Stories from Wednesday, May 15, 2024

By JOSEPH FONDREN Sports Connection Team HOT SPRINGS - The Gosnell Pirates advanced to the Class 3A state finals with a 10-3 victory Saturday over their rival, the Rivercrest Colts.  Next Saturday, at Estes Stadium in Conway, will be the Pirates first trip to the state championship game since the 1990 Pirates were crowned the champions. ...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team HOT SPRINGS - A three run seventh inning propelled Gosnell to a 4-1 victory over Harmony Grove in the opening round of the Class 3A State Tournament Thursday at Magic Park in Hot Springs. After two scoreless innings, the Cardinals touched Pirates starter Rylan Jenkins for a run in the bottom of the third when leadoff man Peyton Potter singled and later scored on a RBI single by Dax Hammett to make it 1-0 Harmony Grove...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team HOT SPRINGS - Six errors hurt the Gosnell Lady Pirates chances against Atkins and the Lady Red Devils took advantage to earn a 6-1 win in the second round of the Class 3A State Tournament at Majestic Park in Hot Springs...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team HOT SPRINGS - Gosnell used a four run fifth inning to overcome a 3-1 Smackover lead and went on to post a 5-4 victory over the Lady Buckaroos Thursday at the 3A State Softball Tournament at Majestic Park in Hot Springs. The State Tournament win was the first in school history in their first ever game. The Lady Buckaroos took the lead in the bottom of the first inning when a passed ball allowed a run to score to make it 1-0 Smackover...

By JOSEPH FONDREN Sports Connection Team GOSNELL - Gosnell Pirates senior guard Rylan Jenkins signed a national letter of intent Monday afternoon to play basketball at Williams Baptist University. Jenkins signed his NLI in the Gosnell High School library surrounded by his family, teammates and coaches. ...

By JOSEPH FONDREN Sports Connection Team  HOT SPRINGS - The Gosnell Pirates were down to their last out of the season, trailing defending 3A state champions, the Harding Academy Wildcats 6-5, when senior Blake Brothers hit a triple to tie the game at six. The Pirates (25-8) went on to score three more runs to defeat the Wildcats, 9-6. ...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team HOT SPRINGS - Senior Conner Vaughn went 3-for-4 at the plate, powering the Rivercrest Colts to a 10-3 victory over the Bismarck Lions Thursday at the 3A State Tournament competed at Majestic Park in Hot Springs. Things would not appear to be going well for the Colts early on as Bismarck would score two runs. ...

By JOSEPH FONDREN  Sports Connection Team  HOT SPRINGS—The Rivercrest Colts took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning and held off a sixth inning rally by the Booneville Bearcats, to win 3-2 to advance to a Class 3A semi-finals matchup against 3A-3 rival Gosnell Pirates. ...

Rivercrest senior Connor Vaughn played his final high school baseball game this past weekend. He was honored to have his great-grandparents Lillard and Lois Hale of Osceola attend the game. Vaughn will be continuing his baseball career at the UALR this fall...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team HOT SPRINGS – Harrisburg (20-12), the fourth seed out of the 3A-3 Regional, had a tough day at the plate against Genoa Central (19-4), the first seed out of the 3A-4 Regional, in their 7-1 loss in the opening round of the Class 3A State baseball tournament this past Thursday...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team FORREST CITY – EPC (17-10), the third seed from the 2A North Regional, were held to no runs and four hits in their opening round loss to Central Arkansas Christian (CAC), the first seed from the 2A Central Regional, Thursday in the Class 2A state tournament hosted by Palestine-Wheatley...

By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Sports team QUITMAN— Armorel Tigers sophomore runner Braylen Williams defended his 2023 state title in the 400 meters Tuesday morning and finished the race in first place for the second straight year while also placing second in the long jump and triple jump events; and fifth in 100 meters...

By JOSEPH FONDREN Sports Connection Team GREERS FERRY - The Armorel Tigers season came to an end Friday as they were defeated 7-2 in their Class 1A State Tournament elite eight matchup against the St. Joseph Bulldogs  in the 1A State Playoffs.  The Bulldogs scored two runs in the first inning and knocked Tigers junior southpaw Jackson Welch out of the game after one and one-third innings. ...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team PALESTINE - Riverside (27-6), the third seed from the 2A North Regional, was held to one hit on the day in a 1-0 loss to defending state champion Woodlawn (33-1) Friday. Woodlawn, who are the one seed from the 2A South Regional, beat the Rebels by the same score back in March...

The Rivercrest Jr. High Colts defeated Manila 5-1 Wednesday, May 8 to secure the 2024 Jr. High baseball championship. Ashton Harris and Payton McCormick combined to allow only four hits and one run to the Junior Lions. Lexx Latham and Kayden Schwantz had two hits each, while Harris had two RBI going 1-for-4 at the dish. Rivercrest stole eight bases in the game, six by Latham. Rivercrest improved to 21-4 overall this season while going undefeated in conference and tournament play...

Riverside hosted the 2024 sports auction and scholarship dinner on Tuesday, May 7. Rebel basketball coach Buster Campbell served as the auctioneer thanking everyone for their support. Athletic Director Jason Durham also thanked the Booster Club, coaches, athletes and fans for a great year...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team PALESTINE – Klaire Womack put on a dominant show Saturday in leading Riverside (27-1), the 2A North Regional champions, to a 5-0 win over Woodlawn (21-10), the two seed from the 2A South Regional. The victory sends the Lady Rebels back to the Class 2A state softball championship game. ...

Hey guys! I am so excited! The Osceola Heritage Musicfest will be making some noise this weekend. There is going to be a whole lot of dancing going on in downtown Osceola and I plan to be smack in the middle of the fun. Thanks to our presenting sponsor Big River Steel, we have one of the best line-ups ever ready to take the stage Friday and Saturday nights...

The Mississippi County Regional Chamber of Commerce, 300 W. Walnut St., Blytheville, will hold a Tamale and Crawfish Front Porch Party May 16. The event will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. on the chamber’s porch. Take-outs are available. Tickets may be purchased online at mississippicountychamber.com or at the chamber...

The City of Blytheville will hold its annual Fishing Rodeo Saturday, May 18. The fishing rodeo will be held from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at Walker Park. It is open to ages 15 and under. Participants should bring a fishing pole, bait, a chair and some snacks...

Jeromy Guy, boxing coach, is announcing a USA Boxing sanctioned event to be held in Trumann on Saturday, June 8. It is sponsored by the USA Boxing and Trumann Boxing Club. The Throw Down in T-Town event will consist of 25 bouts with participants from across Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia and Mississippi...

Finalists have been announced for the 2024 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame and Blytheville’s famous Dixie Pig is on the list. Launched in 2016 by the Division of Arkansas Heritage, the program celebrates Arkansas' unique culinary heritage by recognizing its best restaurants, proprietors and food-themed events...

Derek Alan Rolland, 36, of Jonesboro, passed away Tuesday, May 14, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones. Derek was born Dec. 2, 1987, in Jonesboro to Matt and Angie Rolland. He started dating Kara in high school when they were 15 and 16 and were married for 10 years. ...