FAYETTEVILLE -- Baseball fans from Horatio arrived at Baum Stadium Saturday wearing shirts that read "Feed the Fire."
The Lions did just that with a 7-0 victory over Booneville in the Class 3A state championship game. It is the fifth state championship since 1997 for Horatio (25-6), which ended a 10-game winning streak for Booneville (24-5).
Horatio received a dominant pitching performance from Tanner Vaught, who threw a 2-hit shutout. The senior right-hander finished the season 12-0 and needed only 88 pitches to secure the championship. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter.
Vaught, who will play next season at Southern Arkansas, was selected the Most Valuable Player of the Class 3A state tournament.
"He was on today, no doubt about it." Horatio Coach Lance Spigner said.
Booneville contributed to its defeat, especially in the sixth inning when Horatio scored five runs on one hit. Booneville committed two of its four errors in the innings, including a high throw past third base that allowed two runs to score.
Booneville pitchers also hit three batters in the inning and walked two.
"The game should've been about 3-0, if we'd played the game right" Booneville Coach Darby Ulmer said. "We didn't handle it well at times, but we are a youthful team. This was great experience for our young guys."
Horatio started five seniors; Booneville took the field with a team loaded with sophomores and freshmen.
Freshman pitcher Brandon Ulmer got the start and the loss after allowing five hits and two runs in 3 1/3 innings.
Treyce Young and Cole Boyd each had two hits for Horatio, which collected eight hits and made two errors. Boyd had a triple and single to lead the Lions.
Hayden Fennell and Trent Wooldridge each had a single off Vaught, who entered the game with a 1.01 earned run average.
"This is a big stage and I think our experience had a lot to do with it," Spigner said of the outcome. "I've watched every state final here since 1999 and I can't tell you how many bunts were thrown to the tarp (behind first base) or down the left-field line. Bunts and throwing errors usually play a big part and we had two today."
Sports on 05/22/2016