FAYETTEVILLE -- Logan Huneycutt pitched a three-hitter to lead Ouachita to a 4-1 victory over Magnet Cove in the Class 2A baseball state championship game Friday in Baum Stadium.
Huneycutt went the distance for the Warriors to help the school win its second state championship en route to earning Most Valuable Player honors. In five state tournament games, Ouachita pitchers allowed five total runs.
"He's been strong for us all year," Ouachita Coach Trent Wilson said of Huneycutt. "He's gone through a little bit of adversity this year, had a couple of rough outings, but he found a way to get through it.
"Today he was just unstoppable."
Magnet Cove Coach Robert Webb said Huneycutt kept his team off balance the entire game, using his change-up effectively. Ouachita defeated Magnet Cove (15-7) four times this season.
"That pitcher, he is tough," Webb said. "I've watched him all year. He's got such a good change-up and we just couldn't stay back on it."
The Warriors collected 10 hits, led by first baseman Alex Volz, who was 3 for 3 with 1 RBI. Volz also made a terrific defensive play at first base that probably prevented an extra-base hit for Magnet Cove.
Ouachita took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Dillan Jennings singled and scored. Jennings also singled and scored in the third inning to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead, but it was his defensive play in the sixth inning that may have been the difference.
Magnet Cove's Cane Edwards, who had two of the Panthers' three hits, and Brandon Stovall singled for the Panthers in the sixth inning. Tyler Hilborn tried to lay down a bunt but instead popped it up. Jennings reached up and snatched the ball for the out, and Ouachita escaped the jam with a fly-out to end the inning.
"The bunt game has really worked for us in the regional and state tournament," Webb said. "We just foul tipped it right back to the catcher. I was hoping maybe to catch them asleep a little bit."
Ouachita scored twice in the fifth inning on back-to-back doubles by Huneycutt and Hunter McDade. Volz drove McDade in with an RBI single for a 4-1 lead.
"Alex has been our X-factor all year," Wilson said. "The guys give him a hard time. He's one of those kind of clowns on the team, but he steps up when we need him."
Huneycutt locked it down in the seventh inning and ended the game with his seventh strikeout, setting off a celebration of hats and gloves being tossed in the air before a dogpile ensued on the mound.
"This is the best feeling I've had in a long time," Wilson said.
Sports on 05/23/2015