the ball's coming out of her hand, that's a strikeout for the first out of the inning.

Here.

Kiara Burkhart, the center fielder coming up to bat for the Tigers.

Not A508 hole batting 403.

National Park signee went to play her College Bowl for the Nighthawks and Hot Springs.

The.

A11 count as you take a look at Bentonville.

Head coach Kent early and coach early has got a lot of pedigree just in coaching in general.

And we can get into that a little bit.

But personally, you know, he and two other coaches tied with six state titles.

He wins one.

He will be the winningest softball coach in the state of Arkansas with seven.

That's right.

Yeah.

All six.

Of course at Bentonville they had four previous runner up finishes as well.

But 2016 1718 and 2021 and 22 and of course last season.

But out of the son of the great Alvey Early, who spent many, many years as both U-M softball coach and coach, women's basketball Abby Earley actually has the most victories of any collegiate head coach in any division, any sport in the state of Arkansas.

And that's actually you'll see the green ribbons and Bentonville here.

That is actually in honor of Ali, who passed away in 2018.

A wonderful tribute there to their coach's father, the nine hole hitter.

Here, Bella Mirrors, the second baseman for Bentonville, has a 100 count squares around, shuts down the bunt.

Back to dots.

Dots not in time and mirrors showing off her speed.

She is standing at first base and that brings up the top of the lineup for the Lady Tigers.

Kylie Wyman steps in, and she's the one that scored the first run for the Tigers today.

We saw Bella mears getting on base there.

That's that's one that Coach Charlie has called the most improved player on the team this year.

I mean, a nine hole hitter.

Alyssa hitting over 500 is crazy numbers right there.

But she has just really improved really between her Marissa.

And she just shows the development of this program with especially the steps forward that those two have taken.

Well, if my daughter at home is watching, she now has a new favorite player in Bella Mirrors because that is also her name.

Pretty biased there.

Yeah, that's fair though.

Ball two here on Wyman A20 count.

Well.

That one in there for a strike.

But again, you can see how that sun right now bouncing off her helmet.

You got A31 count here.

See if she'll take this for potential ball four.

Or get the green light to swing away.

Takes ball four.

And now you've got runners on first and second base for the Tigers and Denny Domino coming up now she also responsible for that second run as well thanks to that Arneson right two RBI single in the first.

Demi really loves this stage.

As I mentioned, her first at bat had three hits that led everybody in the game last year and already knocked a single today.

A quick little meeting in the circle for the Wildcats.

Just having a discussion while.

Zamar Sanchez gets things worked out.

Maybe a little equipment adjustment for the catcher behind the plate.

The Wildcats just need one out to get out of this inning.

Two on for Bentonville.

Right.

That went in for a strike on the outside corner.

Back to the shortstop.

Easy out at first.

And that is going to end the inning.

The Wildcats getting things done defensively, not allowing Bentonville to score any runs there in the bottom of the second.

We now head to the third.

The Tigers still lead it 2 to 1.

This month on Arkansas PBS.

Hi, I'm Steve Weldon, inviting you to join me for a fun filled three day hike at one of the most scenic national parks in America.

Now I'm going further, following a route inspired by the Pan-American highway, a system of roads connecting the Americas.

Each week we travel the country north to south, east to west, exploring some of the most exciting gardens.

Only on Arkansas PBS.

This broadcast is underwritten in part by.

For over 70 years, Farm Bureau Insurance has offered coverage for automobiles, homes, farms, and lives across Arkansas.

Proud to support the Arkansas Activities Association.

More at AFB, Icom.

It is time for our Farm Bureau trivia question.

And.

Well, I feel like you might know the answer to this.

Who holds the all time record for the most state championships as a coach?

I know you maybe know it.

I'm gonna.

I'm gonna keep it to myself, okay?

You keep it to yourself.

Let the audience work their magic.

Work their brains.

Nice.

But not just jumping the gun there.

We'll let our audience think about it and see if they are also correct.

But when I read the question for today, I was hoping I was going to be able to stump Kyle.

Not so much, but that's okay.

You're just smart and I appreciate that I try.

I don't know if my high school and college GPAs would agree with that, but I made it through, right?

Got both of those pieces of paper is all that matters here in the top of the third bell.

Haney, the nine hole hitter here for Harvard.

That one off the glove of Sanchez.

I think that might be the third or fourth time that that's happened for Sanchez behind the plate today.

I don't know if I'm not going to blame the glove.

I'm not going to blame anything.

It just.

Has happened more than you'd anticipate it to.

Yeah, of course I did that.

Really good.

Grab that.

Just got it right behind the plate there in the first inning.

The throw was just a little bit too high to third base, and that was what scored Harbor's first run, but nothing.

Bentonville definitely have to clean up so it doesn't come back to bite them later.

Got A21 count on her.

Let's tip our camps to the officials in today's game.

Behind the plate right now.

Ray Birdwell on first base, Keith McKay and on third base Tim Alf-inge.

These umpires, working hard have been working hard all weekend for us on these state games.

And so thank you for that.

They've been waiting this out with us.

A3031 count.

Now to Haney.

And that is ball four.

So that is a leadoff walk for the Wildcats.

Let's get to.

And that brings up the top of the batting order for Harbor and Zaria Palmer, who.

Let things off is the reason why there is one run on the board for Harbor with her leadoff hit to start things off.

She's trying to lead another charge and.

Get a few more runs on the board.

I think she just told coach, hey, I didn't see that.

Coach had to give her the signal again.

Turn around.

Squares down, lays down.

That bunt scooped up though by Violet Wynn.

Out at first but able to advance the runner to second into scoring position.

And that was her job.

That's exactly what she just got to do.

And the hardest thing is to put the ball on the bat.

That may have been and I'd say this, of course, kind of joke.

She may have been, Coach Austin told her, more than likely.

Hey, bunt that down.

Advance the runner sacrifice.

But she maybe wanted to get a hit.

Maybe that was why she looked back and tried to see if that was exactly what he said.

Well, if they can get Haney around to score.

That bunt, that sacrifice, just as good as a hit for these Harvard Wildcats to tie things up.

This is Savannah Woods, the junior.

We talked about her at the beginning of the game as well.

Oh, for one, today.

But a big opportunity for Savannah here.

Along with Palmer an Oklahoma Christian signee or commit at this point as a junior.

Savannah woods talks about Jasmine Thomas with 34 RBI when they had had a runner on in the previous inning.

Savannah woods does lead the team with 38 RBI's and see if she'll knock 1 or 2 more in here.

Or I guess one, I'm sorry, I've got the other one got thrown out.

That one high count now two and one had come out.

Fouls that one off.

Continuing to battle.

She struck out the first time in the first.

Half.

Burnett right now with four strikeouts on the day.

Her pitch count up to 47 here in the top of the third.

She has three walks too.

So.

Harper trying to be patient, see if they could get Burnett to give them a freebie.

Grace.

Thank you.

Conway.

You see the communication there again by Coach Early, communicating with his pitcher and his catcher to relay in the signals and what he's wanting to see from his pitcher.

That one a little high and outside.

Full count and grab that by orange.

We mentioned a couple times.

There's a few that have gotten away from her in the first few innings.

Oh that one into the dirt for ball number four.

But away from the edge.

And that is going to advance Haney to third.

So now runners on the corners one out and Harper looking to tie this game up.

And then some.

It's about the position that they had had when they put that run on the board taking advantage of some Bentonville mistakes.

And it looks like we're going to have a meeting in the circle which early headed there.

She's going in there just to have a conversation telling us Enfield to calm down.

But again, you have to respect that runner on third.

And remember how she got there a walk to start off the inning.

And that's something when you look at this game and just taking advantage of what you're given Harvard, trying to just be patient at the plate, fouling off balls they don't like.

In a walk as good as a base hit in games like this.

Absolutely.

Especially those leadoff seed.

That's one of the things that as a coach, that you hate to see when you have a free pass on that one.

And right now, certainly in Harvard's favor.

A.

Quick little conversation between catcher and head coach.

Zimmer.

Sanchez at the plate.

The sophomore zero for one early in this game.

Squares around to bunt.

Going to pull it back and watch a strike.

Number one fallen.

Still runners on the corners with one out for harbor.

That one a foul ball for strike two.

And Burnett now ahead in this count.

And we'll see if she tries to get that outside corner.

Working for strike number three here at the count.

Obviously.

And gotten a couple of times where she's, working around a full count.

So stay up to see if that stays at her advantage.

And she tried.

She's just still trying to find that groove there on that outside pitch for a strike a little high and outside.

And you can see with the infield playing in their normal positions, that conversation with coach early was just, hey, it's okay.

Take a deep breath.

Let's execute.

You get a double play in that run or even a strike out.

Throw them out potentially.

Which I don't know if that was a very smart throw.

There by Sanchez because there was the strike out.

You just let her, in my opinion, take the base.

Right over.

It's like Wyman's head into shallow center field.

Once again, Harbor is able to capitalize and advance the runner home from 60ft.

So instead of two outs now with runners on third and second, there's a runner on second, two outs.

And now A22 ballgame.

This is Kennedy Smith.

And Smith the big bat transferred in from Huntsville during the off season.

Committed to play at Arkansas Tech.

And.

Pulls that one back and that is a strike one one count.

For Smith.

Savannah woods sitting there at second base for those keeping track at home.

That one high for ball two.

And what do you think about that Kyle.

That play that we saw.

It would have paid off if they would have been able to strike her out.

Throw her out?

But is that something you make so early in this game?

I don't think so.

I think it was probably just kind of more of a knee jerk reaction.

You know, obviously just trying to be aggressive and trying to, to get that final out, get out of the inning and get back to hitting.

But yeah, I think that was probably, you know, just a little bit too much of a knee jerk reaction.

I think so too.

She looked into the dugout the minute she threw that ball.

But hopefully it for them for Bentonville.

You're watching this, rooting for Bentonville.

It doesn't make too much of a difference in this game.

Yeah.

Strike three.

And that's going to end the inning.

Harper able to tie things up here 2 to 2.

As we head to the bottom of the third and Bentonville looking to see if they can regain the lead.

This month on Arkansas PBS.

Nope.

I heard you say nobody knows what this is.

And I shout it out.

I did for a collector like myself, this is like heaven.

Here we go.

I'm home.

The party's just getting started.

It's so romantic.

Oh, I don't have to tell you.

It's been a thrilling trip.

So seeing those stars perform gave a little glimpse of that home that was waiting for you upon your return.

Only on Arkansas PBS.

Since 1937, the electric cooperatives of Arkansas have been providing power to homes, farms, and businesses across our state.

The cooperatives are member owned and work together to serve Arkansans.

The electric cooperatives of Arkansas proudly support high school students and athletics in Arkansas, and hope you enjoy watching the state championship games on Arkansas PBS sports.

Better connected together the electric cooperatives of Arkansas.

Welcome back.

We've given you half an inning to think about the answer to this trivia question, which I knew.

By the way, Kyle is going to get right off the bat.

Who holds the high?

The all time record for most state championships as a coach.

Kyle.

It's Michael Beasley aforementioned it.

It is.

And Dan generally early you and I sorry can't short James Michael and tied and he has an opportunity to surpass him with seven.

If Bentonville can be on the winning side when it is all said and done.

Well we've got a lot of softball here left to play.

We're in the bottom of the third right now.

Bentonville back up to bat.

Violet Winn leading it off the junior and steps up.

Rocks this one into shallow left center field.

That one's going to drop in for a base hit.

And it's a leadoff single for win.

And just like Harbor trying to take advantage, she's able to find that sweet spot there in between left field shortstop and center field.

You kind of no man's land right there.

Just wasn't really sure.

Should have been left fielder.

Should have been the shortstop.

Weren't really sure who was going to call that one.

But that's just one of those.

As you said, that kind of just goes into the shallow outfield.

And no man's land is what most people call it.

It is it.

It is that spot where you're not sure if the shortstop is going to run that far deep into the outfield, or depending on how far back your left fielder is playing and just one of those unfortunate places where it bounces in for a base hit.

Unfortunate for harbor.

If you're harbor beneficial for Bentonville, if you're Violet wood standing on first base instead right back at the plate, Dot's gets ahead of her.

At her last At-Bat, she knocked in those two runs.

You can tell she's got some power to her, and that's why she's got 13 home runs on the season.

And her dad, Jerry, is a former Razorback offensive lineman.

Upstairs on that one.

Great pitch, but that's a really good pitch.

That one looked good out of the hand and that's why Anderson swung at it.

But it rose right above the bat in first strike.

Yeah.

Fouls that one off back and over the right field dugout.

These matchups are when you get to a pitcher and a hitter know each other so well.

These matchups are always extra fun.

Oh that is a strikeout and a big one if you're Cierra Dodds for your first strikeout of the inning.

Real good sequence there by Dodds.

Started outside, then went up, went outside again, and then got her swinging on the rise ball to strike her out.

That is her second strikeout of the day.

The other one came in the bottom of the second inning.

But she knew the power that Anderson Wright brings with her when she steps into the batter's box.

And so a big strikeout there for her.

She now faces Alexis Lorenzen.

Alexis felling that one back into the backstop off the netting.

Think.

One on, one out.

A11 count here for the orange.

Popping this one up, it looks like it's going to be Savannah Woods to bring it in.

And she does for the second out of the inning.

And now, one on, two outs for Harbor.

Marissa, she the junior one.

Oh, and one to start things off.

Here we go.

Steps back into the batter's box a in.

And she gets ahead early.

There trying to knock her 35th hit of the season for the junior.

She we talked about it 2 or 4 two five batting average 34 hits on the season.

And this is coming from the middle of your lineup.

I mean, that is just how hard it is to get these girls out top to bottom in this Bentonville lineup.

Same with Harbor.

Just the way offensively, both of these teams don't really feel like they have any weaknesses.

That's right.

And that's why they've been the top two teams in the state all year.

Both of these teams getting byes in the first.

First round of the state tournament.

And then Bentonville defeating Fayetteville 15 to nothing before that nail biter against Rogers last week.

2 to 1.

That's how they got here.

Harbor defeating Conway two.

Nothing.

And then Bryant one nothing.

And.

There for Jeannette she drawing the walk.

And now you've got two on back to send in the pitches.

And it looks like that the harbor assistant had a walkie talkie.

You can use pitch.

Com Mayflower softball uses a Conway baseball.

So that's as of, this this season.

You can use it.

So I guess maybe the.

They're communicating with the cat with Sanchez back there behind the dish.

The beauty of technology.

Kyle.

That is right.

I love to see the advancements.

Makes things a whole lot easier, too.

I'm sure when we were growing up playing, you had the coaches.

One of your practices was just learning the signals and all the switches.

And if I hit my nose, the signal's on or off, and now you can just hold up a number and look at a wristband or walkie talkie it in.

And much easier these days.

Yeah, and I know the audience kiss, but I can't see the signal I'm making.

But I know Coach Austin.

Just last year I watched him because I saw Harwood play multiple times last year, and he would he would basically flex his fists and maybe touch his stomach and and that was always take at least it was loud.

I'm sure they change their signals every game or two, but I try to study those, especially when I see teams multiple times.

Yeah, it's always interesting to see what teams do with their signal calling, how they do it.

De Van Horn up on the hill with the Razorbacks.

He still does.

Signs.

Yep.

He'll do the old school signs.

He's still that way.

This one off the end of the bat into foul territory for Ava stymies.

She's got A22 count on her.

Two of her teammates on base and two outs in A22 ballgame.

Trying to see if Bentonville can put another one on the scoreboard before the inning is over.

Harbor trying to get out of the inning.

Talk about the production of this lineup.

She's hitting 382 is normally a pinch hit.

Three of her 13 hits on the season have gone for doubles.

That one sent into right center field.

That one is going to bounce in.

Bounces off the glove of Madison Little that scores two runs and you've got Ava.

Stadium is standing on second.

You called it.

How many doubles does she have.

That's her fourth one now.

And that's that's what they saw with this.

They love that match up again.

Another pitcher another batter that knows Sierra Dot's well.

So coach early saw something probably from the previous two games or maybe even something from the state tournament that he had talked about this week, that he was really considering putting her in that lineup and not just bringing her out of the dugout.

Well, that score, too, clears the bases and Bentonville takes a 4 to 2 lead, their biggest lead of the day so far here in the bottom of the third and still two outs with Kiara Burkhart.

In in the eight hole.

And that one, I think, went further than I even anticipated.

Off the bat, Kyle.

It almost looked like she hit it off the end of the bat, but had enough power in that swing to get it out there into right center field.

Yeah, just that's one thing that she she's known for.

She gets a really good bat on the ball and it hit it into the gaps.

Just like that.

She did go around.

And that is strike number three.

That's going to end the inning.

But Bentonville finding some success on the big pass.

They've got four as Harper now trails by two.

And we continue to row on here from Schott Stadium and Conway.

We'll be right back as we head to the top of the fourth.

This month on Arkansas PBS, when three actors vie for a role, the next agent, Jonas best, one of them dies.

This was cold blooded murder.

All the peaceful villages of midsummer host to lovely parties and friendly neighbors.

And she's been murdered.

Honey, Langston is your ex-husband.

Yes.

I'm afraid he's been found dead on the rugby grounds, but only on Arkansas PBS.

UAMs is a proud supporter of Arkansas PBS.

Sports UAMs health provides orthopedic and sports medicine care across Arkansas, supporting athletes and teams throughout the state.

Find out more at you.

And that's helped back up.

And.

Congratulations to our six.

A Arkansas PBS student, all star Madeline Baldwin, a sophomore pitcher from Bryant with a 4.04 GPA.

Undecided right now on a major.

Plenty of time to decide that, but interest includes wealth management, optometry or pharmacy.

Six eight Arkansas PBS student all star Madeline Baldwin O'Brien.

Congratulations, Madeline.

Well done.

And yeah, all great options there.

She's got plenty of time.

Yes, yes.

And what you want to do and you're absolutely right.

She does have plenty of time.

So do we.

Got a lot of softball left to play as Jasmine Thomas steps in for Harvard here in the top of the fourth.

Darby Barnett in the circle for Bentonville six strikeouts on the day for walks.

And that is really the story there Kyle.

The walks that Bentonville has given has helped Harvard put those two runs on the board.

That and along with two high throws, of course, the one high throw to third base and also to second was what ultimately played a big part of that.

And so I think, you know, Darby cuts down on the walks a little bit, obviously tries to keep the lead off off first base though.

That was kind of one of the things that haunted them there in the third was getting the leadoff walk.

And then that ended up of course, resulting in another run for the Wildcats one one count.

Right now on Jasmine.

She hit that one.

And they say that is a fair ball down the right field line.

They called that a fair ball.

So she is standing safe on first base.

The home plate umpire called it fair.

Let's take a second look at that.

If we could.

It seems Austin is talking to the third base umpire.

Here's a replay for you.

And yeah, it looked like that one was foul.

I think it bounced foul before it.

Hit behind the back.

So Jasmine Thomas back at the batter's box.

Going to try it again.

Oh yeah.

For ball number two.

So A22 count.

The sun not doing anybody any favors except for it's not raining so I'm not going to call.

That's all we can be thankful for.

Just misses on the outside for ball number three.

And now Thomas has a full count.

Another thing I was actually getting to check out the two day game of course as well.

And just walking around campus a little bit, it actually doesn't feel too terrible.

You know, normally you get this kind of weather.

It's just so sticky outside, but really nice weather.

This is my first time down here, believe it or not, to the UK campus.

And I've heard a lot of good things about Conway as a city in general, and of course UK and the facilities they have down here in the campus.

And it is very beautiful.

It is, it's gorgeous here.

When I, when I was here as a student many, many moons ago, that was when they built the business building.

It's always been pretty here, but it's just this, this town just continues to boom.

I remember my dad talking about that when I moved here about 15 years ago, and it's exploded even more since then.

It's been a fun couple of days.

Being able to stay here in Conway drove into the little downtown, which was also very cute, and sport played at Pasta Grill.

And when I say I ate at Pasta Grill, I got the peach bread pudding.

I still can't I just went in there and had dessert because if you know me, that's how I operate.

And it was absolutely delicious.

Sierra docs there, hit by that pitch by Burnett and she is standing on first Base Harbor now with runners on first and second base and an opportunity again for them in the top of the fourth.

No outs, just off the shoulder.

I was just going to say there's no outs at like Sierra.

I'll happily wear that one.

I don't think any pitcher wants to get hit on any shoulder.

And that's true, especially her throwing arm.

But she's tough.

She's going to have a pinch runner come in and run for her over on first base.

Savannah mounts now with an opportunity to help her team get back into this one and tie it up.

Squares around for the bunt.

Pulls that ball back and it's still called a strike.

To wrap up my story, Kyla was saying it's been a very pleasant day here in Conway.

I've really enjoyed it.

Yeah, love always coming back.

I don't come back here a whole lot except for normally during the Weekend of Champions, but this was my home for five years.

Really enjoyed it.

Lays down that bump and it goes foul.

I'm going to have to come back and do a little bit more while I'm here.

Moved up to Fayetteville in 2013 and that is home for me.

Don't get down here to the Central Arkansas area very often and I need to change that.

Well, it makes you feel any better.

I, I live about 30 minutes away, and maybe I'm here 2 or 3 days a year.

Every once in a while I've come up for other stuff, but.

She looks at ball one, that one a little bit low and outside A21 count here on Savannah mounts again.

Two runners on, no outs for the Wildcats and when they find themselves in a 4 to 2 deficit.

Looking at an opportunity here.

At one high.

Over.

Well done by violent wind.

To scoop that up and get the out at first base.

That's going to move the runners in scoring position at third and second.

Now what an exceptional effort there by Wright.

Ball was a little bit out of reach.

She was able to get the tag.

They're going to sit here and talk about this or something.

There's the scoop the throw.

They call her out.

But I think they're going to look to see if I think the argument I think that Coach Moss might have is, was she on the base when she caught that ball?

They're going to have a conversation.

Yeah.

Great effort nonetheless.

But it definitely was extremely close.

See if this gives us a better look.

That's tough a great great camera work by our camera crew there.

But let's see when she catches the ball.

Is she still on the base.

She might have got it there with that foot.

The toe of her foot man.

Good effort there by Aniston right.

And.

A good attempt there by Savannah to try to run that on on first base.

Still helps out her team advances the runners and still one out as Brylee Bratcher now steps and squares around, pulls back, looks at strike number one.

That's one of the underrated things that you look at a Bria.

And I'm not comparing Aniston debris.

Allison.

I'm just saying you think about everybody talks about what a big bat that she has.

And then Aniston certainly has that with 13 home runs.

But also just the great plays that she makes at first.

Like that one.

It's a great comparison.

There.

Bri Ellis up for national player of the year.

Of course Arkansas about to start their second super regional game against Ole Miss in about 35 minutes up at Bogle Park in Fayetteville.

We are pitching staff, got some fluids in them and feeling much better than yesterday.

I hope so if you're a softball fan and you've been paying attention to what Courtney Dye has done with that program, and Ole Miss getting that first game with a super regional, but Arkansas still trying to see if they can make their first Women's College World Series A12 count here.

Now for Brylee Bratcher.

At Darby, having to block out that sun to see the what pitch coach early is calling in on the signals.

You know if you're if you're a Bratcher here what you're trying to do is just hit something out of the out or out of the infield and into the outfield, even if it's a pop up deep enough to try to at least score a run here, you've got to capitalize on this opportunity that Bentonville is giving you.

Really close from there on that that outside corner I know has been a topic of conversation since this one started.

Being.

Fouls that one back to stay alive.

Bratcher, the center fielder for Harbor, struck out her first time at bat as well, one of the six strikeouts that Burnett has on the day.

But again, we've talked about it.

She also has five walks, which is why there's a runner on third base right now, strikes her out.

That gets the second out of the inning.

And now the Wildcats are down to their last out of this half of the inning here in the fourth.

Still trying to capitalize on a walk.

And hit by a pitch that now has runners on third and second.

Bell Haney looking to see if she can bring in a run for her team and.

Pulls back.

Watch that ball bounce in the dirt.

Good job by Alexis Lorenz to not let that get by her and potentially score a run.

Haney was one of those five walks in the previous frame and ended up over at third, and then scored the second run.

Squares around, pulls back, looks at ball two.

Coach Earley wants to have a conversation with his infield and his pitcher and his catcher.

Coach Moss is going to have a conversation here with his runners and.

His players as well.

Again, we knew that this game was going to be competitive.

We knew that both of these teams were very focused and dialed in on beating each other.

And with an opportunity right now for Harbor, they want to take advantage.

There's that earpiece and communication we were talking about for Harbor, as you can see there, and some Mario Sanchez standing at the edge of the dugout door with her catcher's gear on.

Right now she's just cheering on Bill Haney.

See if she can get something done here.

Watch a strike 1A2, one count.

Now for Haney.

It seems like Derby, especially in this energy.

She's tired.

There's two runners on.

But really recent few pitches.

She's locating a little bit better.

But I'm right.

And Lorena just glove.

That one beautifully painted on the inside corner.

And that is strike number two.

So A22 count.

You can hear the crowd start cheering, getting a little bit louder in this moment.

That one a little high and inside for ball three.

So a full count on Haney.

Battling sends this one just a little slow roller to third, but they are able to get out of the inning and no damage done as Harbor leaves two stranded on third and second.

That is going to do it for the top of the fourth.

We come back at the bottom of the inning with Bella myers, Kylie Wyman and Demi Donahoe do a.

This month on Arkansas PBS.

When you see how vulnerable and helpless they are, you wonder how any of them make it's okay.

You're you're safe.

After receiving a remotely controlled pile, everybody is safe.

We will now investigate what can be learned from the chaos.

Michael.

One out of every four animals is a beetle.

Insects with armor only on Arkansas PBS.

UAMs is a proud supporter of Arkansas PBS.

Sports UAMs health provides orthopedic and sports medicine care across Arkansas, supporting athletes and teams throughout the state.

Find out more at Unmatched Health back on.

Relive all of the action from this weekend with DVD copies of the state championship games.

They're available from M&M productions.

More information at M&M productions dot net.

Here we go.

Now to the bottom half of this fourth inning here.

Bentonville still up four two over Harbor Harbor with an opportunity at the top of the inning to score some runs, but left two one.

And now Bentonville looking to see if they can add to the lead that they currently have.

Bella myers here.

Stepping into the batter's box for the second time, she had a hit.

Her first At-Bat kind of holds up the bottom of this lineup before it cycles back up to the top.

And Kylie Wyman.

And this is the kind of nine hole hitter you want to have someone who can almost be that second leadoff and keep that momentum going from the bottom of the lineup to the top.

That's right.

I talked about it her first at bat.

It's it is very, very seldom that you see a nine hole.

It really batters in general hitting 500 on a consistent basis, but especially getting that from your nine hole.

You love that production.

Turns around lays down that but really well executed.

Kind of dies there right in between the, the home plate and the pitcher's mound, which allows her to get down the line, because when she scooped it up, she knew she didn't have time for that throw.

It really just kind of dies right there.

And well executed by Myers.

That's exactly what you were talking about.

Yeah, well, being able to get on base and get things back to the top of the order.

That's right.

Laid it down perfectly.

And then from there, just utilize that speed to get on first.

I might have to have you check me, Kyle, as we kind of go back and look at our scorecards, at how many times the leadoff batter has gotten on base in this game, because it almost feels like every inning they've been able to have someone lead off.

It happened in the top of the first.

Happened in the bottom of the first.

We'll get back to you on that.

Looks like every inning.

But the bottom of the second.

Yeah.

There you go, Kyle.

Well done.

Executed.

Put there back up the middle into center field for a base hit for Wyman.

That's her second hit of the day.

And she is now standing on first base, where she has been at every single at bat.

Dot's got Ava Steinmetz swinging as the leadoff batter in the second inning, and then, of course, in the last inning, Stein has won that battle to get a two RBI double.

Two one.

Now here with no outs for Bentonville and Demi Donahoe.

Turns around, tries to put down that bunt.

They say she went.

So that's strike number one.

That is a full attempt there.

So that strike is warranted.

Pulls back on that one for her.

First of all.

Pops that one back.

And that's strike two for her.

She had a single in the first and then grounded out to short in the second.

As she sits here in the box again, starts for the very third time.

And all she's trying to do right now, Kyle, is get her teammates at third and second, or potentially even try to add a run here on the scoreboard.

Pops that one foul territory up against the wall Kennedy Smith there to make the catch.

And that is the first out of the inning.

Job by goose are doing so just called her nickname Kennedy Smith.

Over there at the netting.

I'm used to all these nicknames.

Trammell same.

Yeah.

She's known as goose.

Is there a story behind that?

I don't know, I'm just.

That's all I've ever since I was told to be.

Yeah, I was can't have a nickname like that without one.

Oh, for sure.

Yeah.

I first heard about her freshman year, as I do with a lot of these kids.

And then they're coming up and that's what I honestly, it throws me off when when I hear Kennedy, to be honest with you.

Well, I'm sorry to throw you.

It's not your fault.

That's already not good.

It's not your ball.

That's what we eat.

That's what the roster says.

And our lineup cards.

So Violet when steps.

And now she walked her first time had a base hit her second at bat.

And again Bentonville.

Just trying to add to this lead with two on right now pops this one up.

This one heading into left field.

Savannah mounts able to make the catch and that is outnumber two.

So runners stay put.

Nobody's going anywhere.

But unlike a few batters ago where they were on base with no outs, now they're on with two outs.

And once again you feel a lot more comfortable with your dots here going from two on with no outs and then just one away from heading to the fifth, you can definitely take a deep breath in the circle, right?

Especially as Aniston Wright steps in.

Got her with the rise ball there.

Really well executed pitch.

Did you go just over the bat?

For strike number two.

And then we saw Sierra take that score.

She bats and some throws.

Right.

Bats left.

We saw her take that.

That, shot on the arm there.

Looks like it's not affecting her.

No, that one a little high for ball one.

But you're right.

I mean, I feel like she's pitched so well.

I forgot that she just took that ball off the shoulder at the top of the inning.

Probably got a little ice.

Yeah, because they had a pinch runner in there for after her hit by pitch.

And she seems to be doing okay though.

These girls are tough.

I will have to say that was my biggest takeaway over the weekend.

There are some tough, tough softball players in the state of Arkansas.

The last game Riverside's Claire Wolman took that hit right off the knee.

And second batter of the game.

Yeah.

And then of course, Lexi Vigil in left field and Pea Ridge.

That made one of the plays of the weekend.

Or doe she doe for the ball and was all shaken up for a while and was fine.

But yeah, you're right, the toughness is definitely on display this whole weekend.

Aniston filling that one back behind the play to stay alive.

She's got a full count on her now.

She's got two on two outs here in the bottom of the fourth.

And she wants walks watches ball 4 to 1.

Your juices loaded now I'm used to beer hats coming out in the stands at this point in the game, but.

But they're all the same.

The waters and their Coke cans on there.

That'll work.

That'll work here at Shark Stadium.

Bases loaded for Bentonville.

Two outs here in the bottom of the fourth.

Again trying to extend this 4 to 2 lead.

You now have Alexis Lorenz.

The.

Just looking for her first hit over two so far.

Which is strike one though.

And a good pitch there by Sierra Dot's.

I think two if you're Dutch, you're okay with that walk to.

Right.

I think you you can.

Focus here on this pitch and not worry about that that one into center field and that ends the inning.

So no damage is done, no more added runs by Bentonville.

And we are still at 4 to 2 here as we head to the fifth Harbor, looking for another opportunity to see if they can tie this game back up.

Be right back from Conway after this.

Win.

Rock automotive supports Arkansas athletes as a sponsor of the Arkansas PBS sports broadcast of the high school state championship games with 70 ships across the state serving little Rock, Conway and Jonesboro.

When Rock automotive is community focused and provides vehicle sales and service across Arkansas, we're honored to be a part of these unforgettable moments celebrating Arkansas student athletes.

When Rock automotive connecting communities through service and support.

Welcome back.

This is how everything has unfolded here, Kyle here at Shark Stadium today.

That's right.

Got the throw a little bit too high to third base that scored the first harbor run.

Then Bentonville gets on the board with an Anderson right two RBI double.

And of course and the next the next score went to the Harbor Wildcats in the third inning.

And that was another miscue throw there to second base that scored Bella.

And of course, this one right here by Stein was a big two RBI double this time.

As normally coming off the coming out of the dugout to pinch hit in most cases.

But in the lineup today in the seven hole.

And that is how we got here.

It is a 4 to 2 ballgame as the sun is slowly making its way below the trees and this is what we were talking about.

One for one in that leadoff spot is Harbor three for four is Bentonville.

It's just felt like both of these teams have been able to start the innings with the leadoff batter standing on first base.

When it's all said and done, whether that's a hit or with a walk.

Yeah.

That's right.

Or as we've mentioned it earlier, a walk is any kind of free pass that's as good as a hit when you get a runner on, especially when runs are premium.

When these two teams are playing each other, we are back to the top of the lineup for Harbor, Zaria, Palmer.

Had a base hit in the first.

Trying to see if she can continue the trend.

And right now she likes what she sees in this three oh count against Burnett.

He's gotten on both the walk and hit or scored.

That run that we saw at the the first inning.

The top.

And there it is ball four.

So the trend continues.

Kyle, the leadoff batter for Harbor aboard.

That's the what is that the sixth hit walk issued by Burnett of the day at seven strikeouts to six walks and only allowed one hit though.

And so far, those walks haven't been able to be too detrimental.

Only one of those walks ended up scoring a run for Harbor, her defense able to be steady behind her and help get out of some opportunities that Harbor has had, including the top of the fourth when they had two on and no outs.

This is Savannah Wood stepping in here.

She was also one of those walks issued by Burnett.

Watch a strike number one in.

Fouls that one back to.

Keep things going.

Here at her at bat.

One ball, two strikes for woods.

And he was on.

She's.

She was trying to gain scoring position.

You're right.

Man.

Again these outside corners, both of these pitchers have just kind of been testing the waters with that outside pitch, just to see what they can get.

It's been hit or miss for both sides today.

And trying to find that sweet spot on the outside.

Yeah, that one worked.

Draws her around for strike three.

And that is out.

Number one.

The eighth strikeout for Darby Burnett on the day.

It's going to bring up Zamora Sanchez.

Sanchez grounded out and struck out at her.

Two appearances at the plate.

Squares around takes ball one.

Right.

There goes Palmer.

You know she was waiting to do it, and that ball skips under the glove.

Of Kylie Wyman into center field, and she is safe at second base now with a runner in scoring position.

Takes the forks out away.

I think that was one of those situations.

Kind of like you win in football.

You teach the wide receiver to look it into the tuck and then run with it.

That was kind of a case right there.

I think she thought she had it in her glove and then tried to make the turn when the ball was going into shallow center field.

We also watched Palmer slide head first there.

We've seen a couple of slides today.

Slide past the bag in that hook slide and those fingers just slip off the base because it's hard to grip with.

You're going head first though.

You've got your whole entire body.

Yeah you're using this.

Stop yourself over that bag and.

She was doing everything she could to get herself in this scoring position she's in right now.

There it is.

Ball for runners now at first and second will pitch.

Walk.

It.

Darby's been in this position today and got out of course had runners on second and third to get out of the fourth.

And noticed this inning her and both her and Lorena have kind of traded like calm downs will just settle in and well both of these teams have been sitting around all day.

I know that Bentonville drove down last night to get here in town State and Maumelle, and they all anticipated a 4:00 start.

That's what the schedule was, of course, the rain came in and moved everything back, and so they didn't get things started till six.

I visited with Lindsey Davis, as I mentioned, the assistant coach for Bentonville, they went to Trader Joe's.

Yeah.

That's awesome.

All those things, she said.

Unique snacks over at Trader Joe's and did some shopping while they tried to kill some time today and wait out this rain delay they were in.

But you also know as an athlete, too, even if you're going to Trader Joe's, you're just sitting around the hotel or whatever it is you're doing to kill the time.

There's just the anticipation of this game that just sits with you up until game time all day.

I think that's the main thing is just kind of it out.

Okay?

We know that we have to wait this out, but then once you get a time that's more so when you see the weathers moving out, kind of eases those nerves a little bit.

Swing and a miss for Kennedy Smith for strike two.

Do you frequent Trader Joe's?

All right.

When I lived and I I've only been to the one in little Rock probably about 2 or 3 times.

I when I lived in San Antonio, I used to go weekly is right now to go to, put you on the spot here.

To be honest, I don't even remember there had these.

It was almost like the talky, the spicy chips.

They had, like a healthier version of those that I couldn't even bother.

Because even if they're healthy, too much of one thing, it's kind of like my Coke Zero is too much of one thing is still too much.

So I had to be really careful.

Yeah, I try, but they all love me.

Some Trader Joe's shameless plug.

I had never heard of it until I went and spent a lot of time with my aunt and uncle who lived in California, and my aunt introduced me to it.

I'm a big fan of their sparkling lemonade.

That is good that that one punched that one is down into left center field off the glove of Kiara Burkhart.

And that is going to score Palmer.

That is going to put runners at third and second.

And what a patient at bat for Kennedy Smith to get the RBI double and get her team that much closer to tying this game right back up.

Lady Smith at the bottom of the fourth there.

Made that really good catch along the netting to get the first out when they had already had two runners on and now knocks a run in.

Been a big addition to this Lady Wildcat team.

This season has been teams that.

Well this Wildcat team has been patient and it is battled in the box and that one has paid off in a run.

And now you have Jasmine Thomas the sophomore.

Another opportunity with two outs and runners on.

A runner on second.

So I apologize that that score both runs I believe that it did.

This might be a tie ball game, but I think it's just I've got some conflicting things myself.

I think it is for three.

There were two on and now there's only one.

Did they, did they get the out at third?

There's a lot going on.

There was a lot going on.

But I'm pretty sure we're at four three right okay.

Yeah I think that is right.

Okay.

So it's now four three just like we thought it was Palmer who is the one that scored on that hit into left center field by Smith.

And then Bentonville able to get the out at third which is now why we have two outs.

Had to play a little catch up.

And from where we're sitting we were just trying to follow our monitors here.

And.

Yeah because because Z scored three of scored from second and Zamora Sanchez was thrown out at third okay.

And then Goose Kennedy Smith's on that kid.

And now that we know that everybody knows the name, that's honestly probably with goose on second not to speak for her, but I imagine that may be what she prefers anyway.

Who's on first?

It was on.

It's a joke.

Oh my gosh.

Oh come on now.

You see, you can't see.

You can't do too many things to me at once.

Here.

It's fine.

Lady kicking in foul ball there by Jasmine Thomas.

So again to recap what just happened.

There were two on with one out for Kennedy Smith.

She was able to poke that ball into the left center field hole that scored Palmer from second.

And then Zamora.

Sanchez was thrown out at third for the second out of the inning.

And now we have a 4 to 3 ballgame.

Now two two count on Jasmine Thomas.

Really well executed there by Kennedy Smith.

To be patient in that at bat makes such good contact to put it in that hole.

And then it almost I couldn't tell if it was off Kiara Brook Hart's glove or her foot to buy that extra time for Palmer.

But that right there is strike number three.

She gets her looking to end the inning, but Harvard able to add one back to the scoreboard.

It is now 4 to 3, still in favor of the Bentonville Tigers.

They'll be at bat when we get back after this.

I have some glad tidings to impart.

Oh, look at that.

I'm still surprised at how good I am.

Jane Austin was my sister.

I didn't think I would ever study medicine, but here I am.

Absolutely delicious.

Especially straight out of the oven.

Have never seen anything like this.

I think we have sufficient cause for celebration.

This broadcast is underwritten in part by Centennial Bank, supports communities across Arkansas, and is a proud supporter of the Arkansas Activities Association and Arkansas PBS sports, providing financial services since 1999.

Member FDIC.

More at my 100 bank.com.

Shout out to all of our camera crew out there, bringing you the best angles on this six day state championship game.

Big shout out to those gatherings.

Hey there that they are standing on.

That is all thanks to Legion scaffolding.

The scaffolding support for this broadcast provided in-kind by Legion Scaffolding.

For more information, visit Legion scaffolding.com here in the bottom of the fifth, as we get ready for Bentonville to step back into the batter's box.

This is Marissa Jimenez.

She.

To lead things off.

Has been on the walk.

Still looking for her first hit.

Watch this ball to there and ricochets off of.

Sanchez's shin guard there.

But no one on the base pass, so no harm, no foul.

Quick little meeting there in the circle.

A few high fives as the infield goes back to their positions.

And that is ball three.

For Dodds, when you look at her line right now, she's almost at 100 pitches.

Kyle sitting at 98 right now, three strikeouts, four walks giving up four runs and eight hits today.

There it is.

Strike one on the three oh count.

Darby's Derby is at 114 pitches.

So both of them getting up there.

Both of them battling though.

And you also have to again we've talked about this lineup for both of these teams one through nine just hard outs top to bottom.

And so for these pitchers as she puts in strike number two, they're knew they were going to have to come to work and put in the work today.

Not that that's a surprise at all in this six a division.

But these are batters who are going to be patient.

They are going to foul off pitches.

They are going to make you work for every strike.

And that is why the walk count is where it is.

And the pitch count is where it is.

This one into deep left, center right, center field, that one off the wall.

And that is a double for Jimenez.

She.

Talked about that.

Patience has got, as we mentioned there at the beginning of the At-Bat.

She's been on a walk and now starts the bottom of the fifth frame for the double sliding in well executed there.

Not much that Brawley could do there in centerfield except for just play that ball off the wall.

And again, like we were talking about, she had A30 count on her, would have taken a walk, watch two.

Two strikes come in and then was able to take that ball off the wall.

Your stymies at the plate following her two run the two RBI double that she had previous at bat that ultimately gave Bentonville the lead.

She pops this one up foul and out of play.

A lot to be said about stymies two.

There's plenty of other schools that she could have been playing more at this year, but understands that the development that she's under with Coach early and Coach Davis really earned her spot.

After falling behind own three two, she is now up oh two against stymies.

Trying to get her to reach.

And she does.

That is a strike out.

And that is her fourth of the day for docs.

That's the first out of the inning.

And that's going to bring up Kira Burkhart, the senior.

Oh, and two for today.

But.

Just a really good pitch there by Dot's.

Not much time as could do.

They're just reaching for that one out of reach of that swing.

But the other day.

Burkhart today popped up to left field.

Also struck out.

Tries to lay down the bunt, but that one goes back and is now A21 count on Burkhart and.

She's trying to draw all of these infielders away from third base, so that she can see if she can get she over there that much closer to scoring another run.

And that is a strike.

So A22 count now on Burkhart.

Last one got stymied swinging a little bit outside there and now showing bunt.

Pulls it back and fouls it back.

And once again just continuing to battle like every one of these batters have in this game.

We keep saying it.

We might sound like a broken record now, but no easy outs, no.

Another full count.

And she gets her swinging for outnumber two back to back.

K's for dots.

And just like that, despite that leadoff double by Nishi, the Wildcats now have two down in the bottom of the fifth.

Went up in zone for that one.

Now top of the lineup coming.

Kylie Wyman.

Bella mia.

First Bill Myers I got ahead of myself.

Basically, it's like a second lead.

That's right, that's right.

That's what give you a pass there.

But Bella myers, who has gotten on base in both of her appearances today, looking to try to do it for a third time, short change.

The one that I've been talking about of how impressive it is hitting over 500 as a nine hole, hitting over 500 in general.

Sorry about that bell.

I'm sure if she forgives you, I think she does.

Get chases that one outside and that is in for strike two.

Others on a great pitcher there with Dawson giving up that leadoff double.

And there's like, really good sense.

Yeah, yeah.

And there you go for strike number three.

Three strikeouts in a row after that leadoff double.

And that is going to do it here for the fifth inning.

It is A43 ballgame.

We knew this was going to be exciting and it has not disappointed.

Let's head to the six.

We'll be right back.

Stay with us.

Don't you.

This month in passport on the PBS app, you click.

Austin City Limits celebrates 50 years is something that takes you over a history.

It goes back to the spiritual in this time.

Liza minnelli being born into Hollywood royalty Judy Garland and Vincent Minnelli doesn't make you a superstar.

These and other shows from Arkansas PBS are available with passport on the PBS app.

This broadcast is underwritten in part by Summer Woods Sports Complex in Bryant features four courts across two gyms located off Interstate 30, offering space for tournaments, practices and training.

Proud to support the Arkansas Activities Association and Arkansas PBS.

More at Summer woods Sports.com.

And.

Experience the action all over again next week.

Watch all the championship games on the PBS app.

Any time you go to my R PBS.org slash watch sports.

It's been such a fun day and past few couple of days.

Kyle.

Just doing these broadcasts, bringing our audience these state championship games.

Whether you've been watching softball or baseball, soccer.

It's been a fun couple of days here at UCA with this Arkansas PBS sports group.

So inside.

So here we go to the top of the sixth Harbor, still chipping away.

Got the offense going.

Was able to score one in the fifth.

Now Derby Burnett faces Sierra Dutch hit by pitch.

The last time these two faced off the white.

See if we can can continue the streak of getting the leadoff on.

It's been a fun game to see if it's kind of the competition that we're.

It is.

And now.

Fouls that one off stays alive one and two.

Welch fouls off swinging a missed two back.

But beats out the throw of the pass ball.

And hey it continues no matter how it happens walk base hit or pass.

Third strike that she's able to run out and she is safe at first.

And we've got a leadoff runner to get things going on first base.

Another good job there by Wright to turn it up a little bit and make sure she glove that one.

Able to turn around when she turned around she said let's go.

That's how you hype up your dugout right there on that first base line.

As Savannah Mount steps into the box, puts down the bunt.

That one goes foul, though.

Looks like the infield is going to have a quick meeting.

Change.

Just a quick conversation to talk a few things over.

Coach just wants to have a quick conversation with Savannah.

Mounts as well.

Quick question there by the umpire, behind the plate, down to his companion.

Down on the first base side to see if she actually squared around and went.

They say she did not.

So it is A11 count on mounts.

Savannah trying to steal second base.

But this time they got her.

Lorena able to throw her out at second.

Well heads up throw and play there by Bentonville.

And that clears the bases.

Fall to Wyman with when they tried to throw out of it.

Was in the last frame when ball went right past Wyman and into the into the outfield.

She was able to get her right there and keep the base running to keep the base pass, clear up.

Maybe that's what that little powwow in the circle was about.

Nobody on base now and one out for mounts maybe changes the.

Strategy at her at bat.

Let's go.

But just like we talked about every batter battling in this game now, making anything easy for either of these pitchers today.

That one high and.

A little out of the reach there behind the plate.

Two balls.

Two strikes on mounts.

For a full count.

Burnett trying to strike out mounts for the second time on the afternoon or evening.

I guess I should say.

Now.

That one inside for another long.

And Harbor finds another runner on first base with one out.

And that is the eighth walk for Burnett today.

Eight walks to her.

Ten strikeouts, 127 pitches.

Great Riley Bratcher.

Overall, the Burnett's numbers look good.

She's been tagged for three runs now.

One of those was earned just two hits, ten strikeouts.

But the eight walks are glaring.

Bentonville trying to turn the double play the throw from second underneath the glove of Wright.

They try to get her at second and they do.

Heads up there by Wright to scoop up that ball that passed under her glove, and get it to second as quickly as she can to pull a very unorthodox double play.

But it works nonetheless.

They're great recovery.

Thought they had the six for three, but Wright was able to recover and make the play.

Well executed there by Bentonville and that is going to end the bottom of the sixth, the top of the sixth.

We now head to the bottom of the sixth, do up for Bentonville, Wyman Donahoe and win.

This month in passport on the PBS app, some are born to adventure and others, but these are difficult times.

Get what may come between us.

Nothing in my life has meaning without you.

You said that the house held secrets.

Did you discover any dreadful revelations yet?

These and other shows from Arkansas PBS are available with passport on the PBS app.

This broadcast is underwritten in part by Everett Buick.

GMC provides vehicles to Arkansas families and supports local organizations.

Community involvement has been part of our story for generations.

Proud to support the Arkansas Activities Association and Arkansas PBS sports.

More at Everett BGM, KGW.com.

UAMs health, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine supports athletic programs and events across Arkansas.

Clinics are located throughout Central and northwest Arkansas.

Learn more at UAMs health.

Com.

Both of these fan bases bringing the crowd from Northwest Arkansas and Harbor and Bentonville battling here in the bottom of the sixth.

Still 4 to 3.

Bentonville now.

Trying to add to that lead, Kylie Wyman to lead us off her back at the top of the lineup for Bentonville.

And Wyman has seen success.

We talked about leadoff walks, pitch past third, third strike, anything they've been able to do to get on base.

And so far, both teams have Kylie Wyman.

A big part of that.

She is been able to get on base every single time she is stepped into the box today.

And now we turn the lineup over.

After I got ahead of myself there at the bottom of the fifth.

She's ahead two.

Nothing.

Watches ball three and.

I don't want to jinx it.

Kyle.

Broadcaster Gene puts that it's not real.

Of course it's real.

Jinxes are real there.

Strike one.

And a three.

One count.

Now on Wyman.

This is her fourth time facing.

Cierra dotson.

When you play this game, and as familiar, as familiar as you are with both of your opponents, especially when you face a pitcher for the fourth time in a game, you just feel comfortable.

You know what's going to come at you.

You know what's working for them and what's not that day.

And the same thing on the other side.

She's now come at you three other times.

This is her fourth time.

She's not going to try to do what she did.

The first three.

Yeah.

I think that you look across all six of our state championships that we've had.

There are no two teams that know each other better than these two.

And that is strike three gets her swing.

And what a way to bounce back after starting with A30 count, gets Wyman to strike out to start the inning.

And Jinxes are real.

I told you I'm a jinx it.

Assistant coach there for Bentonville Lindsey Davis I mentioned my relationship with her.

I've known her for a few years.

We've talked about how successful Coach Early has.

If she wins a ring as an assistant, it will be her 10th ring.

She'll have a ring for every finger.

And she was saying, hey, maybe I might, you know, get ten and sail off into the sunset.

Another fun fact about Coach Davis.

She was the first female scholarship athlete at the University of Arkansas for swimming and diving of all sports, and then she would have been a part of that 1984 Olympic team had the United States not boycotted that Olympics or 1980.

Excuse me, had they not boycotted that Olympics?

So she's an athlete in her own right and a part of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

And she just watched one of her players there and Demi Donahoe with a great hit for the double start calling her state championship.

Debbie.

I mean, that's the second year in a row that she's not multiple hits in a state championship game.

You know, her assistant coach and her head coach loves that that she's standing on second base right now.

Violet Wynn standing in.

And she's also had a pretty successful day herself.

Following the win, she unfortunately her season ended before the season started last year had a really bad injury.

Just practice and sliding into third and I believe she got cleared at the end of last year, but really wasn't fully healthy until this season.

She's had a great year.

LED off the game with a walk, then had a hit in the third which resulted in her scoring one of these four runs for Bentonville and flew out to right field in the seventh.

But she's had success and again facing Sierra, not for the fourth time, her freshman year when they had eight signees for colleges.

She was one of the few who got quite a few innings that earned her way into the lineup.

She's got A21 count on her.

She's got her teammate Demi Donahoe standing on second base, and she's got one out to work with.

A nice pitch there on that outside corner.

Know that that's what she's been working with.

Trying to work with all day long.

Gets that one in for a strike.

I wanted her to chase that one.

And you can tell.

But good discipline there by Wynn.

Not to chase.

Full count on Wynn.

Following that one, back.

Here's a look at the balls and strikes for both of these pitchers.

For Harbor and Dodge.

54 balls to 77 strikes for Burnett.

She's even at 64 apiece.

Again, just kind of goes to shows what the walks and the strikeouts and the battles that all of these hitters have done at the plate.

And we're going to get some ice on the shot.

We're approaching about 2.5 hours of it since this game is live through the first pitch.

And a big part of that is just these very tough at bats grinding it out, popping it up here looks like into shallow center field and no one is there to get it.

Maybe a little miscommunication on who was going to catch that ball and the Tigers take advantage.

I love the fact that Nguyen just ran that out.

Did not stop.

She's standing on second.

You've got Donahoe now at third one out for the Tigers.

And that was just another one of those things Kyle.

Where that ball in shallow center field just right on the other side of the grass.

And a little bit of confusion on who was going to catch that ball in no man's land.

Once again at the center fielder comes crashing down and looks like Savannah Woods was going for it and just couldn't quite get there.

And our meeting at the mound for the Wildcats of Courageousness.

I think he's probably explaining, hey, that ball right there is probably going to be your center fielders.

Best bet, but still got to shake that one off.

Got one out with two on.

But Harvard doesn't want is for Bentonville to add any more runs to the scoreboard.

If they want to.

Give themselves a good opportunity in the top of the seventh.

On the other side, coach really loving it.

Yeah.

He is.

It was just gave was a Demi Donahue on third and high five.

Here's a look at the pitching with two outs.

Harvard two for seven.

Bentonville over for.

Wright pops that up.

What a catch.

There by Sanchez.

Quick reaction right there behind the plate to pop up.

Find that ball and catch it for the second out.

And that was a huge out getting Aniston right to pop that up and seen dots get out of a two runners in scoring position.

See if she can do it here.

So Alexis Lorena steps in the catcher for Bentonville.

Looks at ball one.

And if you're Harbor right there, Kyle, that is exactly what you wanted to happen with Aniston.

Right at the plate.

Strike two.

Excuse me.

Strike one.

A one on one count.

Oh, they called that a ball.

My apologies.

Ball to.

There's a strike one.

They.

Got behind on that one quickly, but we seen her recover a lot.

That was a good pitch.

A good rise ball.

She's relied on that one a couple of times.

And it has been successful for.

That one look good too.

But maybe a little high for the umpire behind home plate three and one.

The count now to Lorena.

Pops this one up.

Savannah woods going to call this one off.

She makes the catch.

And that is going to end the inning.

Well executed there by harbor as Bentonville threatened once again, but not able to cross another run over the plate.

It is still 4 to 3 as we head to the seventh inning.

The top of the lineup.

This month in passport on the PBS app, we'll see how the Romans created beauty in both intimate and monumental ways.

The biggest lesson I've learned is that every destination, from a big city to a small village, has a soul.

Why are there goats on this town hall?

There's got to be a connection.

When did a king have dinner with imaginary friends?

Wow.

These and other shows from Arkansas PBS are available with passport on the PBS app.

This broadcast is underwritten in part by.

For over 70 years, Farm Bureau Insurance has offered coverage for automobiles, homes, farms, and lives across Arkansas.

Proud to support the Arkansas Activities Association.

More at FBI.

KGW.com.

Welcome back here.

We have made it, Kyle.

To the top of the seventh.

It is A43 game between Bentonville and Harbor.

Here in the six eight state championship matchup.

It's been a fun one so far.

We knew it would be.

And this is the opportunity here for Harbor.

Three outs for them to work with now to see if they can either tie this up or take the lead.

And a year ago we talked about it at the top of the broadcast.

It was a one run game as well that won one nothing.

But, it's still a one run game right now.

In the seventh and really shows if you just look at the box score.

Bentonville, Outhit The Wildcats 11 to 2.

But those eight walks from Burnett have really played a major part, and they've taken advantage a few times.

So here we are at Haney Bell, the nine hitter for Harbor.

Before we get to the top of the lineup.

The senior also won tonight.

She walked, though, in the third one of those eight walks that they've been able to draw today against Burnett and then grounded out to the third baseman in the fourth.

And that quickly ahead.

Down low for ball one.

Similar to that one in the last inning.

It was a little bit high that he did not give up either.

So that was the consistency.

Again, that's all you can ask for.

Yeah that one inside and jams up Bell Haney a little bit there.

But that is a strikeout to start the inning.

And Bentonville now two outs away from another state title.

Something that hasn't been mentioned is Burnett.

We seen what she's done all season.

Low to mid six pretty much mid 60 6465.

She's only been pitching for four years.

That is incredible.

Only four years and got another year of high school ball left.

Of course playing on the travel scene as well.

So the very best is in front of her.

And she's already had a lot of success.

But you can tell that she she's got a lot of growth ahead of her, especially if you say she's only been doing this for four years and she wants to continue, which I'm sure she does at the college ranks, then you really start to hone your skill set.

And yeah.

She'll be a fun one to watch in the next couple of years.

Again, one down here for the Wildcats.

They've got two more to work with and they're at the top of the lineup.

This is Zariah Palmer.

She's had a lot of success.

She has scored two of these three runs for the Wildcats.

And hoping to get on board and see if she can have an opportunity to tie this up.

Watches ball three.

Squares around to try to distract Burnett.

And there it is.

Ball four.

So the tying run now at first base.

That brings up Savannah Woods, the junior.

Oh for two today.

Is the ninth free pass.

Now this on four pitches.

Harbor patient taking what Burnett and Bentonville have been able to give them.

Capitalizing on mistakes.

Italia beat good teams.

Doesn't chase that 1A11 count?

She has struck out twice.

But she did walk in third.

Come on.

Ball to.

You can see some Maria Sanchez.

In the on deck circle on the field at UCA.

Here.

Pumping up the dugout, trying to get a rally going.

Anything they can to see if they can get things done here in the seventh.

A two, two count.

Now, one out for woods.

A swing and a miss for strike number three and out.

Number two.

And now Bentonville.

They know it.

One out, away.

From Sanchez.

Oh, and two for the day with one walk and a strikeout.

So here we go.

Two down.

The tying run is on first base.

Samari Sanchez at the plate.

She grounded out to the shortstop in the first.

She struck out in the third and she walked in the fifth.

And now she is trying to keep the state championship hopes alive for her.

Harbor Wildcats.

And for Burnett, too.

You talked about it.

Despite these nine walks that she's had, she's kept her composure.

And so, yeah, stayed confident for the rest of her line.

Looks really good.

Low and inside for ball two.

And inside.

Chooses to foul that one off for strike two.

And now the Bentonville faithful on their feet.

Phones are out trying to capture this moment for this seventh state title for Bentonville.

The seven for head coach Kent Earley.

If he can get it done, if his girls can get it done here with one out away, one strike away, you know Harbor's not going to go away quietly.

Swing and a miss.

And that is going to do it.

She strikes out the third out of the inning, and that is going to do it for the Bentonville Tigers.

They are your 2025 class six softball champion.

Back to back state championship.

Bentonville Tigers gonna add another ring to that collection for each of our hardware there to Bentonville.

We'll be right back to show off that beautiful piece of hardware after this.

Left under the sun, I would have never known the things I know now without that program.

It really helped me advance my opportunity to this career field really gives them a fast forward, a good track to be able to come into the technical trades.

To celebrate the first of five brand new transmitters that will broaden their signal coverage to just under 100% of Arkansas.

Look up the ladder.

We are committed to helping the youngest Arkansans prepare for kindergarten and for life.

Education is everything, and if we can teach our children to get out there and make the most of that, that's great.

So I'm just proud to do my part.

Everything you wanna us, I'm gonna.

And I will say, you know, you can't carry anything with you.

This is the first step to reforming our Arkansas, taking the effort to understanding each other's struggles and making them our own.

Everyone, repeat after me.

We have a voice.

I want your mom.

Give.

Could not reach our souls.

Call.

You can tell everyone you get everything you want.

This broadcast is underwritten in part by Summer Woods Sports Complex in Bryant features four courts across two gyms located off Interstate 30, offering space for tournaments, practices and training.

Proud to support the Arkansas Activities Association and Arkansas PBS.

More at Summer woods, Sports.com.

From the lessons that shape our children's futures to the stories that unite our communities, the impact of Arkansas PBS is undeniable.

We give a voice to local news, art, history, and culture.

Now more than ever, we need your help to keep this voice strong.

Please help us to keep good going by making a gift of any amount.

To show your support for Arkansas PBS.

Visit my AARP pbs.org slash.

Keep good going.

Thank you.

This broadcast is underwritten in part by Everett Buick.

GMC provides vehicles to Arkansas families and supports local organizations.

Community involvement has been part of our story for generations.

Proud to support the Arkansas Activities Association and Arkansas PBS sports.

More at Everett BJ McCombe.

For more than 50 years, Arkansas PBS has been a trusted resource.

Our high quality programs are seen by viewers in every corner of our state, making on air sponsorship a solid investment.

Aligning your business with Arkansas PBS offers a powerful blend of community engagement, corporate philanthropy, and cause marketing.

And our viewers remember and appreciate businesses that support our programs.

Contact us today for more information on sponsorship opportunities.

This broadcast is underwritten in part by.

For over 70 years, Farm Bureau Insurance has offered coverage for automobiles, homes, farms, and lives across Arkansas.

Proud to support the Arkansas Activities Association.

More at AFB, Icom.

And.

The Denville Tigers no strangers to titles in the sport of softball.

But I tell you, Kyle, it never gets old.

Congratulations to your six AA softball state champions and the Bentonville Tigers back to back state championship.

And that win right there gives them seven as a program that ties them with Foreman and North Little Rock for the most in Arkansas state history.

And for that man right there making history and himself Kyle.

That's right Kent early not just one of the best coaches that we have in our state.

He's one of the best nationally.

When you look at the prep ranks, and this is the third time in school history that they have gone back to back and going for the three peat next year, not to get too far ahead, going for the three peat for the second time next year.

So congratulations to him.

Well, this is how things unfolded early in the first half, taking advantage of some throwing errors to get the first run on the board here in the second.

It was Bentonville doing it with their offense, a two run RBI single by Anniston.

Right.

It's going to give them the lead and then later on in this game in the third.

A throwing attempt to strike him out throw him out goes a little bit awry for Bentonville.

That's going to score a run from second to tie things up.

And then this one into right center field will also score two runs for Bentonville.

That's how they got to four.

Just great offense, timely hitting when they needed it for the Tigers here in the fifth.

This one into the gap in left center field.

And that scores another run.

That makes it three.

But it's the strikeouts by Darby Burnett that made it happen.

And shut things down for the Tigers in the seventh.

Here is a look at the championship memorabilia that you can get.

The official Championship apparel memorabilia for this season are available at Arkansas High School sports.com.

Congratulations once again to the Bentonville Tigers back to back state champions.

And as I mentioned for assistant coach Lindsey Davis that is ring number ten for her.

A lot of happy happy happy tears over there with the Bentonville Tigers softball team.

Here's what we've got tomorrow.

Because we couldn't get baseball in today because of whether you're six a baseball championship game between Rogers and Fayetteville at 2 p.m. and then on Wednesday, the two way baseball game is at noon between Cedar Ridge and Riverside.

We have crowned champions here in Conway for softball.

Congratulations to all of the teams who have taken home trophies and championships over the last few days.

It's been a pleasure to be on the call with you guys and are PBS sports alongside Kyle Sutherland.

I'm Melissa Orange.

Thank you so much for joining us here from Conway at Shark Stadium.

We hope you've enjoyed it as much as we have.

And we'll see you right back here next season.