Baseball: Harris Shuts Down Prairie Grove

PRAIRIE GROVE -- Drew Harris is leaving a lasting impression on teams in the 4A-1 Conference.

Harris threw a two-hit shutout to lead Lincoln to a 7-0 victory over Prairie Grove in Monday's championship game of the 4A-1 District Tournament. The Wolves led 4-0 when Dakota Riggin hit a bases-loaded double in the bottom of the sixth to put the game out of reach.

Lincoln (16-6) adds a tournament championship after winning the regular-season title that included a 6-1 win over the Tigers (17-6).

"This is a tough league," Lincoln coach Brad Harris said. "So, I'm extremely proud of our guys in winning conference then coming here to Prairie Grove and winning a second time against them."

Both teams advance to the 4A North Regional Tournament, which begins Friday at Lincoln. The Class 4A State Tournament will be played the following week at Nashville. Lincoln advanced to the district final with a 5-4 victory over Pea Ridge while Prairie Grove topped Farmington 7-1.

Harris had one of only three hits for the Wolves, who scored four runs with the help of errors by shortstop Ty Tice and third baseman JD Speed.

Lincoln took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning after a throwing error by Tice. The Wolves had the bases loaded and two outs when No. 9 hitter Cord McCaslin hit a weak grounder on the infield. Tice charged and threw on the run, but the throw bounced in the dirt and first baseman Reed Orr could not dig it out.

"Logan (Gragg) did a great job on the m,ound," Prairie Grove coach Mitch Cameron said. "We did not make enough plays defensively and we didn't execute (at the plate) when we needed to. We didn't put pressure on them, but my hat's off to Drew. He's tough."

Prairie Grove failed to score despite putting two runners on base in the first, third and fourth innings. Harris was bailed out in the first by a line drive off the bat of Tice that was turned into a double play by Kaleb Ayers at first base. Harris then used key strikeouts after the Tigers advanced runners into scoring position in the third and fourth innings.

"Kaleb made a heck of a play with the catch and a pop throw to second for the double play," Brad Harris said. "Drew came out a little shaky, and that double play helped us get out of what could've been a big inning."

Drew Harris will get another chance to play in a regional tournament at Lincoln before moving with his family to Benton, where Brad Harris has accepted a job as defensive coordinator for the Panthers.

"Drew has had some tightness in his arm, so he hasn't thrown a lot this year," Brad Harris said of his son, who was a two-year starter at quarterback for the Wolves. "But I'm real proud of him and the way he battled against a very good team. He one-hit them the first time and two-hit them today."