One final.

Is the host for this year's baseball and softball state finals games in Hot Springs.

As we welcome you in and get ready to crown A3A state champion.

Welcome.

And I am Melissa Orange alongside Michael Westbrook.

And Michael is an exciting day to finish out what we have started here in day one of the baseball and softball finals, with this three eight matchup between two teams who could walk away a state champion for the very first time in program history.

Absolutely.

The nerves they might be feeling, but also a little bit of excitement for both of these teams.

You love to be where they're at right now.

We got to be down on the field earlier.

They're excited about this one.

And let's take a look at our players to watch in this one.

Starting first with Harding Academy.

Yeah.

Well you have to go with the ace.

Ace Ellis 55 hits in 80 at bats.

She's hitting nearly 700.

I had to go back and double check the stats to see if that was accurate.

It is.

And then also the other thing is what she does in the circle for this team.

You see this at this level.

It's the power hitter.

It's the power arm a nine and three overall record a 2.25 E.R.A.

And our keys to the game.

Well, they have a lineup that can hit seven players hitting 400 or better.

They're going to have to get on base and they're going to have to pitch carefully to Harley Grammar.

She's our player to watch for DeWitt.

She's hitting 552.

Also going to see her in the circle some but 11 home runs this season.

Hitting for so much power, 36 runs batted in.

Her teammates are getting on base in front of her, and their keys to the game look like this.

As we've said, it's their first state championship appearance, so you got to remain calm, stay composed when you're out there, and then limit those base hits of those big hitters in that Harding Academy lineup, because that's the team that finished runner up a season ago.

They want to leave those memories behind, get their first ever state championship standing in the way.

Is this DeWitt team?

Well, both of these teams prepared and ready after great regular seasons and runs through the postseason.

It's a beautiful evening here in Hot Springs, a nice 78 degrees, a little humid out there, but that's okay.

We are expecting a little rain, but it should not happen any time soon.

While we're out here playing softball, it's going to be a fun one between Harding Academy and DeWitt.

We're going to get the game started right after this break.

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This is where the magic happens here at Majestic Park in Hot Springs, as we welcome you into the three ace state Championship game between Harding Academy and DeWitt.

And it will be the Wildcats who will be up to bat first, which is your home team as we go over the lineup.

Ace Ellis going to lead things off to start things for the Wildcats Corey Hastings and a Porter.

Tristan Mahaney, Hannah Floyd, Mackenzie Byrd, Addison Camaro's, Destiny Edwards and Emma Floyd.

Your lineup for the Wildcats is Ace Ellis there?

Looks at ball one.

Yeah, both these teams coming in as a top seed.

They had to have the coin flip to determine who would be the home team in this one.

Well the Wildcats want to start things off.

And she tries to look at that one for another ball.

And if they can get Ellis to start things off on the base pass, that's a great way to get this game going.

Huge lineup for the Wildcats as far as these batting averages.

Top three all above 500.

Lays that one down in foul Gracie Lloyd the catcher for the Dragon nets back there to get it back to Chloe Lloyd who is in the circle for DeWitt.

Jayden Hornbeck, Daisy Pettway, Harley Grammer and Zoe Ross round out your infield.

Emma Bizzaro, Bella Easter Wood and Torrey Ross and the outfield.

Another ball.

And so A31 count here for Ellis.

We saw Ellis kind of try to slap it one a moment ago.

Wondered what kind of hitter she was.

32 singles, but 18 doubles, 23 extra base hits out of those 55.

So not just about the easy single for her.

She knows how to find success at the plate, but that one gets the count here full for Lloyd, seeing a lot of pitches early as well.

That should give the hitters behind her something to look at as well.

And that one down in the dirt underneath the glove of Lloyd.

And that is going to be a walk to start things off here.

And a base runner for the Wildcats 21st walk this season for Ellis out of that leadoff spot did her job.

Set the table and the big hitters again coming behind her.

But again with 688 out of the leadoff spot.

It's just so impressive.

And then now you got 548 in, in Hastings.

Coming up next.

Well, you were saying that was one of the key is watch out for Ellis.

And when she is on the base pass, she is legal as well.

Corey Hastings here.

Your shortstop looks at strike one.

Yeah.

High strike there and Hastings tall.

So maybe affects that strike zone a little bit.

More.

This one grounded back to short.

Trying to turn two gets the out at second but not in time at first.

So the fielder's choice there gets the lead runner and Ellis.

But Hastings safe at first with one down.

That's good defense.

Routine play.

But remember keys to the game to keep that composure.

They've never played in a state championship game.

Those kind of plays can get out of hand if you mess them up.

But Grammer the shortstop able to easily make the play over to second for the first out.

Now Anna Porter, your first baseman, is stepping up into the batter's box as the number three hitter here for the Wildcats and dangerous at her 27 doubles.

Well, the double would look really good right now for her and her teammates.

That one trying to get the change up in the timing off a little bit.

But, Ava, she's smiling because she moves.

I think she wanted to swing at that one.

And I don't blame her, but holding back because that would have thrown off her timing a little bit.

Good choice there by Chloe Lloyd to try to change things up.

Made everybody smile and, catch her trying to frame that one up, Lloyd.

Hoping to get the call, not getting that corner.

I was, noticing the fans back behind home plate, also smiling on that change up pitch as well.

Well, there's a lot of blue behind there right now, which you can see that one over the glove of Lloyd.

And that is going to be an easy bag for Hastings that she moves from first to second.

Now eliminating the force out here with one down in the top of the first.

And now a runner in scoring position for Harding Academy in a Porter.

Now with a three run count for Chloe Lloyd there.

Just didn't get the call on those previous two pitches.

And now we got away from her a little bit.

Went up high for a wild pitch.

Swing and a miss for strike number two.

And now the count goes for the second time.

She has had a full count here.

And the last three batters.

And that one high for ball four.

So the second walk of the inning.

And you know Michael I think you talked about that.

They've never been in this situation before.

And even though they have had a really good regular season undefeated in the regular season and then getting through the regional and the state tournament, it's a little nerve wracking to see here.

Playing for a title.

Yeah, it has to be.

And coach, coach Bobby Peaks, you know, he had to probably tell his pitcher pitch carefully.

Your top three batters you're going against have 45 hits or more in only 28 games.

You know, averaging a hit and a half, two hits per game and still hasn't no damage yet.

But it's getting a little dicey here.

That one hit back to second base hard off the glove of Daisy Pettway.

She gets it back in, but now it looks like you've got runners on the corners after a solid hit there by Anna, by, Tristan Mahaney.

Yeah, look at it one more time.

And again, that's one of those plays right there that I was just talking about.

Not exactly routine.

It was certainly hard hit, but it's one that Pettway, the second baseman, wants back because it was hit at her.

Sure.

And, she was able to at least keep it on the infield.

But this for Harding Academy.

This is what you want.

Runners on the corners and a chance to keep things going here and try to get that first run across that momentum.

Last year's game, they scored a run in the first inning, did not scored again in the championship.

So trying to see what they can do here in the first inning this time around.

That's right.

Well here and Hannah Floyd, the left fielder stepping in.

And if you're Chloe Lloyd, as we were talking about, one of the things to is at this moment, you just need to trust yourself and trust what you got.

Trust your skills.

Your.

And it looks like we've now got runners at second and third.

We also have a pinch runner as well in their number five for Harding Academy.

Back up the middle through the infield and that is going to score a run.

Could score to the throw down there.

Not in time.

Cut off by Chloe Lloyd but a two run RBI single for Hannah Floyd.

And just like that, Harding Academy is on the board.

Yeah, a great piece of hitting from Mahaney as we see it again, just right under the glove of Chloe Lloyd.

You had the shortstop Carly Grammer, playing off just a little bit to the left.

Tried to go back up through the middle.

She couldn't get it.

That's ticketed right through the middle for a two run base hit.

Right.

Back.

Couldn't get back.

So now an opportunity here for McKenzie Byrd the second baseman to add to this lead.

The dribbler back to third base bounces off the glove of Jaden Hornbeck.

That is going to score another run.

In comes Hannah Floyd.

And just like that three.

Nothing.

And Michael you mentioned it.

This Harding Academy team knows how to score.

And this one can start to funnel if you're not careful.

Yeah.

And you know, two of these hits have not left the infield.

The one that did get through was a dribbler on the ground there making contact.

Maybe not hitting the ball is that hard, but they're hitting it to the right spots and then the defense right now for DeWitt is just not able to make the play to get them out of the inning.

Now, the center fielder, Addison Camaro's number 22 at the plate.

So AJ.

And that pitch there outside and low, I want to make sure what I'm about to say doesn't reference that pitch.

The one before it was close.

Catcher was trying to frame it up.

Lloyd doesn't get the call again.

But you're in the state championship game.

That one diving catch attempt by Belle Eastwood.

Well placed there in the gap.

That's going to continue to score the runs.

Another one comes across.

Great piece of hitting there by Addison Camaro's to find the hole.

Wow wow what a start.

They're up four to nothing.

I just said they weren't hitting the ball that hard.

Well they are now diving.

Effort gets up against the wall and just never slowed down.

When you got two out you keep running and everything going the way of Harding Academy early.

I went here, I was I say DeWitt here looking like they kind of had things a little bit under control early.

Got that fielder's choice out at second base with Ace Ellis.

But this Harding Academy offense has just not let up.

Now they have it.

And you know pitch number 24 right there for Chloe Lloyd again just not quite happy.

They're not getting the calls but state championship game.

You got to be right on point.

Strike zone is going to be a little smaller.

And she just needs to make one good pitch.

Get out of the inning.

Well, Destinee Edwards, continue trying to extend this ending a little bit more.

The number eight batter here, the third baseman for Harding Academy at the plate.

And Addison Camero stands at second base right now.

And the thing is, she's hitting 361.

It takes to the eighth batter in the lineup to drop below 400.

Oh, that one just slipping out of the hands of Chloe Lloyd.

I think this DeWitt dragging that's team just takes a deep breath.

Sometimes you mention the nerves.

Just get out of this first inning, shake it off and get the bats going.

But you got to get out of it first.

There's only one out here as they're trying to stop the bleeding a little bit.

Get that one over to third collected by Zoe Ross over to second base for Jordan Hornbeck.

And that is another out.

And that is the end of the inning.

But just like that Harding Academy up four.

Nothing right now on DeWitt DeWitt going to get the bats for the very first time after this.

See if they can cut into this Wildcats lead.

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And.

Welcome back to Hot Springs DeWitt.

Now at bat, as we're looking at Ace Ellis in the mound, her offense giving her some run support, Michael four runs on the board for Harding Academy in the top of the first as Belle Eastwood gets things going for the dragon that's here to lead things off.

Well, I said it a year ago when they played in the state championship game.

They scored a run in the first and then they were shut out over the next six innings.

Well, they made a statement this time around with a crooked number, a four spot in that.

First, we'll see what DeWitt has as well.

They've got some big bets.

They've got some players that can hit the long ball.

We're going to see Harley Grammar in this inning and it's early, so anything could happen.

Speaking of Harley Grammar, let's run through this DeWitt line up.

Belle Eastwood leading it off, Chloe Lloyd, Harley Grammar, Gracie Lloyd, Torrey Ross, Jayden Hornbeck, Emma Bizzaro, Zoe Ross, and Daisy Pettway.

Your line up for the Dragon?

It's A21 count here on Easter Wood.

I want a little outside for ball three.

So a patient at bat here for the center fielder for the dragon.

Let's.

Head.

Ellis getting that one past her.

We get a full count here.

The DeWitt team that defeated Hoxie in the state semifinal 17 to nothing.

So, I mean, we know they can score two pops.

This one up to third base.

The there by Destinee Edwards for out number one.

Destinee Edwards playing at third base going around the rest of the infield Corey Hastings at shortstop McKenzie Bird and Anna Porter.

As we've mentioned there is Ace Ellis in the circle.

Tristan Mahaney behind the plate catching for her.

Hannah Floyd, Addison Gameiro and Emma Floyd round out your outfield.

That one fouled back for strike one.

Chloe Lloyd, the pitcher now at the plate.

338 batting average.

See what she does up there.

If she's patient against Ellis, try to help her own cause and get on base and, you know, you're just kind of probably playing for one run at this point.

Just get one of these back, get a little bit of confidence.

Just chip away.

It's early.

Just the first inning here, that one popped up into shallow center field.

An easy catch for Addison.

Guerrero's for out number two.

A couple of easy pop up out so far as you see both times here.

As a batter has gotten out there going to the next batter in the lineup to talk strategy with them, tell them what they see from Ellis.

And, so far, Ellis getting the better of them with the two pop ups.

Well, speaking of strategy, Harley Kramer's part of the strategy for this game.

Plan for Harding Academy, trying to keep the ball away from her as much as possible.

That's 200 down the lines, 225 straightaway center on this field.

So it's got to pop in her bat with 11 home runs as she steps into that box like a hitter doesn't.

She has, oh, now A20 count.

And they're going to be cautious with her.

They're not going to give her anything she wants to see.

They respect that power that she has.

That one high off the glove of Mahaney off the back stop 21 extra base hits.

She's got nine doubles and a triple as well to go along with those 11 home runs, A30 count.

And honestly, a walk wouldn't be the worst thing in this situation.

And that's exactly that one a strike.

Okay, on the outside, sorry.

From our angle.

Looked a little outside, but now A31 count that rings cut the three.

Oh, call that time.

I think.

That one fouled back.

And just like that a full count on Harley Grammar.

Yeah.

Completely changes things because now Ellis can go right after her if she wants to do it at Ellis as a competitor.

I think she wants to.

Oh, of course.

That one well hit deep.

It looks like.

Yeah.

Bounced in and down.

And so that is a base hit for Harley Grammar.

And the dragon that's now have themselves a base runner.

Good piece of hitting there.

And maybe something was passed on from the players before who popped up.

Maybe it was just good hitting from Graham or not sure, but she kept that well contact.

It looked like it was more of a line drive, probably over the third baseman's head than anything else.

I want a little high if you're the one, but, we got a good view out of that.

Was up.

This is Gracie Lloyd.

Now, Gracie's tall, but not that tall for that ball.

That one on the outside corner for strike one, hitting 354 and 65 at bats this season.

That one a base hit.

Nice stop there by McKenzie Byrd.

The throw over to Anna Porter is dropped.

And so everyone is safe.

A little life here for this dragon.

That's offense as they now have got two on two outs and Tori Ross walking up to the batter's box.

Good job there of Lloyd making contact.

A nice diving stop by bird to keep it on the infield.

Just couldn't quite finish the play off.

And so yeah, after what was two very quick outs all of a sudden here comes DeWitt with two all in.

Yeah.

Nice battle.

Starting to settle in here in this middle part of the lineup.

As we mentioned, Tori Ross the right fielder stepping in square support pulls it back for ball one.

No that's interesting there I don't know where the defensive alignment was that couldn't quite see it.

Maybe she thought she saw something to be able to bunt.

You're talking about the five hole hitter here.

Probably not wanting to bunt with two outs, but she's probably got some speed as well.

Again, an opportunity here for DeWitt and their offense.

This one poked through the middle almost stopped, but it's stopped by McKenzie Byrd there.

Great.

Stop by her.

That slipped to and a in time to end the inning.

So the threat is over and we are going to now head to the top of the second.

Nothing going for the dragonet.

The Wildcats lead at four to nothing.

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And we love being able to share these state final games with you live.

Welcome back as we are now in the top of the second of this three A state finals between Harding Academy and DeWitt.

Emma Floyd, your number nine batter and right fielder to start things off here for the Wildcats.

That one in the dirt for ball one off the mask of Gracie Lloyd.

A couple of wild pitches there by Chloe.

And you know it is humid out there.

We don't have the rain.

We talked about that in the open.

That's expected overnight.

And it looks as if we're going to be okay for tomorrow as well.

Knock on wood I guess, but it is humid so the ball can slip out of your hands.

That one fouled into foul territory.

Can't tell if that was caught.

I don't think that it was.

And so.

I believe Emma Floyd stays alive there.

So A11 count.

Oh Peyton.

That outside corner for strike to A12 count here on Floyd is Harding Academy looking to flip back over the lineup.

Get back to Ace Ellis in that leadoff spot.

Oh getting a hold of that one high and deep into left center field.

Nicely caught there by Belle Easter Wood for outnumber one.

But it looked like for a minute there that Emma Floyd got a hold of that one.

And it was carrying a bit.

She did a good job the weight on that and a change up maybe there.

And, waited on it, was patient, carried it pretty deep.

And you're talking about a nine hole hitter that's sitting 315 with 22 runs batted in.

So again I know it's broken record already in the second inning, but this is a one through nine lineup that can beat you.

And that was a good piece of hitting out of that nine spot.

So Michael what you're saying is there is no easy outs in this Wildcats lineup one through nine.

We're back here in the number one leadoff hitter here in Ace Ellis.

And we've talked about her numbers and how effective she is.

Not just in the circle but also at the plate.

She is also headed to UT Martin to play her college ball.

So her softball far from over.

The Skyhawks UT Martin, Ohio Valley Conference.

A20 count here on ace and that one in the dirt.

Three out.

No, I don't know all the mid-majors, but I knew that one.

We'll quiz you if you want us to know.

People probably like those muscles a little bit.

Okay.

All right.

They probably care more about softball than what mascots I know.

Okay, well, you know what I'm always here for, some good mascot knowledge.

Hey, we got some trivia coming up later on.

Fantastic.

So get ready for that.

Yeah.

The trivia they give us, and then the trivia that Michael's just going to give us throughout the evening here.

That one taken back up the middle though caught by Daisy Pettway for outnumber two.

Yeah.

Able to get Ellis there and, a much different approach that time for Chloe Lloyd.

Much different inning for her already two up and two down.

Yeah.

You kind of like that.

Being able to settle in here and see if they can get out of this inning unscathed without the Wildcats adding any more runs to the board.

Corey Hastings here, the shortst C strike one.

Okay.

Got Chloe Lloyd's committed to Williams Baptist.

The Eagles by the way.

And you know this is just talk about a tough spot for her at one over to Harley Grimmer at Shaw.

And a great stretch there by Jayden Mahoney back to get it.

How about that.

The six three out ends the inning.

And it is A123 inning for DeWitt.

As they try to now see if they can get on the board.

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Welcome back here.

Time for our trivia, which I have given over to Michael since he is the trivia king according to him.

Yeah, well, okay, because I can read the screen, I guess.

Who holds the Arkansas high school record for most base hits in a single game?

I feel like this is pretty recent.

Is that a hint?

We'll give the answer here in a minute.

Say, it's pretty recent.

Yeah.

Pretty recent.

Okay.

Yeah.

Maybe in my neck of the woods.

Northwest Arkansas possibly.

Okay.

Yeah.

All right.

I need to know my state geography.

Okay.

I didn't mean to put you on this.

Well, let everybody else have a moment to try to figure it out.

That's right.

Welcome back.

As we are now in the bottom of the second Harding Academy, leading four to nothing over DeWitt and Ace Ellis back in the circle.

And I want to go back to the last inning for just a second.

I was talking about Chloe Lloyd in the tough spot she's in.

What I was about to say is that, you know, she's pitching the contact now for defense can play better behind her.

They made that nice six three put out to end the inning.

Fly ball outs as well.

She had A123 inning settle down now perhaps.

And maybe that makes it a different ballgame.

Jaden Horne back at first base stretching out to get that last out of the inning.

A swing there for a strikeout.

And that is a K for Ellis.

Ellis pitching well a first strike out of the game.

Got the first two on pop outs, then a couple of singles before a ground ball out.

So she's had a little bit of everything already.

On how she's been able to get the outs in this one.

Emma Bizarro, the left fielder here, swings and fouls back for strike one.

I tell you, she was having fun before the game.

They all were.

Chance to go down to the field, talked to them for a while, and, I was standing there asking coach, now there's one name I don't know how to say.

And she said, It's bizarro.

She told me herself, but she knew what you were probably going to ask you.

And now she is behind in the count, though.

Oh, and two.

Yeah, they they make sure they're there.

You see the glitter on the face.

There's glitter in the hair.

I mean, they were all dolled up ready to go getting everyone ready.

That one outside for ball one.

As you should be state championship game.

And you know, you got to do whatever you got to do to get any sort of momentum.

I tried to talk them into letting me have some glitter, but it didn't work.

That's okay.

No one fouled back.

She tries to keep this At-Bat alive.

Mentioned this DeWitt team winning that state semifinal 17 to nothing.

They outscored their opponents in the regional state playoffs 55 to 22.

They're going to break through at some point.

You would think it's still early here in the second.

That one line drived over the head and off the glove of Corey Hastings.

And so that is a single to start things off here for Emma.

Bizarro one down is Zoe Ross.

Now the third baseman comes to bat for the first time.

Solid contact.

There probably would have been a single either way, even if it had gone over her glove at short.

I think Floyd probably could have got it back in pretty quick from left field, but nonetheless, a one out base hit for Bizarro.

Yeah.

You talk about the run that DeWitt had through the regionals and the state tournament.

Just in the state tournament alone, they beat Lavaca 12 to 2.

Baptist prep 9 to 8, and then Smcc over 10 to 4 to find themselves in this state finals game.

Oh.

See Ross there shaking her head as she goes out of the batter's box.

Try to regroup a little bit.

Away.

At one, a little low and inside for ball two.

Grace, you gotta.

You gotta raise.

That one a little high and outside.

So A31 count here for Zoe Ross and a runner on first base.

And don't be fooled.

Out of the eight spot in the lineup, the third baseman is hitting for ten this year to hold of that one.

Now, full count here and an opportunity for both of these players.

Ross in the box and Ellis in the circle.

Missed a couple of games this year.

Has played in only 16.

But again good numbers when she's been out there.

And that one ball for them I think Zoe Ross might have forgot.

Oh yeah that's ball four.

Let me take my base.

And so now we've got two on the base pass for the dragon nets.

As Daisy Pettway steps to the plate.

The second baseman here for DeWitt, the opportunity to get some runs for her team.

Ellis a little frustrated there that she lost Ross on the ball four, but again, a hitter at 410.

Not the worst case scenario.

Sets up a force play for you on the bases.

Turns around and puts down the bunt.

Executed.

Picked up by Ellis.

Over to Porter at first for the out, but both of the runners advance.

And that is exactly what you want to do.

Pettway doing her job to move the runners around.

And now you've got runners at second and third with an opportunity here.

Absolutely.

In that situation there, you turn it back over to the top of the lineup as well, and you call on them to come up with a big hit.

It also turns over the lineup card.

Is Belle Easter Wood, your lead off batter and center fielder steps in.

She flew out to short in her first at bat.

Grace, you got it.

Base.

I like at two outs in the inning.

Strikeout started the day.

That's right.

So it's important here that the runners are gonna be moving on any sort of contact.

I just got that one fouled back.

For A22 count here.

And again, an opportunity.

Last thing you want to do is leave runners on the basepaths.

Swing and a miss and a strikeout.

A big time strikeout when she needed it.

For Ellis, that ends the inning.

No runs across two runners left on it is still a four nothing game here at Majestic Park in Hot Springs.

As we continue this three a state finals game.

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Welcome back.

Because we are ready to answer your trivia question.

And, Michael, I think I said it was close and recent and close to where I live up in Northwest Arkansas in Fayetteville.

How right was I?

Well, that's that's about right, Sidney Pool six hits in a game from Greenland just one year ago in 2025.

So there's your answer for anyone at home that got that right.

Welcome back.

As we are now here in.

I'm going to top of the third.

How many at bats did you have in the game I wonder I would say probably six at least.

Maybe seven or you know.

Yeah sure.

Six seven.

That's really just do that.

You can't see my.

Yeah I know it's first time working together but you know to drop that in.

We both have kids.

So I thought it was over though.

It's not cool anymore.

According to my eight year old, I'm told no one does that.

When we say, okay, all right.

Yeah.

All right.

I really thought we were done with that.

Okay.

I'll be.

We were at least in a porter here.

The first baseman for Harding Academy up her second time.

She walked in her first at bat.

I can't say enough about Chloe Lloyd.

Second inning shut down one, two, three.

Bottom of the lineup plus the top two in the lineup.

And so still, you know it's a lineup that can hit.

She's got to do it one more time here to really give her team a little bit more momentum.

Yeah, absolutely.

That one drilled deep into left field off the wall in comes quarter.

And she is standing at second base for a double to start things off here in the third.

Walked her first time up.

She's been on base both times now.

Check it out again.

Just a golf shot up off the middle part of the wall.

Just missed a home run.

Great piece of hitting there.

Got a hold of that one.

Solid contact.

And now Harding Academy just like that with a runner in scoring position to start the third.

Tristan Mahaney now up to bat back off the foot of Chloe Lloyd over to first for the out.

But that moves quarter over to third base.

A good job there to field your own position.

Hopefully Chloe Lloyd's okay at home.

Is going to kind of stand out in front of home plate.

Give her a chance to shake that one off and coach will come over and talk as well.

Always want to have the precautionary moment here with your pitcher, especially when they get hit.

Yeah, it looks like that one just bounced off her left foot, as you can see her kind of rolling her ankle and shaking it out.

It's never fun as a pitcher as much as you rely on your footwork, have a ball bounce off your ankle or so.

We'll take a look at this one more time.

I was trying to see if maybe her shin, maybe the right kind of over there.

It bounced once.

I don't know if that helps any.

Pretty hard bounce up off the turf, but it wasn't a complete line drive.

But still.

Yeah, that's never going to feel good.

And it's probably going to leave a bruise if my past softball playing days has served me well, what position did you play?

So it depends.

You know, I played a little second base and outfield, caught a little bit when I was younger.

So a little bit of everything that a little bit of everything.

I was not a first baseman and I was not a pitcher.

Broke too many windows in my backyard trying to pitch, and my dad said, absolutely not.

We're not.

By the way, he is in the booth with us, laughing at me because he knows it's true.

I enjoyed getting to visit with him during the baseball game.

That was before ours.

And, yeah, it's great to have him up here with us.

Coached me my whole life.

Very opinionated softball coach over here to my left.

He may have told me a thing or two about that.

I'm sure he did.

I'm sure he did.

There it is for ball one is Chloe Lloyd stays in the circle facing Hannah Floyd here.

Good base.

Running for Porter as well.

Just to go right away on that ball and and get over to third base.

If you're Harding Academy, even though you lead for nothing, this is a spot.

You want another run, you got a runner at third and only one out.

Well, you know they're going to be aggressive.

That's not a question.

Is this one popped up over on the right side of the field caught there by Daisy Pettway.

For out number two.

Easy play for the second baseman.

Not deep enough for Porter to even think about trying to come home.

All right.

So now you still have a runner on third.

Your leadoff batter got on, but now you've got two down.

So she's running on contact.

But you would really love to not leave her stranded here.

So in front of McKenzie Byrd with that opportunity this one popped up as well into shallow center field.

Whose ball is it?

Little miscommunication.

Daisy Pettway trying to catch it over her shoulder but cannot.

That one drops in for a base hit and McKenzie bird doing her job, gets the run to score and finds herself on first base.

Now you could hear the crowd, one side knowing that that was probably going to fall inside the Bermuda Triangle.

It did.

And then the other side just kind of holding their breath, maybe come up with a catch.

But I mean, it couldn't have been more perfectly place to fall in.

Just barely passed the, infielder.

Yeah, that one's such a hard ball because your center fielder is playing a little too deep, and that is a fast run.

But that is a hard ball to catch over your shoulder as well.

So a good attempt there by Pettway, unfortunately, did not fall into her glove.

You know, Addison Gameiro fouling that one off.

She had a great hit in the left center gap.

Her first attempt also.

With an opportunity to help add to her RBI total already on the day.

Yeah.

Able to drive in a run that first at bat is as good as.

I Lloyd's thinking about that much from that first at bat.

The state up had a couple of these pitches.

Oh that one yeah.

Three oh count I mean you have to respect obviously the power that Camaro's has at the plate.

You saw it in the first inning, but you also have a runner on first and you don't want to have any more scored.

This one popped up, this one also to Pettway.

This one is caught for outnumber three to end the inning.

They strand one, but they're able to get one more on the board.

So Harding Academy going to take the defense once again.

As we head to the bottom of the third.

Now with a five nothing lead, you are watching the Centennial Bank state baseball and softball championships on Arkansas TV sports.

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Welcome back to Majestic Park five nothing.

Harding Academy, Leeds DeWitt Miranda Leslie is our Arkansas TV student.

All star in three AA, the senior catcher with a 3.9 GPA and planning to attend University of Arkansas Community College, Morrilton campus, and Miranda Leslie, our Arkansas TV student, all star for this game.

And Alyssa, here we are five nothing in the bottom of the third.

Congratulations to Miranda Leslie on continuing her softball career.

And that is absolutely right.

Chloe Lloyd, who just took that ball off of her shin or ankle, looks pretty close in that area.

Steps up here, pops this one up into shallow center field, and that one is going to drop nicely in for a base hit to get things started here for the Dragon nets.

The dragon nets not too many of them that have stayed with the old nicknames.

We were trying to figure out how many across the state still have that.

We came up with a couple others earlier today, but I don't know that trivia well enough.

But I like it.

Old school.

I like it too.

Lloyd trying to help her on calls there to get on base.

And now you got it in a spot.

Here we're grammar one swing in the bat turns game around a little bit.

She's got A10 count now.

And as you mentioned respecting the power that she has.

She set the new school record for home runs this year.

She has 31 in her career.

As a junior she hit 11 this year, two in the regional and three in the state tournament.

So again she's got the power and they know it.

And I think right here for Ellis and the last At-Bat we saw from her she attacked.

Well yes.

Yeah.

But at the same time you know got the account for.

This one popped up high.

Almost a miscommunication there between Destinee Edwards and Corey Hastings.

So that's going to drop in for a base hit.

And now you've got runners here on first and second.

But for Harley Grammar.

You want to respect her power.

But you also as a pitcher and a competitor, you want to strike her out.

So I appreciate the aggressiveness from Ellis in the circle.

Yeah.

Well they're they're going to battle each other, that's for sure.

Grammar has won the battle so far.

She's been on base both times.

And you know looking at the replay a moment ago what a tough situation there.

Third baseman's going back on it.

She's closer to the ball but you can't hit the shortstop.

Yeah.

And honestly it's Corey Hastings ball there just because of the angle that she's running out and not having to go backwards.

Right.

Just some miscommunication.

And it's okay right now if you're Harding Academy you've got a five nothing lead.

You can take a deep breath even though you've got two runners on right now and no outs.

Just remind them, you know we're okay.

We can't get rattled.

We can't turn that mistake into multiple mistakes.

Coach Pete's talking to his hitters while coach go in the head coach at Harding in the circle talking to his entire infield.

And I mean, really, it's the the first real threat from DeWitt here in the third, starting with their first two runners on base.

So going goes out there, tries to slow down the momentum, regain the composure of his pitcher and tells her just to go back to work.

Well, the one thing they have had is baserunners every single inning.

They just haven't been able to score any of them.

So another opportunity.

And as you mentioned, they're best opportunity right now to get some runs on the board.

Yeah.

First time in three innings they've had the leadoff runner on might help their cause a little bit Gracie Lloyd here stepping in looking at A10 count.

Now A20 count from Ace Ellis.

They may be picking up some momentum from that last inning when they did have two on and had them in scoring position Going like that if you like.

I mean it's not situation.

DeWitt has been here.

They won 14 in a row over the last several weeks.

They have not found themselves trailing and trailing by multiple runs.

Well, the one thing they have, though, as we've talked about, is the bats and the offense so they can dig into this lead and try to score this game and take the lead that one right back to Ellis Ellis over to second for that one.

Not in time at first.

So they get the one out at second base.

But now you've got one down and runners on the corners.

That's great.

Fielding from Ace Ellis the pitcher.

That's a play.

You know sometimes that ball goes into center.

She shot at cleanly.

Made a nice play through to the bag right where it needed to be.

Probably not going to get a double play there anyways, but then throw over to first to try and still runners on the corners and only one out.

DeWitt still has a chance to get a run in the heads up play there to go to second to try to turn to.

Gracie Lloyd.

They're going to let her take second with a runner on third.

So you now have runners on second and third with one out here.

Alleviates the force out as Tori Ross steps in.

Got a chase on the high strike to that time.

That one fouled back for strike number two.

Ross had 344.

She's got 12 runs batted in this year.

Her chance now runners at second third base hit to bring couple in.

Got a fan in the stands as well.

Sorry.

Tori's got her fan club back there.

And what she's trying to find right now is just a hole in the offense to get that base hit.

As you mentioned, just one out and a big opportunity here for the Dragons.

It's doing a good job making contact.

There's the sign they're holding it up.

That's the pitches were coming in right.

That one over to second.

The out at first.

And that's going to score a run.

So an RBI for Tori Ross.

The first run of the evening for DeWitt.

And once again now they've got a runner on third and Gracie Lloyd over at third base now.

And so Ross again making contact and really that's exactly what you want.

If you heard anything about a strikeout.

Absolutely.

And that one back up the middle for a base hit.

Great piece of hitting there by Jaden Hornbeck.

And another run comes in.

And so two runs here in this inning already for the Dragons on two outs as Emma Bizzaro steps to the plate.

And she had herself a base hit at her first at bat in the left center field.

She did.

And the second time through.

Now, some of these hitters who got out early against Ellis are making contact, not only making contact but resulting in base hits.

Hornbeck had struck out her first time up and really turned it around her second at bat just a second ago.

You go back to a couple batters ago, but how significant was that stolen base to put runners on second and third instead of runners at the corners there with that hit from Tori Ross?

Well, yeah.

Tristan Mahaney, the catcher, had stood up, made a move towards third base.

Just that one step.

But there was a batter in that box.

So she couldn't really do much.

Oh, swing and a miss.

Another strike out the second of the night for Ace Ellis.

That ends the threat.

But the Dragons get two back as it is now 5 to 2 here.

As we head to the top of the fourth, you are watching the Centennial Bank State Championships on Arkansas TV sports.

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Have French made all great championship keepsakes for you?

As we watch this three day championship finals between Harding Academy and DeWitt the Dragon, it's able to get two on the board in the bottom of the third.

And so now we are here in the top of the fourth.

Destinee Edwards back to the plate.

One correction from earlier, by the way.

Let's say it was Harding Academy that beat Hoxie 17 to nothing.

I know I said DeWitt earlier on to find the time to correct that that one back off the glove of Dezi Pettway tries to pick it up and get the out, but will not in time.

So Destinee Edwards finds herself on first base to lead things off.

Well, you're DeWitt, you just got a little momentum.

Got two runs across.

You made, the pitcher throw a few pitches here and there, and now all of a sudden, they come right back.

Harding Academy gets the lead off single.

They're going to try to grab the momentum right back.

Well, we talked about this.

There is no easy out.

And quite frankly both of these lineups Michael not just Harding Academy has been here.

The nine hole hitter for the Wildcats Emma Floyd, flew out to center field in her first at bat, but has a runner and an opportunity here at Harding Academy out of a three, a six and DeWitt A38, both the top seeds.

You really don't get those kind of, numbers and records without some hitters all the way through your lineups.

No you don't.

That one a little low and inside for ball one.

So A11 count here early on Floyd, I was, when you first you had.

Floyd saying off that high pitch down the middle for ball two.

We asked Harding Academy coach James go on about how many of these players were on last year's team.

He said seven of the starters were on last year's team that lost in the state championship game a year ago.

And, you know, just really tough game for them.

I mentioned they scored a run in the first to take the lead, but then they gave up a seven spot in the second inning and never could recover from that.

Ended up losing the game 9 to 1, I believe.

And so, you know, some players that have experienced this, that one drops into right field for a base hit.

Everyone is safe.

And that is going to bring up the top of the lineup.

Solid piece of hitting there by Emma Floyd to bring Ace Ellis back to the plate with two runners on and another opportunity for this Wildcats offense.

And they're playing with some confidence right now.

And talk about a chance to, help your own cause.

A player that's hitting almost 700 walked in the first, then flew out in the second.

So still trying to get her first base hit.

Well, you mentioned how they beat Hoxie 17 to nothing in the state tournament.

They also beat Cave City nine nothing.

And then Boonville 6 to 2.

And so in those three games alone outscoring opponents 32 to 2, they know how to put up runs in a hurry.

Does this Wildcats offense I hope they at least bought some watermelons from Cave City to help the economy there on the way out of town?

I don't know, I'm sure they've said, hey, if you're a ball player, you're probably eating grapes or watermelon or oranges in the dugout.

I promise you that.

That one high into left field, Emma Bizarro goes back and makes the catch for outnumber one runner.

Stay put.

So no harm done there.

And that swing of a bat by Ellis.

Not exactly in your part of the world, but tell your dad while he's here to get a Cave City watermelon.

Okay?

Of course.

Next time.

Yeah.

Next time you go over there for sure.

Next time won't be venturing up in that part of the state yet.

Or at least on this trip.

But they are definitely worth the drive if we do make it.

Corey Hastings looks at strike number one at her at bat.

She had a fielder's choice, her first at bat, and then grounded out to the shortstop.

Good.

I mean, really, you got to give Chloe Lloyd credit for what she's done against these top two in the lineup, but it's clear she's pitching them carefully.

Even that first pitch to Ellis a moment ago was pretty far outside.

And that one second to go to Hastings was low.

But she's been able to retire that one.

And the gap there to right field.

That one scores a run.

The runner is called safe at third base a great job.

She's out.

Excuse me.

Thrown out at third base.

So what a throw there by Tory Ross to collect.

Yeah, yeah, they should be 6 to 2, right?

Yeah.

That's right.

Well done there by Tory Ross to collect that ground ball and know exactly where she wanted to throw it over to third to throw out Emma Floyd.

Destiny Edwards did come around and score though.

So it is now 6 to 2.

See if we might be able to see that again.

Still talking about it a little bit.

Make sure everybody's on the same page here.

Think the umpires are going to get together as well just to review what happened here.

They just want to make sure and look at the call there at third base.

It was hard to see from our angle.

Had to wait there a little bit a little bit of a delayed call too from the umpire.

You got Porter standing at second base.

I've had the hit throughout the run and.

Quick conversation.

Did you see anything different?

Everybody said no.

And so runner at third is out.

So we get a heads up play there by Tori Ross in right field to get that throw for outnumber two saves a run potentially for right now.

And they're two down here.

Oh well yeah.

If you're at Harding Academy you're being aggressive.

You're up.

You just scored and made it six two.

Kind of maybe taking the other approach there as well just to move up station to station with only one out.

But go for the aggressive play.

Didn't work out.

Still have a chance for the base hit to get another run in.

That's right Anna Porter here looking at ball one with A11 count.

I tell you this, it's a lot easier to feel better about yourself when you're aggressive with a lead than if you're trying to be aggressive without the lead.

And you get thrown out.

Exactly.

Good.

Heads up base running there.

I mean, honestly, I don't I don't dislike the base running in the aggressiveness at all.

Just a really good throw by Tori Ross.

Right on the money.

That one.

Strike number two.

So or excuse me at ball number two.

So A21 count there on Porter.

That one taken deep into left field caught by the center fielder Belle Eastwood to end the inning.

Strands one, but they add another one on the scoreboard.

A62 game here.

As we head to the bottom of the fourth, you're watching the Centennial Bank state baseball and softball championsh This is a bit of an odd one.

The offender had to smuggle in an antique execution device for a start.

Brian had an eye for a good deal.

You mean, did he like ripping off unsuspecting mortals?

Sure.

Brian had a disagreement with the camera guy.

I mean, this fella.

There are no other signs of physical damage.

Which suggests that the victim seemed the position willingly.

Sunday evening at 530 on Arkansas TV.

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It's like right there.

Welcome back here to Majestic Part.

I tell you what the dragon that fans out there having themselves a good Ole time, even though their team is currently down 6 to 2, there is a lot of softball left to play and a lot of belief left Michael in this offense.

Yeah, absolutely.

Good crowd on hand.

And second softball game here today at Majestic Park.

Lots of fans out past the outfield fence.

And they filled in packed in behind home plate as well.

We talked about Zoe Roth and that excellent throw she had from right field to throw out Emma Lloyd at third base.

She now steps in to the plate and has A11 count on her at her second.

Look here at HLS.

That one taken down the line.

Great pizza heading that's going to be off the glove.

So she's going to stretch this one for two.

And she does gets to second base standing to start things off here for the Dragons offense.

That's going to give those fans we saw in left field some more dancing.

I didn't want to jinx her.

I was going to say, how often do you see a player make a great play in the field, come up, have a big hit as well?

And she did just that, going, piggybacking off her big play last inning.

She's in scoring position to start the bottom of the fourth.

Great piece of hitting there by Ross Daisy Pettway.

Now at the plate to see if she can keep it going.

Here.

Turned around and squared up to bunt but pulls it back for ball number one.

She actually had a bunt the last time she was at bat.

Got out with the fielder's choice, but able to move the runners around.

All right.

Bizarro and Ross had both reached, and you call on your nine hole hitter to move both of them up.

I trying to do the same thing here now to get Ross over to third base with only one out or potentially no outs down.

Looked at that last pitch for strike one.

So A11 count here with Ross still at second base.

This one put down back to Ellis.

Ellis gets it over to first for the first out.

But just like the last time she is able to move the runners around now Zoe Ross at third base.

One down here at the top of the lineup.

Back up now.

And Bell Eastwood stepping in to see if she can bring home the third run of the game for DeWitt Pettway, contributing two bunts, both of them executed perfectly.

Not the easiest thing to do one time, much less two times.

Swing and a miss there from Easter would you know, Easter would really like to be the one to bring this run in.

She's over two so far and struck out her last time up and again left handed batter.

Just anything on the infield out of that box.

She might even be able to get on base.

That one popped up into foul territory and it looks like that one caught by Destiny Edwards.

So an unfortunate event there for outnumber two.

Just like that.

It looked like they had some momentum going.

Michael was Zoe Ross leading things off with a double.

But the bunt four out one to advance her to third.

And that pop up in foul territory for two out.

Just like that.

Going to have to do some rally.

Yeah that's one of the risky run.

You know you get a leadoff runner on and then you give up an out running her over and it can change in a hurry.

Back the other way.

Pop up out all of a sudden two outs that one down in the I say the dirt.

But it is turf over there down in the turf.

And that's all they have it to break.

Tristan Mahaney yes, broadcasting games for a while.

You know, you want to say into the dirt.

No, not much anymore.

It's an all turf field here at Majestic Park.

The brown turner and the green turf on the field.

All right.

She got her.

Chloe Lloyd looking at that one on the outside corner.

First strike.

Excellent pitch position there and location by Ellis.

And it kind of puts Floyd on her heels.

Now she might have to swing it something if it's close.

Just like that.

Went back to the same spot.

Got her swinging for out number three and the threat is over.

A leadoff double is not going to do it for DeWitt.

Harding Academy gets out of it and continues to see if they can stretch this lead 6 to 2 here in the three A state finals between Harding Academy and DeWitt.

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Live viewing for you.

Great stuff here as we are in the middle of this three A battle between Harding Academy and DeWitt.

The Wildcats looking to add to their 6 to 2 lead here at Majestic Park.

Here in the top of the fifth.

Sorry.

Listen.

Yeah, I mean, we've had two softball games today.

Two baseball games today, Arkansas TV, website streaming, the soccer championships.

It's a busy time of year.

Most schools have had their graduations.

School comes to an end for most everybody tomorrow, if it hasn't already.

But if you're a spring sport athlete, you know this is like the football player who gets to play on Thanksgiving weekend.

Well, this is your deal if you're playing after graduation or something like that.

It's a big, big deal.

Absolutely.

Here as we finish day one of our spring sports championships in Hot Springs, it's been a fun one and this has been a fun way to end it so far.

Six two lead as I mentioned for the Wildcats Tristan Mahaney here battling and oh two count against Chloe Lloyd.

That one taken for a ride and foul to stay alive.

So you can hear the pop of the bat from that one and the crowd reacting as well.

And it has been a fun game because it's been one of these where you said, oh, Harding can run away with this, but those two runs from DeWitt huge.

I mean, it keeps it situation where she gets the bases loaded, it could change the game.

No side is really gathering too much momentum over the last couple of innings.

Yeah, absolutely.

Mahaney just like her teammate Ellis going to go play softball at the next level.

She will head to Ewa Rich mountain to continue her softball career.

Ground out there well executed for outnumber one.

Picked up nicely by Zoe Ross, the third baseman.

And early on, a couple of defensive miscues allowed that four spot in the first inning.

But the defense has been good behind Chloe Lloyd lately.

That one missed place there by Harley Grammer.

Over to Jayden Horne back under the glove.

And that is a base hit there for Hannah Floyd.

Yeah as I say that just the low throw from Harley Grammer the shortstop one that she would love to have back.

So that brings up McKenzie bird.

Bird had a single and then flew out to second base.

Her two at bats.

But we've talked about Chloe Loy throughout this game.

And despite the couple of runs that they've added after that first inning when they were able to plate four, it felt like she's finally started to settle down a little bit in the circle.

Yeah.

No, I think so.

I think she really has, has not recorded a strikeout today, but she's been able to pitch to contact crown ball outs.

Nothing too deep lately from the Harding Academy line up.

At.

Try with the change up but good discipline there by Burr to hold back.

So A21 count here and yeah.

And so she's been able to again settle in even after taking a ball off the shin swing and a miss for strike number two.

She's just hoping her and her offense can get things going eventually at some point.

They've had baserunners.

They've had opportunities.

It just hasn't totally resulted in runs completely though.

They were able to get to a few innings ago.

But it you're good.

Bird taking this one foul again staying alive there in the batter's box against Lloyd.

Good hitting right now.

Just trying to make contact.

Keep things moving and just try to wear down.

Lloyd.

It kind of feels that's what Harding Academy's trying to do, right now for her pitch count.

Now up to 74.

That one.

Nice pitch mishandled there should be out of.

But that should be that should be an out because first base was occupied.

So she wasn't able to have that free base.

Now the runner can go to second as she did, but yeah.

The runner, the batter is out.

And that will be the first recorded strikeout for Lloyd on the day and the second out of the inning.

Floyd moves over to second base and in steps, Addison Camaro's.

Oh, that one off the glove.

Off the bat.

Excuse me?

That one bounces down into.

Foul territory.

And it looks like it might have either bounced off her hand or accidentally stepped on her hand like a glove.

Floyd just shaking it off a little bit.

There, holding her hand and, shaking the hand.

Head coach right there, making sure she's okay.

And here we go.

We'll see it one more time.

Yeah, I think maybe the foot and hand.

Yeah.

Yeah, I think maybe Zoe Ross's foot caught a little bit of that finger.

Just a wolf shaking it out there, doing the best she can to try to get that feeling back.

You.

Got that one taken into right center field.

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

That is going to go off the glove of Ross.

That's going to score a run.

Tries to get the throw at second but she is not in time.

Great job by Addison Ramirez to slide under the tag for the double.

And that's another RBI.

And that is another run for the Wildcats.

Well and as good of hitting as it was better base running I mean just never hesitated with two outs.

Decided to turn a single into a double just flying past first base.

It was close but she was there.

Good base running now.

Her second double of the day for Romero's.

Now steps in Destiny Edwards with the runner in scoring position here with two outs in three 6130 hits.

This season, 28 runs batted in.

Think about that for a second.

Almost a run batted in for every hit that she's recorded this year.

Well, they'd love to see that happen once again here and add to this 7 to 2 lead that they currently have here in the fifth.

Swings back up to Chloe Lloyd.

Back over to first and easy one three out to end the inning.

But another run is added to the board as Harding Academy leads at 7 to 2.

DeWitt going to see if they can get the bats going.

Get some runs in in the bottom of the fifth, you are watching the Centennial Bank State baseball and softball championships on Arkansas TV sports.

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Well, the clouds have been out really all day.

Michael here at Majestic Park in Hot Springs, but it's still 73 degrees and a pretty nice evening under the lights here at this park.

As we wrap up the end of this three day state finals game between Harding Academy and DeWitt Harlie Grammar, stepping up into the box against Ace Ellis.

And we talked about Ellis previously in that last inning.

She's got four strikeouts on the day in her name.

And three of those four, those strikeouts were outnumber three huge strikeouts to end innings and end the threat that DeWitt has tried to do offensively but has not seen much success with.

Yeah, exactly.

Right.

I mean, you talk about just shutting down any opportunity from DeWitt when she needed a pitch.

She's made it getting those final outs with those strikeouts came into this game having struck out 78 batters in 74 innings pitched.

So more than one per inning with a nine and three record trying to get to double figures and win totals this season, sitting with a 2.25 ERA.

And she's pitched about to those exact numbers in this one, and she's been about as aggressive as you can be against Harley Grammer.

The offensive threat here for the Dragons gets a three run count, though.

Here on grammar.

By the way thunderstorms possible around nine 3945 okay.

So well, we're keeping an eye on the clock and hoping that Michael didn't just jinx us.

No, I just I put it out there so everybody would know.

Not in a jinx way.

Yeah, so not in a jinx way.

Yeah, right.

Is that even a thing?

Can you backtrack like that?

Like I didn't mean.

I'm sorry, Mother Nature.

I didn't mean to put a jinx in the world.

No, I think you need to go out there and do a little, you know, anti rain dance just for us being a reporter describing what is happening.

There you go.

All right.

Well if you put it in that terms and I won't say it's a jinx for.

Grammar continuing to battle at this at bat now a full count.

And it has been fun to see Ellis and Grammer battle it out here in the circle and at the plate.

Well it has I mean, she's they've Ellis has gone right after her, you know, outside of maybe a pitch or two.

And Graham has been patient, not really chasing what a rocket that one bouncing at the feet of Hannah Floyd.

She got Ahold of that one great piece of hitting, and you heard it right off the bat.

That was going to be a base hit.

Yeah, she did.

You know she's winning the battle, you might say, because Graham was three for three but three singles.

So Ellis is not giving up the long ball to her.

And that's what grandma likes to do is hit it out of the park.

Had been able to do that so far.

So I'm sure she's happy with her three for three day, but, they've been able to limit the damage.

I guess you could say I would count it as a win.

Yeah.

When you're facing Harley Grammar, I would call that as a win.

Yeah, well, it does create a little bit of a visit here in the circle with the catcher, Mahaney, because, you know, we're starting to get a little bit lay here bottom of the fifth inning and holding on to a five run lead.

You just want to make sure that single doesn't turn into something else.

If you're Harding Academy and it's not going away yet.

No.

And again, they've continue to have base runners.

They've just only got two runs to account for all the base runners that they have had.

So they continue to give themselves opportunity.

Just want to capitalize.

Gracie Lloyd here steps in looks at ball one and this is strike one.

Excuse me.

Yeah sorry Russell.

This is where they did score I mean it was the third inning with these batters at the plate and on the bases where they were able to scratch across a couple of runs.

That went high for ball one.

And I. I mean, that's what you want your three 4 or 5 six batters in your lineup.

And we mentioned there is no easy out with either of these lineups.

But this part of the lineup is where you're going to get some of your production.

And you'd like to see that here in the fifth, because you're running out of softball to play.

Is that one fouled into foul territory and into the glove of Anna Porter.

And you'll see the stolen base a lot.

But you wonder if they might have to try to manufacture a little bit here and maybe force Harding Academy into some mistakes, maybe try to run a little bit.

Well, if you're going to be aggressive, now's the time to do it.

As Tori Ross and her fan club ready to go here in the bottom of the fifth, looking at ball one.

You think that's mom?

Probably they you know, maybe could be.

So well done.

Sign whoever it is over there.

I tell you what, Ace Ellis is having a lot of success with that outside corner strike.

She's getting the call, and she continues to go after it.

That one.

A swing and a miss.

That one.

A little bit of a rise.

Ball down the middle for strike two.

Yeah.

When you're a batter and you.

You look at a pitch for a strike and all of a sudden it's what happened last inning, it kind of start getting a little antsy, start swinging away and missed it.

The last one, that one popped up and back to stay alive.

Harding Academy coming in have won 15 consecutive games over the last.

Dropped a game in early April.

That one bounced in front of the plate low for ball two.

Just the first season for coach going to.

He.

Talk about inheriting a team that, you know, a chance to get your first state championship team looking for their first.

That one back up the middle through the glove of Ellis.

And that is going to be another base hit.

So they string together some base hits.

And now they've got two runners on with one out Jaden Hornbeck up to bat.

That's a real chance for DeWitt Hornbeck the RBI single her last time around.

And again I don't know what kind of speed you have out there, but you might have to just be ready to run.

I guess at this point, even if there is only one out on contact, you might need to just be moving that one low for ball one.

Yeah, great piece of heading to take that one right back up the middle, underneath the glove of Ellis and into the outfield.

High, high.

That one dribbled over to third base.

Destinee Edwards over to first off the glove I believe of Anna Porter.

And I think that's going to bring over a run.

Looks like Hali Graham are going to come in and score.

And I wonder if they're going to call dead ball.

Yeah I think that went maybe into the dugout.

Okay.

I was wondering why Hali Grimmer wasn't running as hard, but I guess they're going to call that one a dead ball and allow her to come in.

No, they're going to say.

Was it a foul ball saying foul ball now okay.

Yeah they are.

All right okay.

All right.

So they're going to say it was a foul ball.

You could see Hornbeck just shaking her head.

No.

Wow what a break for Harding Academy.

She said wow you're right I mean yeah.

Wow.

Because we had a run across for DeWitt on that play and unfortunately they can't review that.

So we play on.

What a break for Harding.

Oh.

A22 count now.

And I think if you're Jayden Hornbeck you got to take a deep breath and not be rattled.

Kind of settle yourself back down.

Kind of probably found a little emotional in the box and see if you can get a base hit just like that.

That one deep and that one foul.

She got Ahold of that one.

Yeah.

That's good job there.

Stay alive.

Keep the count to two.

Continue to see another pitch against Ellis.

Two on, one out A22 count here for Jayden Hornbeck as she sees another pitch here from Ace Ellis.

Yeah that one taken down the right field side.

Foul.

Continuing to battle left right stolen every direction there.

Hey they always say if you don't like it foul it off.

See another one.

That's what she's doing right now 90 pitches all of a sudden for Ellis in this game.

And just four in the third innings.

That one in I keep wanting to say in the dirt.

That is not it in the turf.

Well bounces in front of the plate.

Good eye from Hornbeck to be absolutely there.

And five players might press with two strikes on him.

But she waited.

No, it was going low and has the count for now.

Oh wow, what a big time strike out.

That was a big moment for Ellis the K her fifth of the day.

And that is out number two.

So once again two one now two outs.

Emma Bizzaro huge strike out there.

And you feel bad a little bit for Hornbeck.

The way that at bat played out for her.

That one low for ball one trying to be aggressive on the base pass.

But Harley Grammer goes back to second base.

I should be ready to run.

But you're kind of saying move back.

You're too far out there now.

You mentioned it.

Ellis seems to get stronger when the moment gets bigger.

Yeah, like I said, innings.

And she's doing it again.

Absolutely.

That rise volume members are just underneath of it.

That one low and inside for ball two.

But once again runners on the base pass an opportunity to knock them in.

Can the dragon nuts do it?

To try to build that one dribbler over to Corey Hastings.

Hastings gets the third out at second base.

The six for outnumber three once again ends the threat, and Harding Academy goes back into the dugout to see if they can continue with their offense.

It is a 7 to 2 game here in the top of the sixth.

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Going back to that Jaden Hornbeck foul ball that they call the umpire, saying it bounced off her foot here while she was still in the box.

That's why they called it a foul ball and moved everyone back.

But as we mentioned, a tough break there because that could have been an opportunity to score with the throwing error by Harding Academy.

Nonetheless, Jordan Hornbeck ends up striking out.

Harding Academy gets out of the inning and we are back here to see Emma Floyd, the number nine batter with a 7 to 2 lead for the Wildcats in the mix here.

That one taken deep into left center field off the wall and goodbye home run Emma Floyd the number nine batter coming up.

Clutch.

Big time hit by Emma Floyd as she gives her head coach a high five for her fourth home run of the season.

And that makes it an eight two game.

Man.

She got a hold of that right away.

Absolutely.

Check it out again.

Just smashed it to left center field.

Told you it's about 225 straightaway center.

That one had all that to left center.

And more long ball from the nine spot.

Hey, like I said, that is her fourth home run of the season, and I'm sure none sweeter than the one there in that state finals game.

Going to have a conversation with Coach to just calm down his offense.

Chloe Lloyd going to stay in the circle I believe unless we're making a change, it looks like Hannah Floyd is going to come in, move over from left field and take over inside the circle.

We're going to take a break and be right back after this pitching change.

For nearly 60 years, Arkansas's only statewide public television network has informed and inspired viewers across our state.

That commitment continues today, with a renewed focus on local storytelling that reflects the people and communities we serve.

Arkansas TV is your public television station, and we can't do this without you.

If you're able, please consider making a gift today.

Your support strengthens education, storytelling, and communities across Arkansas.

Thank you for being a part of the Arkansas TV family.

Welcome back to Witt.

Making a pitching change.

Moving Harley Grammer from shortstop over into the circle.

So that is the change being made as Chloe Lloyd's day in the circle is done.

That one.

Back to Grammer off her glove.

Over to first for the first out.

Well, one pitch, one out.

That's what you want.

If you're Kramer, who's going to come in and try to slow down the momentum here a little bit.

And that one was against Ellis.

And we've talked about that Grammer Ellis match up the circle and at the plate.

And that continues with that one.

Three outs to start things off.

But remember they started off the inning with a home run by Emma Floyd.

As Corey Hastings steps up to bat.

Now in the top of the sixth.

Saw it the other way around that time and Chloe Lloyd goes to shore to take her place.

So they just, just a straight switch there.

Looks like.

Oh.

That one low for ball one.

Bring.

You look back one low as well for ball two.

Sorry.

Let's you look back in for the win.

They just haven't really been able to catch a break.

They've had baserunners especially the last couple of innings.

They've had multiple baserunners on and just haven't been able to find that big hit to bring the runs in on the other side.

Harding Academy, they pieced together a few early.

You know, some of the took advantage of some defensive miscues as well.

And now hitting the long ball late and they're getting to a point where they're probably starting to think about putting last year in the rearview mirror as they've got a six run lead in the sixth inning.

Yeah.

To make a more of your point, DeWitt with eight runners left on base compared to Hardings just four.

When you look at the two out RBI's, Harding Academy has five and DeWitt has one.

And so there's the big difference there offensively, as Corey Hastings wins this one into right center field, that gets another runner on for the Wildcats.

Up and brings up a dangerous Anna Porter who has been on base all three times.

She's come to the plate.

Would you take a walk a double and a single in the state championship game?

I think you would, absolutely.

I think she'll take a win more than anything else.

So Harding Academy can hold on to this 8 to 2 lead that they currently have.

That one fouled back for strike one.

But I think Anna Porter has had a phenomenal game for the Wildcats.

Here in the.

Come on.

Still only one out in the inning.

So Kramer's going to have to be out there a little bit longer.

That one fouled back to keep this At-Bat alive.

Absolutely.

We've got two softball games tomorrow.

Two?

Don't you know we like to stick with this game.

But yeah.

No, we've got the four day game and the six day game tomorrow.

And you look at that six day game that everyone has talked about.

Bentonville and Harbor facing off in the state championship for the third straight year.

What a pitch.

They're in there for.

Strike three to strike out Anna Porter big time.

Strike out there for grandma.

I'll be back with you for that one as well.

The two Northwest Arkansas teams coming down here to the Spa City.

Yeah, well, of course, Bentonville looking for their third straight Kent early.

Their head coach looking for his ninth as the head coach at Bentonville.

That one over off the glove of Gracie Lloyd.

And so Hastings will head on over to second base and head first to.

By the way, she did head on over to second.

I don't think she had anybody telling her, hey, I don't think there's a thrill coming.

Just a little fun.

Why not spice things up over there?

Here.

I'm going inside for ball one.

For ball three.

Excuse me.

You.

Still trying to get her first hit of the game.

Oh.

For three so far.

The breach in the first inning, though.

That's for.

Miami.

I'll take that long to put two runners on here for Hannah Floyd.

Who?

Know me.

Well, you know, if we go back to our piece of the game for Harding Academy was to get on base, I'd say they've done that.

They continue to get on base here late in the game as well.

Well, the big thing too.

Not only are they getting on base because you can make that argument for DeWitt, they're scoring runs off of those base runners.

And that I think has been the biggest difference clearly on the scoreboard with what we're seeing right now between these two offenses, both sides with nine hits.

And fouled back by Floyd.

On oh two count here.

So let's see if Carly Grammer can get her team out of this inning and back into the dugout to try to get something going offensively.

Read that one in the steal attempt is not going to be challenged by Loyd behind the plate.

And so now you've got a runner in Hastings on third base and Mahaney on second.

You know that ball bouncing up into the glove of Loyd and time she got to it.

The runners are moving.

It's aggressive base running there by your base runners to recognize that.

It's been a couple times that Grammer's kind of bounced it short there into the glove.

And so you're paying attention.

Give yourself an opportunity to advance.

But you can't leave early.

You got to have a foot on the bag to the ball's out of the hand.

So a good job to to know when to go.

It's all about timing.

That one taken shallow dropped in.

So everyone's going to go back.

Another opportunity for Floyd here with A12 count.

No foul ball down the left field line Floyd tried to get a couple more across here.

Oh.

Oh that one low again for ball two.

Chloe Lloyd five innings.

Threw 85 pitches here.

Yeah that one over the glove of Lloyd.

That's going to score a run and opportunity to score two that throw.

Not in time.

And so that is going to play two more off the bat of Hannah Floyd.

What a great at-bat by her to continue to stay patient.

She was down two.

Oh yeah.

And now she's able to battle back now four runs batted in in this game.

She had two in the first inning as well.

That really kind of got the thing started for Harding Academy.

And here she is late doing it again breaking this thing open now.

An eight run lead for Harding Academy in on the two RBI single from Floyd.

McKenzie bird stepping into the plate now here for the Wildcats.

She struck out her last time, but she's had some success at the plate.

Gracie Lloyd walking over to talk to Harley Grammer in the circle to just calm her down.

I tell you what, Graham are doing a little bit of everything in this game for her team.

That one bouncing off the foot of bird to put her on first base.

The hit by pitch now puts on two runners on the basepaths for Addison Camaros and a tough spot for Harley Grammer.

Again, she's three for three at the plate.

Quite a good shortstop.

Has to come into the game and situation where the game's starting to get out of hand and hasn't been able to quite reel it in for DeWitt here.

That one just slipped out of her hand.

Got away from a lot of times that ball just misses the batter completely, but it was able to hit bird and it keeps going.

Yeah, you've got two outs here to watch it.

Just take a deep breath and trust your mechanics.

Try to get out of this inning and really kind of stop things from continuing in the way that they're going right now.

Because you talked about that momentum.

I feel like it's starting to shift towards Harding Academy.

Well, inning started with a solo home run and a couple of outs after that.

But now the last three batters have reached all of a sudden for the Wildcats.

That is.

That one.

And their first strike and oh two count here on Camaro's.

And a hit here.

And all of a sudden you could be up ten runs already up by eight to get these runners moving.

And, could shorten the game down all of a sudden.

So if you're DeWitt, just to keep the game going, you got to get this out.

Big time swing and a miss.

That's strikeout number two.

For Grammer.

And that is out number three.

So that ends the inning and the threat.

But DeWitt seeing if they can do anything with these bats get some runs across the board.

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Welcome back to the three, a state finals game between Harding Academy and DeWitt.

It is a ten two lead here for the Wildcats in the bottom of the sixth.

DeWitt has had opportunities, but has not been able to get too many of those opportunities across for runs and opportunity, though in the sixth, they've got work to do.

Michael, if they want to get back in to this game.

No.

Yeah you're right.

And it's Ellis again.

She's just had the the shut down out when she's needed it that last inning.

A couple of runners on.

She gets a strikeout, then gets a fielder's choice to end the inning.

And she's allowed some hits, that's for sure.

And the bats have been there for DeWitt.

They just haven't been in that one right back.

There you go.

Good contact there by Zoe Ross.

But right back into the glove of Ellis for out number one.

Yeah.

Well they you know thankfully they wear those masks now in the pitching circle.

And she also had the glove there to take care of it.

But she was all smiles after making that catch.

Hey sometimes I remember that's just reactionary.

Yep.

You know your gloves right there.

You just stick it out and oh the ball finds it.

Before before I got it, we didn't wear masks when I played.

Okay, well, I was wondering I was going to ask you, but it wasn't until really honestly, my senior year of high school that they made us wear masks on our helmets.

Yeah, okay.

Okay.

I know that because I got hit in the mouth once.

Yeah, that's that's how fun it was to have the foot guards told you all the stuff.

We didn't know we didn't have any of those wristbands.

Yeah, I didn't think so.

No.

Did you have the glitter?

All right.

Told me, you know, no glitter.

No glitter.

No, I took a at the ball.

Yeah.

No, the ball hit off the handle of my bat and onto my mouth.

Oh, it was painful.

Yeah, I bet luckily I had braces for it.

Losing teeth.

That was.

I don't know if luckily of braces were lucky, but sure, sure a walk they are granted to Daisy Pettway.

So a runner on here for the dragonet.

I get that way.

Credit.

She's bunted twice, moves runners over, and now she's able to get on base.

Yeah.

Done her job when asked to.

But her teammates around Belle Eastwood, the leadoff batter seeing if she can get something going, hasn't had the greatest success today at the plate.

Yeah, this could change the momentum a little bit if she's able to reach base.

That's been tough for a couple of fly ball outs, one of them in foul territory last time up.

Oh oh.

Oh it's this so Ellis now over 100 pitches.

I'm saying 107 now with her five K's.

Just two walks.

She's giving up nine hits and two runs.

You know, you can say all you want.

Well, it's not the same motion as baseball.

They can throw forever, but it's still exhausting.

If you're in a state championship game.

Sure.

And, you know, off is right around the corner.

She's she's probably going to go the distance here.

I would think no matter what that pitch count it.

No, absolutely.

It's not necessarily about the wear and tear that one poked through the infield.

She is going to continue talking about aggressive base running here.

Thrown out though at third base trying to extend it.

But Emma Floyd with that throw over to Destinee Edwards in time.

And that gets the lead runner there and Pettway out at third.

Check it out.

And just tags her right there on the facemask.

Yeah near the face mask there I got one outnumber three here.

Excuse me.

Out number two.

You're down.

You got to try something.

You got to be aggressive at this point.

Don't fault them at all.

Trying to advance and get closer to putting more pressure on Ellis.

But, Harding Academy gets the better of them there.

And that's a big out.

Yeah, absolutely.

I appreciate the aggressive base running because you kind of have runners on the corners now with one out and really see if you can get something going offensively.

Taken for a ride by Chloe Lord they're into foul territory though.

So are we going to have to turn around and go back.

But that's what you have to do.

It's the six.

You're down by eight.

You have to be aggressive.

So I have no problem with that whatsoever.

Yeah yeah.

Oh oh good pitch there from Ellis.

And a little bit out in front of it was Lloyd.

I think.

Probably.

I don't on both sides with ten hits.

Now again the difference.

So Harding Academy manufactured the same amount of runs, ten runs on ten outs.

Also only the one error.

And there's been three errors from DeWitt.

Most of those came early when Harding got the four spot in the first.

Lloyd swing and a miss there.

Despite being in the dirt, she can't take the base because the base was not open.

It was occupied.

And so that is outnumber three.

Once again, a third out strike out for Ellis as we now head to the top of the seventh.

The Wildcats with a 10 to 2 lead.

You're watching the Centennial Bank state baseball and softball championsh This is a bit of an odd one.

The offender had to smuggle in an antique execution device for a off.

Brian had an eye for a good deal.

You mean, did he like ripping off unsuspecting morsels?

Sure.

Brian had a disagreement with the camera guy.

I mean, this fella.

There are no other signs of physical damage.

Which suggests that the victim seemed the position willingly.

Sunday evening at 530 on Arkansas TV.

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Well, Michael, we have reached the seventh here at Majestic Park between Harding Academy and DeWitt.

The Wildcats up 10 to 2 in this three a state finals game.

And Harding Academy looking to continue to add to that lead.

Welcome back.

Good to be with you Alice Orange alongside Michael Westbrook and.

Here we are.

Yeah it's been just a consistent game from Harding Academy I think the way I would describe it all the way from the four runs in the first, back in the sixth inning, they added three more.

Just that two spot back in the third inning for DeWitt.

Haven't quite had that big punch out hit when they've needed it, to stay in this game into the final inning.

Harley Grammer finding herself back inside the circle.

She replaced Chloe Lloyd last inning as Destinee Edwards now at bat with A30 lead or three.

Excuse me.

First ever state championship appearance for DeWitt.

And, you know, if you're if you're Harding Academy, this is playing out the way you want.

The story to be written.

I mean, you lose last year in the finals and you lose big and you stay together.

Team has 24 wins this year, and they've really played well today over there to Zoe Ross at third.

Collects it over to Jaden Horne.

Back for the out.

And that is outnumber one.

And DeWitt you know that it it changes from year to year.

Players leave coaches leave whatever.

But this is a step forward for them.

And the game's not over yet, but it is a step forward for them.

They made the semifinals each of the last three years, and now they break through to a championship game.

So they got to be proud of where they're at right now to.

Oh yeah.

Absolutely.

And the way that they have been able to put together the season that they had.

And you talk about the fact that Harding Academy was here a season ago, but prior to that they only had two finals appearances and that was in 2014 and 15.

So both of these programs have had not a lot of experience here in the finals.

Obviously, DeWitt has had none.

Harding Academy has had three, but it had been a while prior to last season, and so a lot of pride and excitement for both of these programs to try to win their first state championship.

Yeah.

Exactly.

Right.

I mean, yeah, you talked about it 2015 the last time before last year.

And what when you're the life of a high schooler, 16, 17, 18 years old, a decade is an eternity.

So they don't know that history.

They they're not probably not too familiar with even a decade ago.

I don't want to think about where they were a decade ago.

33rd grade, maybe.

Is that is that how that mass?

Yeah, they'd be about right, I guess a strikeout there of Emma Floyd who home run.

Got things going in that last inning.

But a big time strikeout there by Grammer for outnumber two.

Yeah.

She had had a single back in the fourth inning before that.

And the nine hole hitter just really having a great game today.

Well that brings up the top of the lineup.

An ace Ellis who has had a phenomenal day in the circle.

Truly, with the way that she has been able to just have success and get outs when she's needed to, but trying to still get something going offensively here.

Michael.

Yeah, look for her first hit.

That one over to Lloyd at short.

But that run in time not in time was the throw.

And she's quick and she's fast.

Especially being on that left side.

She can get out of that box in a hurry.

You haven't really got to see her run too much yet.

She had a couple of fly outs and then hit right back to the pitcher last time up.

So you're right.

We get to see a run that time.

She was quick out of the box.

And there she goes.

Taken off trying to steal second to throw not in time by Gracie Lloyd.

And so now Ace Ellis sitting in scoring position for Corey Hastings I kind of wondered if we might see that in the fifth or sixth inning as they were trying to, you know, maybe get up by the ten run mark.

We did not see them do anything like that, but I think it Ellis on base for the first time, and she's earned the chance to go ahead and steal.

I think with the way she's thrown it very often.

But let her show off some of that speed there here in the seventh as she plays her final game as a Wildcat, as we mentioned, she will continue her softball career at UT Martin next season.

Swing and a miss for strike one.

A21 count here on Hastings.

That one hit over off the glove of Ross trying to collect it cannot.

And so everyone is safe.

Ace Ellis over at third and Corey Hastings now at first with runners on the corners for Anna Porter.

And I think if there's been anyone who's had quite a day at the plate, you can argue that Anna Porter has been the best bat in this lineup.

Absolutely.

And they were able to get her last time on a strikeout, but before that had been on base all three of her previous at bat.

Of the runners going to go from first to second there, put them both in scoring position.

Now.

Looks at ball one.

The one one count here.

That one back up the middle.

Got a drop in center field.

That's going to score a run.

Maybe to the throw.

Cut off by Grammer.

And that is a two run single by Porter.

And she continues to step up at the plate.

Really impressive I mean of course Hannah Floyd has four runs batted in as well in this game.

But yeah.

Just pure hitting standpoint from Porter.

Her third base hit a double and two singles.

She has really had a great game today.

A great piece of hitting there by the first baseman.

Brings up Tristan Mahaney.

And again another great at bat.

And really just timely hitting by this Wildcats offense with two outs.

Looks at that one for strike one and A11 count on Mahaney.

They actually had Porter down as one for three before that bat.

So one of them she must have reached on an error that I didn't realize.

But now two for four.

So still two hits.

She scored a run driven into.

That one low for ball two.

There.

But I mean, Porter's been great right there.

That's why she's in that three spot in the lineup.

And she has been able to deliver.

When asked that one over to second base blocked down and stopped and right on time.

Great job by Daisy Pettway to collect it over to Chloe.

Load Lloyd.

Excuse me for the out at second and that ends the inning.

But there's a lot of work left to do for DeWitt.

If they want to get back into this ball game, they've got three outs to do it.

As we head to the bottom of the seventh here at Majestic Park, you are watching the Centennial Bank state baseball and softball championships on Arkansas TV sports.

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Oh.

Oh!

Oh, okay.

Cool.

Perfect.

The Harding Academy faithful starting to feel it.

They are three outs away from the program's first state championship in softball here, with a 12 to 2 lead over DeWitt Ace Ellis back in the circle as she now faces Chloe Lloyd.

Really good numbers from Ellis.

Six innings, two earned runs.

Has walked two struck out 616 pitches, 71 of those for strikes.

The team had a big ovation.

Two from executed.

Yeah in the circle.

And excuse me, this is Harley Grammar.

Now.

Yeah.

Great.

Up to bat.

Three for three.

Trying to keep it going in between innings.

The Harding Academy fans you said you know they're kind of beginning to feel it.

They were they were loud and cheering on their team back out onto the field.

That one hard hit fouled on the left field line.

Grammar continuing to battle.

And we can't say enough about what she's been able to do.

When we talked about it at shortstop for her team at the plate.

And of course having to move in the circle in the last few innings.

That one fouled as well.

Three two count here.

Full count, which I feel like is a thing between these two when it comes to how many times they face each other.

And honestly, the third time they've had a full count.

Yeah, it's a good battle.

That one down in the dirt for the walk.

So Harley Grammer getting the rally going for her team.

She now finds herself on first base, on base, all four plate appearances, three singles and a walk.

Really impressive what she's done out of the three spot in the lineup for her team.

And again, Ellis, you know, not really.

Not really shying away from or either trying to pitch to her for the most part.

That went in there for ball one.

Again.

There she goes again with that rise ball for strike one.

And I give the credit they're not just going up there swinging away and trying to end the game with fly ball out.

You know they're they're patient.

Yeah.

They're trying to be smart.

They're not swinging it.

Just anything.

That's right.

This middle of the lineup here.

They've been able to get on base and have some success.

And again they're down 12 to 2.

But they don't feel like it's over till it's over.

As she has now got herself A31 count as Gracie Loy, trying to see if she can get on base and bring up Tori Ross.

There's that outside corner.

They've been giving it to her all night long and that is strike two.

As good pitch.

I feel like Ellis was trying to see if Lloyd would chase a little bit on the previous pitches.

Floyd laid off of it and got in there for the strike on that one, and that one hit back up the middle over and into center field.

Graham are going to hustle over to third base, going to try to maybe attempt to head over to home.

But she does not.

And so now you have got runners in scoring position.

Great piece heading there and a battle for Gracie Lloyd.

And she is on second.

Harley Grammar is on third and there are no outs.

And once again they have got base runners.

An opportunity.

The dragon gets.

Not going quietly.

Yeah, I think we go.

One of the players a little hobbled as well.

Runner over at third.

Yeah.

Grandma trying to.

Yeah.

Shake it off a little bit man.

She jumped on her horse from first base right when that ball left bat.

And she saw that it was going to find a hole.

Well and if you're the outfielder there too, you know you're trying to make a play.

But just go ahead and hold on to that ball or just throw it in to the second baseman.

Don't let the runner from first also advance have eliminated your force play and you've given to it a little more momentum.

Tori Ross and in this one over to second line drive caught by McKenzie Byrd tries to pick off Carly Grammer for the double play but does not.

A hard hit ball for out number one.

I will tell you what.

Give DeWitt credit.

You could just see in the background there their dugout still Cheering good catch.

Absolutely I mean a line drive that could have easily caught grandma off guard.

She got back to the base quickly to avoid the double play.

So that brings up Jaden Hornbeck.

And we talked about what happened in her last At-Bat.

Trying to see if she can get something going here.

Turns on this one inside.

Fouled down the left field line.

Yeah.

So Hornbeck at the plate made contact with the baseball, went off of her foot.

Said the home plate umpire.

Had he not call that a foul ball?

There the throw over to first was off line.

A run was going to score from DeWitt.

It all was erased, though, that one high and inside for ball two, one for three for Hornbeck did have the RBI hit in the third inning.

That one fouled back.

So A22 count here as Hornbeck continues to battle Ellis and her pitch count up to 129 again.

Six K's on the day, three walks giving up 11 hits and two runs.

I want a swing and a miss for strikeout number seven and outnumber two.

And Harding Academy one out away from a state championship.

Impressive.

Ellis coming through with the big strikeout again.

When they need the out she's getting it now.

The crowd is loud.

They're got their noisemakers going.

That one dribbled over to Destinee Edwards.

Edwards over to Anna Porter but not in time.

And that is going to score grandma from third.

So they add a run.

Gracie Lloyd advances to third and Emma Bizzaro with the infield single way to hustle down that line and keep this game alive.

Michael her second hit today.

And for it batch.

And it looks like we're going to have a challenge here.

Harding Academy wants that to get looked again.

And so we're going to go look at our own replay here and see what we can see.

It'd be an interesting way to end a state championship game on an overturned call.

We'll wait and see.

A chance to look at the replays in just a moment.

And I don't think if you're Harding Academy, they don't mind celebrating.

Either way, no matter what the call ends up being.

We've looked at the replay a little bit.

I think.

Mike well, in my opinion, she's safe now.

The first base coach is blocking the bag a little bit from that.

You can kind of see though the based on where she is right there.

She's safe.

Yeah.

I believe South Park got the call right.

That's a good challenge though.

I mean you know it's hey it's a chance for the game to be over with.

You might as well use it there.

Yeah, you've got it.

Might as well use it.

But a hustle down that line by grandma to score the run.

So regardless.

This game is either over or it's 12 to 3 taken several looks at it that's for sure.

Before making a call here this will give us a really good look.

Let's see.

She makes the call.

Yep.

Nice.

So the call is confirmed as safe.

So we play on here.

They've added a run.

It is 12 to 3 with two out and two on here Zoe Ross now in to bat with a runner at third and first on the corners.

I'm I have a feeling that Emma Bizarro is going to take second base number.

So probably so.

Oh.

Not yet anyways.

Interesting idea.

Gone.

Yeah, maybe that's just me.

That one high and outside for ball two with two.

Oh, count here on Ross.

Let's go.

That one swing and a miss.

Strike one.

Two on two outs.

Bottom of the seventh.

Up by nine now.

That one driven into right field.

Everyone is safe.

That is going to extend it now to 12 to 4.

And like we said the dragon.

That's not going quietly.

No they're not great piece of heading there by Ross that second inning where they've scored multiple runs and coming at a time late in the game where Harding Academy still has a big lead.

No real worry yet for Marcella.

She's ready to go again.

Well, Daisy Pettway here at the plate, she is bunted in the fielder's choice twice.

She got on here in the six.

But you also have to think about the fact that this is pitch 136 for Ellis.

And regardless, a little bit of that velocity slowing down, that's a wear and tear on your body overall.

But that and these batters are now seeing you for the fourth time.

Yeah.

Like I said it can be exhausting that's for sure.

But now she's down to needing just one more strike.

One more strike here on the number nine batter in this DeWitt line up.

Two on, two out and oh two count.

Good.

Oh, trying to get that outside corner for a strike.

She's gotten it most of the day.

But that one a little bit too high an outside ball.

One pitch 140.

It's incredible.

Oh the butter.

Oh Pettway continuing to battle fouls that one back.

But you can feel it.

You can start to see some of these Harding Academy fans on their feet.

They can feel it as well.

DeWitt not giving up hope that one taken deep High Court.

That is it.

Addison Gameiro is going to end this game and they are going to celebrate right there in the middle of the field.

Harding Academy is your three a state champions with a 12 to 4 win over DeWitt.

Just an incredible overall game for Harding Academy in every area Michael first ever state championship.

What a performance today from the Wildcats.

And they deserve to celebrate.

Four runs in the first inning set the tone.

Ended up with five runs over the last two innings to really cement their spot as state champions.

We're going to let them celebrate and we're going to come back with the trophy ceremony right after this.

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Well, the celebration and the trophy ceremony continuing here at Majestic Park as Harding Academy, collecting the program's first state championship and softball ace Ellis.

Ava Ellis is going to be your NVP.

And what she did in the circle.

You got to tip your cap to 144 total pitches, seven strikeouts, three walks, giving up 13 hits in seven innings work.

And she also won for four at the plate.

An overall great showing by her and the rest of her teammates in this lineup for that state championship.

As we look at how everything unfolded and it really started, Michael in the first as they were able to plate four runs in the first, to set the tone offensively and really have to wet on their heels the whole entire game.

No, that's exactly right.

Able to get the big hits early again.

Top seven in the lineup hitting 400 or better.

And they came through today early.

They came through late.

They scattered some single runs in the middle of that as well.

12 runs on 12 hits.

We said the word consistent I'd say that describes exactly that with 12 and 12.

Absolutely.

Yet Hannah Floyd, who was two for four with four RBI and a corner, two for four with two RBI.

Emma Floyd with that home run as the nine hitter.

They got it done in every facet of this game.

And there you can see HLS awarded her NVP trophy and she earned it.

Big time.

Congratulations once again to Harding Academy on their state championship.

And so let's celebrate their victory.

You can get official championship gear now available by visiting Arkansas High School sports.com.

And there you can find apparel and memorabilia to celebrate Harding Academy's first state championship in softball.

Why not?

Right?

Yeah, I mean, on the first piece of history right there.

Absolutely.

It'll be it'll be vintage down the road, but you'll have the very first one.

We will.

And we've got a lot more softball and baseball left.

It'll start tomorrow with the four a softball finals between Warren and Monticello.

That game tomorrow.

Right here from Majestic Park at ten A, and we also have the six day softball finals like we talked about.

We'll be here for that game between Bentonville and Harbor, a three time rematch for these six state finals.

But man, let's let Harding Academy soak in this three day state championship game because they are the champions and they get to bring that trophy back to Searcy big time.

Congratulations to the Wildcats.

It has been a fun one here from Majestic Park.

As we wrap things up for my partner Michael Westbrook and all of our crew back in the truck, I'm Melissa Orange.

Thank you so much for joining us here.

We were watching the Centennial Bank state baseball and softball championships on Arkansas TV sports.

And they are so much more tomorrow and Saturday.

So stay with us here at Majestic Park.