Due to a technical issue, we are behind getting this article posted. Thank you for you understanding, and we apologize for the delay.
MONTICELLO, Ark. (5/15/25) – The Warren High School baseball team’s season came to a close in the first round of the 4A State Tournament with a 3-2 walk-off loss to Gravette Thursday afternoon on Weevils Field at Union Bank Park on the campus of UAM.
By Dennen Cuthbertson, SRN Baseball Contributor
This sports report is brought to you by:
The Lumberjacks, the third seed from Region 4A-4 finished the 2025 campaign with an 18-8 record, while Gravette, the second seed from Region 4A-1, improved to 18-12 and will face Joe T. Robinson High School out of Little Rock in the second round.
Senior Nathan Spears hurled the first three innings of the ball game and had little trouble keeping the Lions off the scoreboard. However, Warren didn’t threaten much either. Ren Reep pulled a two-out double down the left-field line in the second, but was left stranded. Tucker McDiarmid walked to begin the third and Kolby Pope singled with two outs, but both were left on base.
The Jacks ran into some trouble in the bottom of the fourth inning when a leadoff, bloop double just out of the reach of Pope in left field and barely in fair territory found the outfield grass. The next batter hit a hard groundball back to the pitcher and the lead runner ventured too far off the bag, but a high throw to third base allowed the runner to slide in under the tag with no out recorded. A walk loaded the bases and Warren turned to Pope on the mound.
Pope induced a groundball to short and Warren forced the runner out at second while one run crossed the plate, but a throw in the dirt on the double play attempt to first base got away and allowed a second run to score on the play. The Jacks were able to get an out at home on a safety squeeze bunt attempt for the second out. The next batter swatted a singled to center field, but the runner at second base rounded the bag too far and was cut down for the final out.
The Orange and Black put two runners on again in the fifth inning when McDiarmid walked with one out and AJ Jordan singled with two outs. Pope gave a pitch a good ride to left-center field that looked like it might split the gap, but a running catch by Gravette’s left fielder ended the inning.
Pope was able to keep the Lions off the scoreboard to keep the game at 2-0 going into the final frame. The first two batters were retired as Gravette was on the brink of a shutout victory. However, back-to-back, two-out singles by Aceen Jurado and Jordan gave the Jacks life. Pope singled home Jurado to bring Warren within 2-1 and Bryson Harris followed with a single to score Jordan, who was running on the pitch, to tie the game 2-2. A popup in foul territory kept the game at a stalemate.
The first hitter for Gravette in the bottom half of the seventh fell behind 0-2, but reached on a hit-by-pitch. He then stole second and advanced to third base on a ball that got by the catcher. Warren drew the infield in and got a groundball they wanted to third base. Hayden Cathey looked the runner back to the bag and fired across the diamond for the out while the runner broke for home after the throw. The throw from first base was in the dirt to give the Lions a 3-2 walk-off win.
Spears struck out three and walked one while allowing two runs on four hits. Pope allowed one run on two hits with two punchouts and one walk. Offensively, the Jacks outhit Gravette 8-6 and didn’t allow a hit for the Lions after the fourth inning when they plated the first two runs of the contest. Jordan and Pope each registered two hits, while Pope and Harris tallied one RBI apiece.
The Lumberjacks will look to build off the momentum of back-to-back state tournament appearances, the first time that has happened since Warren made three straight from 2004-2006, in the 2026 campaign.
