Stories by Rick Fires
RSSTwo Tied For Lead At Junior Open
Jordan Griffith is tied for first place after the opening round of the KPMG Stacy Lewis Junior Open. Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: Summer Busier Than Before
Athletes Train Year-Round
My head was apparently stuck in the 1970s as I approached Springdale Har-Ber coach Chris Wood following the Wildcats’ spring game a few weeks ago. Continue reading...
The Full Nelson
BELLA VISTA MAN, 65, COMPLETES APPALACHIAN TRAIL HIKE
Doug Nelson of Bella Vista was driving in North Carolina two years ago when he spotted a sign promoting the nation’s most popular hiking trail. Continue reading...
Naturals Upend Travelers
Prades Lifts Northwest Arkansas With Single In Seventh Inning
Northwest Arkansas wasn’t deterred by a three-run, first-inning deficit against Arkansas on Sunday. Continue reading...
Pair Forever Linked
Ex-Basketball Players Shined
I couldn’t help but think of Corliss Williamson and the Russellville Cyclones after reading that Jason Kidd had retired last week. Continue reading...
McFadden Looking To Rejuvenate NFL Career
Darren McFadden has grown accustomed to life in the NFL, where rosters are adjusted weekly and players come and go quickly. Continue reading...
Abshier In Control
Prairie Grove Coach Maintains Team, Turf His Way
Danny Abshier recalls vividly when he vowed to take over the maintenance of Tiger Stadium in addition to his duties as football coach at Prairie Grove. Continue reading...
New Lakeside Program To Begin With Football
September 5th promises to be another important date in the history of athletics for Springdale Public Schools. Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: Protect Young Arms
Doctors Share Tips
It is standard for sports reporters following baseball games to ask a coach his team’s record and the record of his pitcher. Continue reading...
Mathew Making a Name For Himself As Har-Ber Athlete
Sain Mathew didn’t have a lot of name recognition as a varsity athlete beginning his junior year at Springdale Har-Ber. Continue reading...
Naturals Continue Downward Slide
Perhaps tonight’s temporary name change will help the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Continue reading...
Medina Turns Har-Ber Into Champs
Springdale Har-Ber was fortunate when it decided to upgrade its boys soccer program. Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: Gardner Knows Scares
Tornadoes Nothing New
Jarrett Gardner was on an 11-hour bus ride to Traverse City, Mich., when he learned an F5 tornado was approaching his hometown of Moore, Okla. Continue reading...
Williams Spurns Dallas For Har-Ber
Adeline Williams didn’t play soccer as a freshman at Springdale Har-Ber, choosing instead to participate in a youth developmental league in Dallas. Continue reading...
Four-Year Terror
Kincaid punishes Prairie Grove’s opponents
Aaron Kincaid’s impact on the Prairie Grove baseball program is reflected in the Tigers’ 75-23 record over the past four seasons. Continue reading...
Pianalto Sharp In Har-Ber Scrimmage
Quarterback Kyle Pianalto stepped back Thursday and heaved long touchdown passes on consecutive plays to wide receivers Gus Vitt and Matt Garrison. Continue reading...
Players Get Chance To Impress
Springdale Har-Ber football players will get a final chance in full gear today to make an impression on their coaches before breaking for the summer. Continue reading...
Cummings Begins Comeback
Senior's Strong Return From Injury Key To Success For Lincoln
Tyler Cummings was anticipating another big season last August after rushing for 1,480 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore. Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: State Softball Steps Up
Games Played At Fast Pace
The consensus is that the Arkansas Razorbacks are best when they have a core of in-state players as a foundation. Continue reading...
Dassero Answers Call For Fullback
Wood Says Har-Ber Rising Senior 'Perfect Fit'
Springdale Har-Ber coach Chris Wood knew who to turn to for help after losing his top three running backs to graduation. Continue reading...
Man For All Seasons
Naturals can count on canham to fill in where needed
Mitch Canham had already played 14 innings in left field for Northwest Arkansas on May 11 when he got the call. Continue reading...
Naturals Begin Homestand At Tulsa
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals will make a pit-stop in Tulsa tonight before returning home to face the Drillers. Continue reading...
Lady Mounties Sharp In Win Over Lady Rebels
Rogers High coach Mike Harper received a nice send-off late Saturday afternoon before rushing to watch his daughter graduate from high school. Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: Aces Warrant Attention
I don’t play fantasy baseball but if I did, I’d challenge you with a pitching staff of right-hander A.J. Burnett and left-handers Cliff Lee, Travis Wood, and Drew Smyly. Continue reading...
Lady Purple’Dogs Fall
NORTH LITTLE ROCK CHARGES INTO 7A FINALS WITH 3-1 WIN
Sensing victory, North Little Rock pitcher Kaleigh Wynne hurried a couple of pitches in the seventh inning against Fayetteville Saturday. Continue reading...
Wynne Overpowers Wildcats
Kaleigh Wynne got a second chance in the fourth inning when her apparent inning-ending double play grounder toward third base was ruled a foul ball. Continue reading...
Har-Ber Finishes Off Lady Bears
Springdale Har-Ber finished what it started at the Class 7A state softball tournament Friday.
Continue reading...
Hoskins Provides Spark For Lady Bulldogs
Fayetteville needed something positive to happen while trailing Cabot by a run in the fourth inning. Continue reading...
Lady Tigers Feast On Belles In Opener
Bentonville made it quick and easy Thursday in the opening game of the Class 7A state softball tournament. Continue reading...
SOFTBALL NOTEBOOK: Heritage Hopes To Ride Late Momentum
Rogers Heritage put itself in a must-win situation in its final regular-season game against crosstown rival Rogers High, but the Lady War Eagles passed that test with flying colors. Continue reading...
Tice Preserves Regional Title For Tigers
Farmington appeared on the verge of a comeback after Ty Tice walked in a run in the championship game of the Class 4A North Regional Tournament. Continue reading...
Gomez Leads Charge
Springdale Har-Ber Stuns 7A/6A-West Conference
Before this season, Springdale Har-Ber was a losing soccer program in a city where its chief rival, Springdale High, was the defending state champion. Continue reading...
State Baseball Notebook: Mounties On Roll Entering Tournament
Rogers High is on a roll entering the Class 7A State Tournament. The Mounties are hosting the tournament and will face the No. 5 seed from the 7A-Central at noon on Thursday at Veterans Park. Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: Panthers Await Word
School Seeks Reclassification
Siloam Springs and Mountain Home have a kinship in that both are square pegs the Arkansas Activities Association tries to muscle into round holes. Continue reading...
Har-Ber Out To Fix Problems
Springdale Har-Ber coach Chris Wood doesn’t hesitate when asked what went wrong in 2012. Continue reading...
Andrade’s Drive Lands Him At Duquesne
Springdale Har-Ber track coach Brett Unger was driving toward the school Wednesday when he saw someone running near campus. Continue reading...
Har-Ber Survives Feisty Bulldogs
Springdale High played a spirited game Wednesday, but the Bulldogs still couldn’t overtake Springdale Har-Ber. Continue reading...
Mathew Emerging As Two-Sport Athlete For Har-Ber
Sain Mathew and Dino Andrade will lead the Springdale Har-Ber boys into the Class 7A state track meet at Bentonville today. Continue reading...
Harris Powers Wildcats Past Bulldogs
Landry Harris made up for the weak popup he hit with the bases loaded for Springdale Har-Ber in the first inning Tuesday. Continue reading...
Prep Baseball Notebook: Fayetteville Locks Up Conference Crown, Closes In On Top Seed
The quirky Arkansas Activities Association power rankings system has reared its ugly head in the chase for the top seed in the 7A/6A-West Conference baseball standings. Continue reading...
Vogel Displays Heart in Return to Baseball Diamond
Har-Ber Senior Forced Off The Field For Four Years
Few sights are more Americana than an eight-year-old boy who scrambles back to first base after getting a hit and receives a high-five from his dad, who is coaching nearby. Continue reading...
Commentary: Pianalto Working to Revive Career
While most football fans were focused on the NFL draft, former Springdale High standout Zack Pianalto was busy attempting to revive his professional career. Continue reading...
Lady Mounties Look To Build Momentum
Rogers High is coming off a big win over Springdale Har-Ber and the Lady Mounties will look to build momentum heading into the Class 7A State Tournament when they play crosstown rival Rogers Heritage. A Lady Mounties win could vault them to the No. 3 seed from the West. Continue reading...
Rogers Overtakes Lady Wildcats On Senior Night
As if the cold and rain weren’t bad enough, Rogers High helped ruin Senior Night for Springdale Har-Ber. Continue reading...
PREP BASEBALL NOTEBOOK: Springdale Har-Ber’s Thompson Questionable After Injury
Springdale Har-Ber could be without its top pitcher for Thursday’s 7A/6A-West Conference doubleheader against Rogers Heritage. Continue reading...
Stumbaugh Shines At Meet
Payton Stumbaugh continues to shine in her return from a lower back injury. Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: Bowlin’s Work Pays Off
Persistence Lands Job
It pays to be a pest when searching for a job. Continue reading...
Har-Ber Takes Down Fayetteville Soccer
Springdale Har-Ber used a second-half comeback Friday to remain undefeated in 7A/6A-West Conference boys soccer play. Continue reading...
Tumey Saves Lady War Eagles
Kaitlyn Tumey’s big eyes got even bigger when Kylie Buttram sent a long fly fly to left field in the seventh inning of Rogers Heritage’s game with Springdale Har-Ber. Continue reading...
Prep Baseball Notebook: Mounties Look To Keep Momentum
Rogers High will look to take another step toward the Class 7A State Tournament when it travels to Siloam Springs today for a 7A/6A-West Conference doubleheader. Continue reading...




























