Har-Ber leads 7A-West with solid all-around play

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Springdale Har-Ber's Mac McCroskey (6) slides to home for a score during a 7A-West Conference baseball game at the Tiger Athletic Complex in Bentonville. McCroskey has been a table-setter at the top of the lineup this season for the league-leading Wildcats.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Springdale Har-Ber's Mac McCroskey (6) slides to home for a score during a 7A-West Conference baseball game at the Tiger Athletic Complex in Bentonville. McCroskey has been a table-setter at the top of the lineup this season for the league-leading Wildcats.

Springdale Har-Ber

The Wildcats (21-2, 9-1 7A-West), who finished as Class 7A state runner-up a year ago, have won 14 straight games and sit atop the 7A-West Conference with only a couple of weeks left before the state tournament.

Har-Ber coach Ron Bradley said a combination of strong pitching and defense has been a big part of his team's recipe for success.

"We won back-to-back games this week against Fayetteville and didn't make an error," Bradley said. "In high school baseball, that's very unusual. But we feel like that's a strong suit of our ballclub. As far as conference, we're in control of our own destiny and that's what where we want to be."

Offense hasn't been a problem for Har-Ber either as the Wildcats have averaged more than 8.5 runs per game during their winning streak.

"Blaze Brothers is really the guy who's been our catalyst at the top of the lineup," Bradley said. "Mac McCroskey has swung the bat well the past three weeks and then Blake Adams in the three hole. But Jake Williams has capitalized in situations where they walk or pitch around Adams.

"Our catcher Trevor Brown has also come up big and he's really an asset handling our pitching staff. Our pitchers have a lot of confidence that they can throw that breaking pitch in the dirt with a runner on third and he's going to block it."

Depth on the pitching staff also is especially big heading into postseason. Left-hander Jack Lisle, junior Landon McAlister and seniors Leighton Alexander and Treshon Paschal give Bradley lots of options other than Adams and Blake Benson, who have been their recent conference starters.

"We've been able to keep those starters fresh for the stretch," Bradley said. "We're able to use right-hand and left-hand matchups late in games. Most of the time in high school you don't have that opportunity."

Har-Ber faces Van Buren, which is still jockeying for a state tournament berth, then takes on last-place Rogers Heritage.

Greenland

The Pirates (18-4) wrapped up the conference title with a hard-fought 5-3 win over rival Elkins earlier this week keyed by several seniors.

Greenland hasn't lost this season to a Class 3A opponent. The Pirates' only in-state losses have come to Class 4A Shiloh Christian, 5A Farmington and 6A Mountain Home.

Senior Chandler Alaniz hit a two-run home run to snap a 3-3 tie and classmate Hunter Cartwright came on to throw two scoreless innings in relief of Austin Anderson. Greenland coach Will McGinnis said his four seniors have been instrumental in their success all season.

"That's how you're supposed to do it," McGinnis said. "Austin Anderson threw one of his better games. Chandler hits a big home run and Hunter comes in and closes the door. That's like it should be rolling home. Will Overton threw one of the best games I've seen him throw against Pea Ridge earlier this week, too.

"At the end of the day, they have done a great job embracing that role as leaders and that quality leadership they have given us and those four are a big reason for our success."

Greenland will take on the Cedarville-Mansfield winner on Friday, April 27 in the district tournament at Elkins. But first, the Pirates will celebrate senior night tonight with a doubleheader against Westville, Okla.

Shiloh Christian

The Saints (14-5) also recently completed an undefeated run through their conference and coach Moe Henry likes the way his team is playing as they head toward the postseason.

"We've had a good combination of offense and defense playing together,"Henry said. "I'm proud of them and excited about the way they are playing."

Shiloh Christian, which finished as the state runner-up in Class 4A last season, closes the regular season against Mountain Home today and will face tournament host Lincoln in the first round of the district tournament next week. The Saints have won eight in a row, outscoring their opponents 102-14 during that stretch, and have been led by a strong group of 12 seniors, Henry said.

But sophomore left-hander Walker Williams has been a standout on the mound lately, while senior left fielder Jake Nelson leads the Saints at the plate.

"His last two outings have been incredible," Henry said. "In one he struck out 11 and went 3-for-3 at the plate and then on Monday, he struck out 18 and threw a no-hitter.

"Jake's leading us in batting average. He's one who was a true starter as a ninth-grader."

Rogers High

The Mounties (16-5, 8-2 7A-West) slipped out of a first-place tie in the 7A-West Conference this week thanks to a 7-6 loss at Bentonville on Tuesday.

Rogers will try to bounce back with a couple of nonconference game in Lawrence, Kan.

The middle of the Mounties' batting order has been consistent this season, along with lead-off man Jeb Sample, coach Matt Melson said.

"Jeb's not a proto-typical lead-ff guy but you look up at the end of the day and he's got a .630 on-base and we've got big hits from Hayden Seldomridge, McKaden Templeton and Matthew Watson. That's a pretty potent three-four-five.

"On the mound, McKaden is one of those kids who maybe hasn't pitched his best game, but the opponent doesn't have anything to show for it. It's a case where whenever he pitches his best, you've gonna win. If he doesn't pitch well, you still have a shot to win."

Mason Griffin has worked into the closer's role in the past few weeks and has four saves to go with three wins. Matthew and Jay Watson have also been solid on the mound."

"We played four games in Arizona and Mason closed two of them," Melson said. "We like him in that role, he's been a bulldog. He gives us some velocity and a different look."

Preps Basketball on 04/19/2018

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