CLASS 5A BASEBALL

Small proves big

Magnolia sacrifices effectively to cap title run

Magnolia players pile on the infield after beating Sylvan Hills 4-1 to win the Class 5A state championship Saturday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.
Magnolia players pile on the infield after beating Sylvan Hills 4-1 to win the Class 5A state championship Saturday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Magnolia's most effective offense Saturday afternoon was the sacrifice.

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Special to the NWA Democrat-Gazette

Magnolia junior pitcher Matt Goodheart gets set to deliver a pitch against Sylvan Hills in the Class 5A state baseball championship game. Goodheart finished with five strikeouts and walked only one to lead the Panthers to a 4-1 victory and their second crown in the past six seasons.

The Panthers put down three successful sacrifice bunts, all of which led to runs, helping them earn a 4-1 victory over Sylvan Hills in the Class 5A state championship game at Baum Stadium.

2016 state champions

CLASS 7A

TEAM COACH RECORD

Bryant Kirk Bock 31-2

CLASS 6A

TEAM COACH RECORD

Jonesboro Mark Dobson 22-8

CLASS 5A

TEAM COACH RECORD

Magnolia Bobby Beeson 22-6

CLASS 4A

TEAM COACH RECORD

Shiloh Chr. Moe Henry 15-10

CLASS 3A

TEAM COACH RECORD

Horatio Lance Spigner 25-6

CLASS 2A

TEAM COACH RECORD

Woodlawn Tommy Richardson 29-2

CLASS 1A

TEAM COACH RECORD

Armorel Charles Brown 20-8

Magnolia also picked up clutch pitching from junior Matt Goodheart and a couple of timely hits to earn its second state title in the last six years.

"Matt did an unbelievable job mixing his speeds and locating his fastball on both sides of the plate," Magnolia first-year Coach Bobby Beeson said. "We did some scouting on [Sylvan Hills] and knew we could have some effect if we could throw some inside fastballs. Matt threw on the inner half better today than he has all year long."

Sylvan Hills (24-7) held an 8-6 advantage in hits and Magnolia committed all three of the game's errors, but thanks to the sacrifices and timely hits, it was the South's No. 4-seeded team that came away with the championship.

Magnolia freshman Dayton Dickson drove in two runs with a single in the fourth inning. The Panthers (22-6) added a run in the fifth and scored their final run in the seventh on a single by junior Jay French.

"They got the hits at the right time," said Sylvan Hills Coach Denny Tipton, who was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Matt Hamm in the top of the seventh inning. "That's the bottom line. They got their hits at the key moment and we didn't. I think we left runners on base in every inning."

Sylvan Hills sophomore Ryan Lumpkin singled to start the second inning and moved to second on a throwing error. Senior Carson Sanders followed with a base hit to move Lumpkin to third. After a strikeout, sophomore designated hitter Kyle Clayton drove in the run with a ground out.

Magnolia took the lead for good in the fourth. Junior Parker Ribble started the inning with a single and senior Caleb Ward drew a walk. After a sacrifice by senior Thomas Prince moved the runners to second and third, Dickson lined his hit to left field to score both Ribble and Ward.

Lynch opened the fifth inning with a single. Senior Alex Fogo attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Lynch beat the throw to second. Goodheart followed with a sacrifice bunt that the Bears again were unsuccessful trying to get the lead runner.

"We work on our bunting probably 20 to 25 minutes every practice," Beeson said. "It really worked today. Bunting puts a lot of pressure on high school kids, especially when you can get them down. It put pressure on them and good things happened for us."

"They are very well coached," Tipton said. "You've just got to make plays. There were a couple of times that we put ourselves in a bind. They put down some good bunts to put us in a bind. That was their four runs."

In the seventh, Lynch singled and moved to second on a ground out. After an intentional walk to Goodheart, French singled to shallow right field. Catcher Nick Fakouri got the ball in time to put the tag on Lynch, but Fakouri dropped the ball. The catcher picked the ball up and re-tagged Lynch, but Hamm ruled Lynch had touched home plate before the second tag.

"I knew [Fakouri] dropped it but I thought [Lynch] went wide and didn't tag home plate," Tipton said. "It's a 3-1 ballgame. I've got to fight for my kids. ... At that juncture of the game, every run is key."

Goodheart struck out five and walked one.

Fakouri started and picked up the loss. The sophomore struck out 4 and walked 2 in 3 1/3 innings. Mackenzie finished out the contest, going 3 2/3 innings, striking out 2 and walking 2.

Sports on 05/22/2016

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