Texarkana back on American Legion's biggest stage

Texarkana’s Nick Myers (6) and the Razorbacks will compete in the American Legion World Series this weekend for only the second time in the program’s 57-year existence.
Texarkana’s Nick Myers (6) and the Razorbacks will compete in the American Legion World Series this weekend for only the second time in the program’s 57-year existence.

Texarkana will compete in the American Legion World Series this weekend for only the second time in the program's 57-year existence.

The Razorbacks are the first Arkansas Legion program to qualify for the World Series since the Jonesboro Ricemen earned a berth in 2008.

At a glance

AMERICAN LEGION World Series

at Shelby, N.C.

STARS DIVISION

TEAM W-L

Cumberland, R.I. 1-0

San Mateo, Calif. 0-0

Texarkana 0-0

Leesburg, Va. 0-1

STRIPES DIVISION

TEAM W-L

Omaha, Neb. 1-0

Rockport, Ind. 1-0

Kennewick, Wash. 0-1

Salisbury, N.C. 0-1

Thursday’s games

Omaha, Neb. 14. Kennewick, Wash. 5

Rockport, Ind. 6, Salisbury, N.C. 3

Cumberland, R.I. 9, Leesburg, Va. 2

Today’s games All times Central

Texarkana vs. San Mateo, Calif., 11:30 a.m.

Salisbury, N.C., vs. Omaha, Neb., 3 p.m.

Rockport Ind., vs. Kennewick, Wash., 6:30 p.m.

Saturday’s games

Leesburg, Va., vs. San Mateo, Calif., 11:30 p.m

Cumberland, R.I., vs. Texarkana, 3 p.m.

Rockport, Ind., vs. Omaha, Neb., 6:30 p.m.

Sunday’s games

Salisbury, N.C., vs. Kennewich, Wash., noon

Leesburg, Va., vs. Texarkana, 3 p.m.

Cumberland, R.I., vs. San Mateo, Calif., 6:30 p.m.

"Our program has been around for 57 years," Texarkana Manager Dane Peavy said. "You don't get the opportunity very often, and we want to make the most of it."

Eight regional tournament winners will compete in the two-division, round-robin event starting today in Shelby, N.C., which has been the World Series host for the past five years.

The top two teams in each division will advance to Monday's semifinals. The semifinal winners will play for the championship at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Texarkana will open World Series play against San Mateo, Calif., at 11:30 a.m. today.

The Razorbacks' only other visit to the World Series came in 1990 when the tournament was held in Corvallis, Ore.

Texarkana (37-4) qualified for the World Series in highly unusual fashion. The Razorbacks lost their first-round regional game to Pontotoc, Miss., but battled back to win their next four games. They were scheduled to play Bryant in the championship game Sunday, but that game was rained out and moved to Monday.

However, after more rain was forecast Monday, Legion officials canceled the championship game and awarded the regional title to Texarkana based on the Razorbacks' 6-5 victory over Bryant earlier in the tournament.

Texarkana finished the tournament with a .268 batting average and a 3.40 ERA. Third baseman Logan Vidrine led the Razorbacks in hitting, going 7 for 16 (.438) with a team-high 4 RBI.

Texarkana gave up 17 earned runs in the regional, but the Razorbacks did have their moments on the mound. Tanner Vaught had eight strikeouts and a no-hitter for 72/3 innings vs. Ada, Okla., before surrendering a late 3-0 lead. The Razorbacks eventually won the game 7-4 in 11 innings.

Patrick Flanagan was roughed up in the opener but bounced back to throw an eight-hit shutout vs. Sedalia, Mo., on Sunday. Austin Cross struck out six in eight innings in a 4-1 victory over Reserve, La.

Every team the Razorbacks are scheduled to play this weekend had a batting average of .285 or better during regional tournaments.

"Obviously, every team there is pretty legit," Peavy said. "My guys are excited and ready to play. We'll compete like we have all year."

Here is a look at all three teams the Razorbacks are scheduled to play:

Leesburg, Va.

Regional record: 4-1.

Outscored opponents: 38-30.

Team batting average: .313.

Leading hitters: Left fielder Matt Eberhart .412 (7 of 17, 6 RBI); right fielder T.J. Holdridge .353 (6 of 17, 7 RBI).

Team ERA: 4.50.

Leading pitchers: Kurtis Meyer 1-0, 1.29 ERA, 7.0 innings; Zach Lockhart 1-0, 2.00 ERA, 9.0 innings.

San Mateo, Calif.

Regional record: 5-0.

Outscored opponents: 57-28.

Team batting average: .366.

Leading hitters: center fielder Tyler Villaroman .609 (14 of 23, 5 RBI), shortstop Angelo Bortolin .520 (13 of 25, 2 home runs and 13 RBI).

Team ERA: 5.02.

Leading pitchers: Ramon Enriquez 1-0, 2.25 ERA, 8 innings; Felix Aberouette 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 6.1 innings.

Cumberland, R.I.

Regional record: 4-1.

Outscored opponents: 30-28.

Team batting average: .285.

Leading hitters: second baseman Joshua Brodeur .400 (8 of 20, 9 RBI), first baseman Christopher Wright .389 (7 of 18, 1 triple, 4 RBI).

Team ERA: 4.00.

Leading pitchers: Ryan Brehlo 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 8.0 innings; Nick Crowe 0-0, 1.12 ERA, 8.0 innings; Christopher Wright 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 6.0 innings, 11 strikeouts.

Sports on 08/12/2016

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