FORREST CITY, Ark. – The Woodlawn Bears opened the 2A State Baseball Playoffs with a dominant 11-1 victory over Sloan-Hendrix on Thursday in Forrest City, advancing to the quarterfinal round of the state tournament.
Woodlawn broke the game open with a five-run second inning and never looked back, improving behind strong pitching and timely hitting. The Bears will now face their next postseason challenge Friday, May 15, at 10 a.m. at Palestine-Wheatley High School.
After Sloan-Hendrix took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, Woodlawn answered immediately in the bottom half of the frame. The Bears scored five runs on three hits to seize control of the game. Tyler French delivered one of the biggest hits of the inning with a two-run single.
Woodlawn added two more runs in the fourth inning and four additional runs in the fifth to put the game away.
Logan Clark earned the win on the mound for the Bears. Clark pitched three innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out four and walking one. Tyler French worked the final two innings in relief, striking out three while allowing no runs.
The Bears finished with five hits but took advantage of Sloan-Hendrix miscues and aggressive baserunning. Mason Poss led Woodlawn offensively with a double, a single, and two runs scored. French finished with two RBIs, while Poss and Ty Burris each drove in a run.
Cade Hargis crossed the plate three times for Woodlawn, while Gavin Edmonds and Poss each scored twice.
Woodlawn committed just two errors defensively and held Sloan-Hendrix to six hits while recording seven strikeouts as a pitching staff.
Sloan-Hendrix out-hit Woodlawn 6-5 but committed 12 errors in the contest.
With the victory, the Bears move on to the quarterfinal round of the 2A State Baseball Playoffs on Friday morning at Palestine-Wheatley High School.
