Heber Springs host Pottsville in 4A-4 play

March 8, 2020

Heber Springs returns to 4A-4 action on Monday when the Panthers host Pottsville at 4:30 p.m. at the Heber Springs Sports Complex.

The game was originally scheduled for Friday but was pushed back because Pottsville was in the 4A state basketball tournament.

Heber Springs opened conference play on March 3 with a 13-3 setback at Dover (1-2 overall, 1-1 in 4A-4).

The Panthers and Pirates were tied at 3-all heading into the bottom of the fourth before Dover plated 10 unanswered and run-ruled Heber Springs.

The Panthers struck first in the top of the first as Alec Kelley walked and would later score on a double steal.

Dover will would tie things up in the bottom of the frame with a triple and a single off Heber Springs starter Garrett Hudspeth.

After a quiet second for the Panthers, a lead-off walk and back-t0-back singles would give Dover a 3-1 advantage heading into the third.

The score would remain that way until the fourth when Matthew Cook lead off by reaching on an error and scoring on an Hudspeth double. Fate Berry followed with a single driving Hudspeth for the Panthers final runs of the afternoon.

In the bottom of the fourth Dover would plate four runs, after a lead-off walk, a double and two errors would help push across four Pirate runs.

In the fifth, two more Panther errors and four doubles helped Dover end the contest with six runs in the inning.

Heber Springs had three hits on the night with Berry going 2-for-2 with an RBI.

Hudspeth struck out five but walked four in getting the loss in three plus innings of work.

Dover used five Panther errors and 12 hits to plate five earned runs.

HEBER SPRINGS AT DOVER
March 3
Heber Springs    100 20 -  3  3  5
Dover            120 46 - 13 12  1
Note: 1-out when winning run scored
WP: Dawson Branch
LP: Garrett Hudspeth (1-1)
HEBER SPRINGS HIGHLIGHTS: Fate Berry 2-for-2 with an RBI; Garrett Hudspeth, RBI double with run scored; Alec Kelley, run scored
DOVER HIGHLIGHTS: Dawson Branch 2-for-3, double, triple, RBI and two runs scored; Brock Payne, 2-for-4 with a double, three RBIs, and a run scored; Josh Besterfeldt, two runs scored; Kaleb Williams 1-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs; Lance Millsaps 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored; Jeremy Robinson, RBI double, run scored; Jayce Sharp 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored; and Jon Greathouse 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.
PITCHING: Heber Springs, Hudsepth 3 2/3 innings pitched, six hits, seven runs, three earned runs, five strikeouts, four walks; Alec Kelley 2/3 IP, five hits, six runs, two earned runs, one strikeout; Matthew Cook, faced one batter and gave up a hit; Dover, Dawson Branch 5 innings pitched, three hits, three runs, two earned runs, seven strikeouts and one walk.
HEBER SPRINGS 2020 BASEBALL
COACH SCOTT BRAMLETT
OVERALL RECORD: 1-1
4A-4 RECORD: 0-1
March 2   Heber Springs 7, West Side Greers Ferry 5
March 3   Dover 13, Heber Springs 3 *
March 9   Pottsville *                 4:30 p.m.
March 10  at Ozark *                   4:30 p.m.
March 13  Subiaco Academy *            4:30 p.m.
March 16  at Harding Academy           4:30 p.m.
March 17  Dardanelle *                 5 p.m.
March 19  at Pangburn Tournament
March 20  at Clarksville *             4 p.m.
March 21  at Pangburn Tournament 
March 31  Morrilton *                  4 p.m.
April 3   Dover *                      4:30 p.m.
April 7   at Pottsville *              4:30 p.m.
April 9   Ozark *                      4:30 p.m.
April 14  at Dardanelle *              5 p.m.
April 17  at Subiaco  Academy *        4:30 p.m.
April 21  at Morrilton *               4 p.m.
April 23  at Clinton                   6 p.m.
April 24  Clarksville *                4 p.m.
April 27  4A-4 Tournament at Dover

(* - Denotes 4A-4 Conference contest)
(Note: Games and times are subject to change)

Panther softball team heads to UCA for conference opener

Heber Springs’ Hope Turney touches home plate in softball action last week in Heber Springs. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

March 8, 2020

The Heber Springs softball opens conference play on Monday with a doubleheader against Ozark.

The pair of 4A-4 contests will be played at neutral site on the University of Central campus in Conway.

Heber Springs (2-1) is coming off a 14-0 setback at Sylvan Hills on Thursday. The Panthers will be looking for their first conference win since 2018 and their first since the 4A-4 was created before the start of the 2019 season.

Heber Springs will be on the road Thursday and Friday before return to the Heber Springs sports complex on Saturday for their annual tournament.

HEBER SPRINGS 2020 SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
COACH DUSTY WEST
RECORD: 2-0
4A-4 RECORD: 0-0
March 2   Heber Springs 16, Maumelle 9
March 3   Heber Springs 13, White County Central 2
March 5   Sylvan Hills 14, Heber Springs 0
March 9   vs. Ozark at UCA *           V DH      4:30 p.m.
March 12  at Riverview                 V/JV      4:30 p.m.
March 13  at Conway St. Joseph         V/JV      4:30 p.m.
March 14  Heber Springs Tournament     V
March 16  at Dover *                   V/JV      4:30 p.m.
March 17  Dardanelle *                 V/JV      4:30 p.m.
March 19  Clinton                      V/JV      5 p.m.
March 30  at Clarksville *             V/JV      4 p.m.
March 31  Morrilton *                  V/JV      4:30 p.m.
April 3   Dover *                      V/JV      4:30 p.m.
April 6   Jacksonville                 V/JV      4:30 p.m.
April 7   at Pottsville *              V/JV      4:30 p.m.
April 13  Cedar Ridge                  V/JV      4:30 p.m.
April 14  at Dardanelle *              V/JV      4:30 p.m.
April 16  at Calico Rock               V/JV      4:30 p.m.
April 20  at Cave City                 V/JV      4 p.m.
April 21  at Morrilton *               V/JV      4:30 p.m.
April 23  at Mayflower                 V/JV      4:30 p.m.
April 27  4A-4 District Tournament at Dover

(* - Indicates 4A-4 Conference Contest)
(Note: Schedule is subject to change due to weather)
(Note: The Heber Springs/Pottsville contest for March 6 will be re-scheduled due to a basketball conflict)

Bradshaw gets win as Harding wins ninth-in-a-row

March 6, 2020

By SCOTT GOODE/HARDING SPORTS INFORMATION

SEARCY – Harding baseball scored in five consecutive innings Friday and defeated Southeastern Oklahoma 7-2 in game one of its three-game Great American Conference series at Jerry Moore Field.

The win was Harding’s ninth straight overall and fifth straight in the GAC and moved the Bisons to 16-5 overall and 7-3 in conference games. The Bisons moved into second place in the GAC standings, one game back of leader Oklahoma Baptist. Harding and Southeastern Oklahoma (10-10, 3-7) conclude the series with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

Trailing 1-0 entering in the bottom of the fourth, Harding tied the game on a Connor Kelly single that scored Miles Humphreys.

Harding took the lead for good in the fifth on a Michael Chrisman RBI single that plated Brendan Perrett.

The Bisons took a 4-1 lead with two more in the sixth. The runs came on a Cody Smith sacrifice fly and Chris Witzke’s single that scored Kelly.

Kelly had another RBI single in the seventh to give the Bisons a 5-2 lead. In the eighth, Harding tacked on two more on three consecutive doubles from Owen Martin, Perrett and Chrisman.

Harding starter Andrew Bradshaw (4-2) allowed single runs in the second and sixth innings but worked out of trouble both times, stranding the bases loaded on both occasions.

Bradshaw struck out six and got eight groundball outs, throwing 90 pitches over six innings.

Ryder Yakel came on in the seventh and retired nine straight hitters, six by strikeout. He threw 27 of his 37 pitches for strikes and had 10 swings and misses.

Southeastern starter Jacob Potter (3-3), the reigning GAC Pitcher of the Week, lasted six innings and allowed four runs (two earned) with five strikeouts and took the loss.

Kelly led Harding, going 3-for-4 with a run and two RBIs. He leads the team with eight multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games. Chrisman and Perrett had two hits each.

Harding had 12 hits, the sixth time in the last seven games the Bisons had 10 or more.