Tigers third in regionals

MOUNTAIN HOME — The Armorel Tigers easily handled the Norfork Panthers Friday night as they defeated them 11-1 to clinch a spot in the 1A State tournament this weekend at Taylor.

However, Saturday the Tigers faced a familiar opponent as they played the Viola Longhorns, falling 12-2 in five innings.

During longtime Tigers head coach Charlie Brown’s career the Longhorns have only defeated Brown’s team one time, according to sources, which is believed to have been in 2007. Since then the Tigers have gotten the best of the Longhorns as they defeated the Longhorns in 2011 and 2016 in the state championship games.

The Tigers started out with bases loaded in the top of the first against the Longhorns but came away empty handed. After not securing any runs Tigers starting pitcher CJ Simmons struggled and the Longhorns came out to lead the Tigers 7-0 in the first.

The Longhorns ended their long losing streak against the Tigers as they defeated them 12-2 in five innings.

The Tigers for the first time were not crowned regional champions since entering the Region in 2011.

Sunday, the Tigers played Mammoth Spring Bears in the third/fourth place game and came away with a narrow 2-1 victory.

Brown said, “You have got to have that ability to win those close games and you know even though we didn’t hit it and things weren’t pretty we found a way to win and that’s a positive. Jayce pitched an excellent ball game. I think we had one error today and then CJ closed it out. We just found enough to get a couple of runs in. Hopefully, we can get back and get those bats going before the state tournament next week.”

The Tigers are set to face the Scranton Rockets on Thursday. The Rockets are the two seed out of Region 1. Weather is supposed to be in the Taylor area this weekend so follow @CN_JosephF for up to date information on the Tigers and Lady Tigers state tournament games.

“All I know is that we are going to play someone out of Region 1. I think we have the two seed out of Region One, maybe County Line or Omaha. One of those two teams,” Brown said. “We are just going to have to get back and do a little bit of homework on them and see if we can get ready to win a ball game in the state tournament.”