State Champions

By COSMO COSSEY

Sports Connection Team

CONWAY – Trent Middleton and Ryan Wrinkles combined to only allow two runs in a 6-2 win as Gosnell (26-8) beat Central Arkansas Christian (18-6) this past Saturday to win the Class 3A state baseball title for the second time in school history. The Pirates also won the state title in 1990.

The Gosnell players do the customary pig pile after the winning the state baseball title. (Photo by Cosmo Cossey)

Connor Whitehead reached on an error leading off for Gosnell before Chad Stewart grounded into a double play. Middleton got a two-out single and Kason Newsom followed with a single. Chase Perkins flew out leaving the runners on base. CAC got a one-out walk only to see Middleton strike out the next two batters to keep the game scoreless.

The Pirates got the board in the top of the second inning as Rylan Jenkins popped out leading off before Wrinkles was hit by a pitch. Grant Glintborg reached on an error, then he and Wrinkles pulled off a double steal only to see Blake Brothers strike out. Whitehead then laced a double that scored Wrinkles and Glintborg to make it 2-0 Gosnell. Whitehead then stole third base and Stewart walked. Whitehead scored on a balk that also moved Stewart to second base making the score 3-0 Pirates. Middleton singled to score Stewart making it 4-0 Gosnell. Newsom then grounded out for the third out. CAC got two runners on with two outs but Middleton got out of the jam with a strikeout.

Gosnell went three up and three down in the top of third as Perkins popped out, Jenkins grounded out and Wrinkles struck out. CAC went down in order in the bottom half to keep the score 4-0 Pirates.

Glintborg singled leading off the top of the fourth as Brothers beat out a bunt then both runners advanced a base on an error on the play. Whitehead lifted a sacrifice fly scoring Glintborg to push the Pirates' lead to 5-0. Stewart popped out, Middleton was intentionally walked before Newsom grounded out for the third out. The Mustangs loaded the bases and scored a run as Gosnell turned a double play on a ground ball to make it 5-1 Pirates. CAC loaded the bases but Wrinkles, who came on for Middleton, induced a fly ball out to end the inning.

Perkins singled leading off for Gosnell in the fifth before a double play ground ball off the bat of Jenkins cleared the bases. Wrinkles struck out for the third out. A single and double plated a run for CAC to make it 5-2. A walk put runners on first and second before a fly ball out left the runners on base.

The Pirates went three up and three down in the top of the sixth inning as CAC got a runner on via a pitch in the dirt on strike three. But Wrinkles induced back to back fielder's choice ground balls ended the inning.

Stewart laid down a perfect bunt leading off the top of the seventh and moved to second on an errant throw to first. Middleton followed with a single before Newsom's ground out moved Stewart and Middleton up a base. Ashton Suthern came on to courtesy run for Stewart before Perkins flew out to center field. Suthern then scored on a passed ball to push Gosnell's lead to 6-2 as Middleton was out at third on a run down to end the Pirates seventh. CAC loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom half of the inning before Middleton made a spectacular over the shoulder catch in short left field. Middleton overthrew Whitehead at second base trying to double the CAC runner at second, who had taken off on the play. However, Newsom was backing up on the play and threw the ball to Whitehead for the double play. Wrinkles struck out the next batter to end the game giving the Pirates the state title.

“It was a battle, we were battle tested all tournament long with Haskell, Harding Academy and Rivercrest,” Gosnell head coach Aaron Coots said after the game. “Middleton has been our ace all year and the was again today. We just give him the ball and say go get them. Wrinkles was the guy we wanted to close the out game for us and he stepped in and did what we asked him to do,” Coots added. “It's awesome to win the state title for first time in 34 years. It's pretty cool Trent's dad won the state title on the same date back in 1990,” Coots said. “Our defense was really good today and that double play in the seventh inning was huge for us. Heck of a play by Trent and great job by Newsom for backing up the throw on the play,” Coots added.

Whitehead had a hit, a run scored, and three RBI to lead Gosnell at the plate. Middleton finished with three hits and a RBI. Glintborg had a hit and two runs scored, while Stewart had a hit and a run scored.

Wrinkles and Suthern each scored a run for he Pirates. Middleton got the win as he pitched three and two-thirds innings giving up one run on one hit with seven walks and five strikeouts. Wrinkles pitched the three and one-third innings allowing one run on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts.