Gravette Impresses In Runner-Up Finish

Monday, March 24, 2014

— The Gravette Lions entered the final day of the McDonald's Bulldog Classic in the winner's bracket after an impressive Friday win over host Springdale High. And they weren't just content to be there, evidenced by a 9-2 win over Shiloh Christian in a Saturday semifinal matchup before losing 15-2 to a loaded Stillwater, Okla., team in the championship game.

"For us to be able to accomplish that this weekend was a success," Gravette coach Randall Hunt said. "In the four years these seniors have been in this tournament, they'd never played in the afternoon on Saturdays. They were always in that consolation in the morning. And so that (Springdale) win really changed the direction of this program for these guys. And they were excited for that."

HOW THEY SCORED

Saturday

Championship Game

Stillwater, Okla. 15, Gravette 2

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Gravette^000^20^—^2^3^1

Black and Higgins. Shaw, Fields (4), Burrow (5), Gibbons (5) and Soule. W - Black, 1-0. L - Shaw, 0-2.

The weekend again underscored the tough schedule Class 4A Gravette (5-3) has embraced in nonconference play.

The Lions' 8-3 win over Springdale on Friday was their second against the 7A Bulldogs this season. Gravette also has the win against 5A Shiloh and a victory against 6A Greenwood, along with losses to 7A Springdale Har-Ber, 6A Siloam Springs and Stillwater, which is among the best teams in Oklahoma playing in the stout 6A, the state's largest classification.

"It's been a schedule that, up front that wasn't the way it was intended," Hunt said. "But it just kind of worked out with all the rainouts and stuff, this is what was left. And these guys have responded really well."

Stillwater's numbers advantage was apparent in the championship-game rout.

Gravette senior right-hander Aaron Means struck out eight and didn't give up an earned run while picking up the win over Springdale. Fellow senior Ethan Vanderpool pitched six solid innings in the 9-2 win over Shiloh.

But the Lions struggled without their top two pitchers in their third game in two days. Stillwater battered four Gravette pitchers for 11 hits in the five-inning, run-rule win.

"It's tough to go three games in two days," Hunt said. "We really had to test all aspects of our pitching staff. Aside from our two studs, we're still trying to figure out who's capable of making that big pitch for us."

Stillwater (7-1), on the other hand, still had enough on the mound despite playing its sixth game in the last week. Gunner Black struck out five and limited Gravette to two unearned runs in the win as the Pioneers capped a 6-0 week.

"We have about 12 to 14 kids that are pitchers that we think can win," Stillwater coach Jimmy Harris said. "We're very fortunate to be that deep. When you play six games in a week like we did, we finished strong."

The weekend should prove a valuable learning experience for Gravette, which will open 4A-1 Conference play against Pea Ridge on April 1. And the Lions can look forward to a two-games-a-week format in league play that should be conducive.

"It sets up well to have those two guys coming in," Hunt said of Means and Vanderpool.

Sports on 03/24/2014