Har-Ber will try to end Fayetteville’s title trend
Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/225861/
FAYETTEVILLE — Talk about a thrilling way to start the state championships.
Fayetteville will be going for its third consecutive large-class title at 2 p. m. today at Baum Stadium, and it will send senior ace Taylor Shaddy to the mound as it tries to retain its monopoly on the Class 7 A title. Shaddy, a left-hander, was the Most Valuable Player of last year’s Class 7 A state tournament, and all he’s done is go 8-0 this season.
The Bulldogs (29-3 ) have lost just once to an in-state team this season, and at one point they won a school-record 24 consecutive games.
So they should cruise today, right ? Not so fast.
Fayetteville’s opponent is Springdale Har-Ber (23-9 ), and while the Wildcats are making their first appearance in the state championship game, they seem unlikely to be intimidated by either the big stage or the Bulldogs.
It was Har-Ber that ended Fayetteville’s winning streak, defeating the Bulldogs 6-5 in the second game of a doubleheader April 26.
“Any time you can beat Fayetteville and that program [Fayetteville Coach ] Vance Arnold has established there, that brings your program up a notch,” said Har-Ber Coach Mike Reagan, whose Wildcats will be the visitors today at Baum Stadium. “The kids know themselves, and they know they can beat them.
“ We’ve got to go out and play a sound fundamental baseball game.”
The Wildcats have their own ace lefthander going in Zack Hall, a University of Arkansas signee. Hall is 10-1 with a 1. 58 ERA this season.
Hall and Shaddy faced each other in the first game of that doubleheader a few weeks back, and both lasted eight innings before their rulebook-mandated removals. Neither factored into the decision, and Fayetteville ultimately won the game 3-2.
The Bulldogs also defeated Har-Ber 9-7 in a nonconference game earlier in the year. That all three games were close was nothing unusual for Fayetteville, which is 9-1 in onerun games and 17-2 in games decided by two runs or fewer.
“Our ability to win close games is a big thing,” Arnold said. “We’ve gotten down and battled our way back. Our kids don’t seem to panic. They just trust in themselves and their coaches.”
The Bulldogs have many strengths, but perhaps their biggest advantage lies in their experience. Five of their starters today — Shaddy, third baseman Christian Allen, second baseman Weston Harbaugh, catcher Dan Hollenbeck and center fielder Franco Broyles — played in last year’s championship game.
Shaddy (. 452 ) and Allen (. 442 ) hit better than. 400, and they combined for 66 RBI. Both also reached double figures in steals, a level reached by eight Bulldogs.
Shaddy shut out Har-Ber in the 2007 semifinals in a game Fayetteville won 3-0.
“That [experience ] helps quite a bit,” Arnold said. “I expect them to be well-grounded, keep their feet on the ground and just play baseball.
“ There’s always going to be some adrenaline, but the kids have been there and they know what it takes to win. They’ve battled through a lot.”
Har-Ber also excels in many areas. Hall, catcher Andrew Thames and first baseman Gordon Miller all hit at least four home runs, and the Wildcats have three other players — third baseman Ryan Pongonis, left fielder Cory Ford and shortstop Gatlin York — who stole at least 16 bases.
The Wildcats have six seniors in their batting lineup, and a seventh plays the field.
“We can play small ball and we can swing it,” Reagan said. “We’re pretty versatile. I think it takes a pretty good pitcher to shut us down.”