CONWAY, ARKANSAS - For Ashdown's baseball program, the sixth time was finally the charm.
The Panthers, who were stymied in five previous appearances in the championship game, at last broke through on Friday as they got a strong pitching performance from Kyler Jones and made a third-inning lead stand as Ashdown won state for the first time in program history with a 4-1 win against Genoa Central for the Class 3A championship at the University of Central Arkansas.
Ashdown (27-8) reached the title game in 2004, 2014, 2016, 2022 and 2023, but came away empty-handed each time. Friday, though, the Panthers finally had their moment in the sun.
"It feels great; we've worked so hard for this," senior first baseman Tyler Porter, who drove in two runs, said. "I mean, how many great teams came through here and we were the first, it's just crazy; it doesn't seem real to me at all."
Porter and other Panthers also insisted they didn't want to be burdened by the previous history of coming up short in title contests, and made sure Friday was literally a brand new day.
"We've worked hard for this; we've been in this situation before and we knew that if we had a chance, we were going to win it," Porter said.
Porter drove in the eventual go-ahead run with a successful squeeze bunt in the bottom of the third, scoring Braeden "Wood" Walton to break a 1-all score. Porter then added a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, also scoring Walton to put Ashdown up 3-1.
Walton, a senior, went 2-for-4 and his two hits both led off innings, which eventually resulted in runs.
"Coach (Jordan O'Bannon) has always been harping on us on our approach, (to) always approach fastballs, so I just contributed it to the game, which led us to runs, and which led us to the win," Walton said.
"To be the first one to ever do it (winning state), that's just a crazy feeling. Not to mention, we also won it in track, too, in almost a decade so it's truly a blessing."
Ashdown made it 4-1 in the sixth when Kutter Dollarhide singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Genoa Central (21-8) got two on with two out in the top of the seventh, but Walt Jones - who came in to pitch that inning for Ashdown - got a strikeout, and the Panthers finally got that long-awaited victory dogpile.
Kyler Jones pitched the first six innings for the Panthers, giving up one earned un on four hits, striking out three. He was named the game's MVP afterward.
Buck Ringgold
"I wouldn't say (I pitched) the game of my life; I would say that I got the job done," Jones said. "And all I was thinking about out there was have somebody's back, every pitch, and just trying to get a win for my guys."
The top three batters in Ashdown's order (Dollarhide, Walt Jones and Walton), each went 2-for-4. Dollarhide drove in the Panthers' first run in the second on a fielder's choice grounder, which tied the score at 1-all.
Genoa Central's Nathaniel Thomas went 2-for-3, and also drove in the Dragons' lone run in the top of the second with an RBI single, scoring Camron Bush.
Buck Ringgold
UPDATES
A pair of teams from the southwest corner of Arkansas square off for a state baseball title at the University of Central Arkansas.
Ashdown takes on Genoa Central Friday morning for the Class 3A baseball championship during the Arkansas Activities Association's "Weekend of Champions" taking place at the UCA campus in Conway.
Entering the game, Ashdown's Panthers come in with a record of 23-8, while the Dragons of Genoa Central come in at 21-7. Ashdown is in its sixth state title game but the Panthers are still seeking their first championship, while Genoa Central is in its third final, with the Dragons attempting to go 3-for-3, having won in each of their previous two appearances, in 2012 and again in 2014.
Follow The Sporting News correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from Conway.
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ASHDOWN 4, GENOA CENTRAL 1 FINAL
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SEVENTH INNING
- ASHDOWN HAS DONE IT, as for the first time in program history, the Panthers are state champs. Walt Jones gets a strikeout to end the game, as Ashdown prevails, 4-1.
- Genoa Central stays alive by working a walk. Two on with two out, and the Dragons bring the tying run to the plate.
- Strikeout from Walt Jones. Ashdown is one out away from finally winning it all in baseball.
- Will Spears singles with one out for Genoa Central.
- Ground ball to second base. One out.
- Walt Jones coming into the game at pitcher to close things out for the Panthers. Kyler Jones went the first six innings and allowed one earned run on four hits, striking out three.
SIXTH INNING
- Line out to end the inning. Last chance for Genoa Central, as the Dragons trail by three runs. (Ashdown, 4-1 | T7)
- Two outs, Ashdown has a runner on second.
- Ashdown adds some insurance. Kutter Dollarhide singles to lead off the last of the sixth, goes to third on Walt Jones' base hit and then scores on a wild pitch. Three-run lead now for the Panthers. (Ashdown, 4-1 | B6)
- Quick top of the sixth for Ashdown P Kyler Jones. Jones retires the side in order, the third out coming on a strikeout. Jones has 95 pitches through six, as the Panthers are now three outs away from capturing their first state championship. (Ashdown, 3-1 | B6)
FIFTH INNING
- Genoa Central P Nicholas Wells gets a strikeout to end the fifth, as Ashdown strands runners at second and third. But the Panthers take a two-run advantage into the sixth. (Ashdown, 3-1 | T6)
- An errant pickoff throw attempt at second goes into the outfield, moving runners to second and third with two out. Ashdown can really break this one wide open here.
- RBI HIT ASHDOWN. Genoa Central P Nicholas Wells gets a double play off a lineout, but the next batter, Tyler Porter, singles into left center to bring in Braeden Walton. Two RBIs on the day now for Porter, as Ashdown extends its lead to two runs. (Ashdown, 3-1 | B5)
- Ashdown's Braeden "Wood" Walton leads off the bottom of the fifth with a single, then steals second and goes to third on an error. Nobody out.
- Chopper to third baseman Gunnar Altenbaumer, who fires it across the diamond, and WHAT A PICK by first baseman Tyler Porter to get the batter out by a step, ending the top of the fifth. Genoa Central strands two runners. (Ashdown, 2-1 | B5)
- Genoa Central has two runners on with two out in the top of the fifth, trailing by a run.
FOURTH INNING
- Genoa Central P Nicholas Wells retires the side in order in the last of the fourth. Wells has thrown 69 pitches through four innings, and has given up two earned runs on three hits, striking out two. Ashdown up by a run going to the fifth. (Ashdown, 2-1 | T5)
- Ashdown P Kyler Jones retires the last two batters to end the top of the fourth, as Genoa Central strands two runners. Jones has 72 pitches through four innings and has allowed one run on four hits, striking out two.
- Genoa Central has runners at first and second with one out in the top of the inning. (Ashdown, 2-1 | T4)
THIRD INNING
- Ashdown strands runners at second and third to end the third, but the Panthers take a one-run lead into the top of the fourth. (Ashdown, 2-1 | T4)
- Ashdown takes the lead as, with Braeden "Wood" Walton on third with one out, Tyler Porter lays down a successful bunt. Genoa Central throws to home, but Walton crosses the plate in time with the go-ahead run. Credit Porter with the sacrifice and an RBI. Panthers now up by a run. (Ashdown, 2-1 | B3)
- Ashdown's Braeden Walton leads off the bottom of the third with a single to left and immediately steals second. An opportunity for the Panthers to break through here.
- Ashdown P Kyler Jones gets out of trouble by getting the batter to hit a looper to shallow left, where Panther LF Mason Washington makes the catch. Still tied entering the last of the third. (1-1 | B3)
- Genoa Central has runners at first and second with two outs in the top of the third. (1-1 | T3)
SECOND INNING
- What a play by Genoa Central SS Braxton Robertson, who goes deep in the hole to field a grounder and then makes an incredible throw to first in time to retire the batter, keeping Ashdown from taking the lead as we have ended two full innings. Score remains tied. (1-1 | T3)
- Ashdown's Kutter Dollarhide beats out a double-play grounder, which keeps the inning alive and allows Tyler Porter to come in from third for the tying run. (1-1 | B2)
- Ashdown has something cooking in the bottom of the second. The Panthers have loaded the bases - all on walks - with one out. (Genoa Central, 1-0 | B2)
- RBI HIT GENOA CENTRAL. With one out, Nathaniel Thomas singles up the middle, as Camron Bush scores from second base after leading off the inning with a base hit. But the Dragons can't add any more runs as Ashdown P Kyler Jones gets out of things by inducing a double-play ball. (Genoa Central, 1-0 | T2)
FIRST INNING
- Ashdown begins the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles, but Genoa Central P Nicholas Wells gets a double play ball, and after the Panthers get runners on second and third, escapes the jam with a strikeout. Scoreless to the second. (0-0 | T2)
- Ashdown pitcher Kyler Jones retires the side in order in the top of the first with three ground ball outs. Panthers coming to bat in the bottom of the first. (0-0 | B1)
PREGAME
- Starting lineup for Ashdown: Kutter Dollarhide (2B); Walt Jones (SS); Wood Walton (CF); Gunnar Altenbaumer (3B); Mason Washington (LF); Tyler Porter (1B); Riley Williamson (RF); Taylor Mitchell (DH); Kyler Jones (P); Logan Johnson (C).
- Starting lineup for Genoa Central: Will Spears (2B); Brayden Cobb (LF); Braxton Robertson (SS); Camron Bush (RF); Riley Mudford (CF); Nicholas Wells (P); Nathaniel Thomas (C); Hayden Teer (1B); Brody Helms (DH); Gray Wallace (3B).
- Coming to you from Bear Stadium on the University of Central Arkansas campus in Conway, it's the Arkansas Class 3A state baseball championship game between Ashdown and Genoa Central. Ashdown will be the home team in this matchup.