Pleimann excels on the mound and at the plate for Fayetteville

NWA Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER Fayetteville's Miller Pleimann has been a force on the mound and at the plate this season for the Purple Bulldogs.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER Fayetteville's Miller Pleimann has been a force on the mound and at the plate this season for the Purple Bulldogs.

Fayetteville

Poor defense has cost the Purple Bulldogs (16-9-1) some games this season, so Fayetteville coach Scott Gallagher admitted that's been a focal point in practice lately.

"We've played better and as a result we haven't given up a whole lot of runs," Gallagher said. "I think we made one error in the last three games and that came when we were up 11-1. We've hit it and pitched pretty consistently. But fielding is the one thing that's been most inconsistent."

Fayetteville swept Springdale High this week and will now get set for a big two-game set against Van Buren beginning on Monday. The Pointers are 7-3 in 7A-West conference play with four games remaining and are currently third, while Fayetteville is 7-5 with only two left and is fourth.

"It's big since it gives us a chance to flip-flop the standings and we can get the tiebreaker on them if we can sweep," Gallagher said. "It's big for us to keep momentum going into the state tournament."

Senior Miller Pleimann, who has signed with Wichita State, has been an anchor on the mound, going 4-2 with a 1.95 ERA, but he's also been a surprise at the plate, Gallagher said. Pleimann plays first base when he's not pitching.

"I don't know if he had an at-bat for us last year," Gallagher said. "We hit him all the time now and he's been a catalyst for us hitting in the two hole. We started him in the seven- or eight-hole. Going into (Tuesday) he was hitting .350. He's really been Mr. Consistency for us."

Junior Jackson Down is another player, who has caught fire with the bat recently, and is close with Pleimann for the team lead in batting average.

"He didn't have a varsity at-bat last year and was spot playing early," Gallagher said. "But he's a kid who works the count and started down in the order, but we've been hitting him in the three-hole the last couple weeks."

Farmington

The Cardinals (13-7) have admittedly surprised coach Jay Harper this season and will host Harrison on Friday with the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Class 5A-West Conference tournament on the line.

"I can't express how proud I am of these guys," Harper said. "We weren't expecting a lot honestly. We lost 10 seniors from a good group, 92 percent of our offensive production and three of our top five pitchers. But kids have taken on new roles and done some things we've been surprised about.

"It's been great to see guys step up. We're playing a bunch of first-year seniors and sophomores and a couple juniors."

Farmington edged Harrison 2-0 in the earlier meeting, so the Goblins will need to not only win, but must do it by at least three runs to capture the top seed.

Senior Derek Perona is 6-1 on the mound, while sophomore Drew Sturgeon has been a spark at the top of the lineup. Senior Hayden VanLaningham is one who has stepped forward this season.

"Hayden is second on the team in average and leads us in RBIs," Harper said. "He's one who hasn't played much until this year, but I couldn't be more proud of him. He's waited his time, worked hard and produced for us."

Junior Eric Hill leads the team in batting average, while freshman second baseman Tate Sutton has also been a force offensively, hitting around .360.

Whatever happens on Friday, Farmington will still host a first-round tournament game on Monday against either Maumelle or Morrilton. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.

Life Way Christian

The Life Way Christian baseball program is 10 years old under the guidance of coach Matt Klamm, but the Warriors were allowed to play other area schools for the first time this season after moving to the Heartland Christian Athletic Association.

The Warriors (4-7) finished a regular-season schedule that was limited by some rain-outs and cancellations, Klamm said. They will play Friday in the conference tournament in Oklahoma City against Wesleyan Christian Academy of Bartlesville, Okla.

Life Way, a small private school located in Centerton with a little more than 500 students, had previously competed in the Arkansas Christian Schools Association. But moved to the nationally accredited Heartland, which also includes Providence Academy in Rogers, Union Christian in Fort Smith and Southwest Christian Academy in Little Rock along with other schools in Kansas and Oklahoma.

Klamm said the team struggled early, but picked up wins over Berryville and Gentry, both Class 4A schools. But the future is bright with no seniors on the 14-man roster. Junior Connor Floyd has been solid on the mound, picking up the win against Berryville.

"We started 0-4, but over the last two weeks we finally found our rhythm," Klamm said. "I'm excited about how we were able to compete against the 2A, 3A and 4A schools."

Lavaca

The Golden Arrows (13-3) have already secured a spot in next week's regional tournament, but are aiming for the 2A-4 West tournament title.

Lavaca, the top seed, takes on Danville in the tournament semifinals on Friday. The Golden Arrows have beaten the Little Johns twice already this season, but coach Greg Pair Jr. said that doesn't mean a thing.

"We only beat them 4-3 the first time," Pair said. "They are scrappy."

Pair said his team has done a good job of reducing strikeouts at the plate in the second half of the season, which he hopes continues into the post season.

"Our defense has really stepped up the last five or six games, too," Pair said.

The regional tournament will also be played at Magazine and will begin on Thursday, May 3.

Pea Ridge

The Blackhawks (15-6) lost several key components from last year's Class 4A state quarterfinalist, but coach John King said his group has made good progress.

"We had a decent group coming back and thought they would improve and they have," King said. "The pitching has held up. We've had some growing pains, but that's part of it."

Pea Ridge returns just three full-time starters in seniors Jakota Sainsbury, Hayden Holtgrewe and junior Tyler Odell. Senior Bradley Wright and junior Landon Allison also saw some varsity playing time a year ago.

Pea Ridge earned the No. 2 seed in the 4A-1 conference tournament and will take on Berryville today in a game that was postponed Wednesday because of rain.

Sainsbury has been the team's top hitter and he's also been strong on the mound. Odell has also done well on the mound.

Pitching has been an overall strength, King said. He also noted the play of junior Will Feemster behind the plate.

Preps Basketball on 04/26/2018

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