Former Rabbit, Hog Casey Martin drafted by Phillies

Casey Martin heads toward home plate after hitting a home run against Grand Canyon in March. (Photo courtesy of Mike Harris)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — Former Lonoke Jackrabbits and Arkansas Razorbacks baseball star Casey Martin is realizing his lifelong dream.

Martin, who played three years for the Razorbacks, was the 87th overall pick in the third round of the Major League Baseball Draft, which was held last week. Martin’s college season was derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic in March. 

“I was a little kid from a little town with a big dream,” Martin said. “A lot of kids are in my shoes. They want to go do big things. Just because they are from a small town, it doesn’t mean it can’t happen.  I just like to represent them and show people there is talent coming out of a small town. 

“I believe Lonoke is the best town in Arkansas.”

Martin was the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette player of the year following his senior season in 2017. As a freshman playing for the Razorbacks, he started at third base and helped the Hogs to the finals of the College World Series. As a sophomore, he started at shortstop and helped Arkansas reach another College World Series. The Razorbacks were 11-5 and well on their way to another postseason opportunity. 

Martin had 184 hits with 40 doubles, four triples and 30 home runs during his two-plus seasons on the hill. He also had 116 RBIs, 130 runs scored and 24 stolen bases in 27 attempts. 

Martin was an All-SEC performer as well as a Freshman All-American.

“This is something I’ve always worked for,” Martin said of his getting the opportunity to play professional baseball. “I feel like I’ve overcome the odds in a lot of aspects. It’s been an amazing ride, and I’m just grateful for the opportunity.”

Going into the draft, Martin was rated in the top 30 prospects by several draft experts. He had to watch the first round Wednesday night and not hear his name called. He was drafted during the third round Thursday night.

“The swing and misses really hurt me this year from the analytics standpoint,” Martin said. “It was super stressful watching the first round. I don’t think I’d ever want to go through that again.

“You never went where you thought you would. Eventually, the third round came and I was just super excited to say ‘yes.’”

One of the bright spots of being picked by the Phillies was getting a FaceTime call from Philadelphia superstar slugger Bryce Harper.

“Their scouting director said ‘I have someone who is going to call you and wish you congratulations. I’m not going to tell you who it is but just make sure you pick up the phone when they call,’” Martin said. “I thought it might be the owner of the team. Sure enough, I answer it and it was Bryce Harper. I feel like I’m pretty good at talking to people after three years of interviews. I was starstruck. I didn’t know what to say. I’m actually talking to one of the best baseball players in the world. It was super exciting to do that.”

Martin is the son of Keith and Jennifer Martin. His brother Cody is a graduate student at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

“It’s a dream-come-true for us,” Jennifer Martin said of Casey’s draft pick. “We’re still in a daze. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet that we’re actually doing this.”

Bison rally to beat Lions in playoff opener

Carlisle Bison coach Caleb Shock talks to his team after the Bison beat England 50-38 in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs on Friday night. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

CARLISLE — For the first time since 2015, the Carlisle Bison and England Lions met on the football field, and it did not disappoint.

The Bison rallied from a 22-8 halftime deficit to beat the Lions 50-38 in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs Friday night at Fred C. Hardke Field. With the win, the Bison (8-3) advance to the second round to play Foreman while the Lions end their season at 5-6.

Carlisle freshman J.J. Sullivan [22] takes a handoff
from quarterback Will Carter. 

“I got some pretty good help and the pretty good help said to quit running this play and start running ‘belly,’” Carlisle coach Caleb Shock said, referring to halftime adjustments. “We started running belly and having a lot of success with it. It was really good to us. After that, we were able to build off our other stuff. The offensive line blocked it up really well. We scored on a run behind Kaleb Boyle. He’s a senior lineman for us. He’s worked really hard. We made a living on that side.”

On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Carlisle freshman J.J. Sullivan ran 67 yards for a touchdown and Dee Allen scored the two-point conversion to make the score 22-16. Sullivan finished with 191 yards rushing on 10 carries. 

“He’s pretty good,” Shock said of Sullivan. “I think he’s averaging 20 yards a carry so far for us. I think he’d be the first to tell you that it’s a big credit to his offensive line. Tonight, he had to work a little bit harder for it. I thin everybody saw some of his balance and vision. He’s got a natural knack for running the ball.”

England turned the ball over on downs on its next possession. That set the Bison up to drive 54 yards in seven plays with Allen scoring on an 8-yard run then adding the two-point conversion to give the Bison their first lead at 24-22 with 6:02 left in the third quarter.

England came right back to reclaim the lead at 30-24. Mason Brazeal scored on a 1-yard run with 2:43 left in the third quarter. He then threw to Tamarous Dodson for the two-point conversion. 

Carlisle tied it at 30-30 on its next possession. Will Carter scored on a 6-yard run with 1:28 left in the third quarter. 

The Lions reclaimed the lead at 38-30 on the first play of the fourth quarter. Darren McClinton scored on a 32-yard run and Dodson aded the two-point conversion. 

The Bison tied it was 38-38 following a 65-yard, 7-play drive. Carter scored on a 39-yard run with 7:52 left. Collin Jinks added the two-point conversion. 

England turned the ball over on downs at its own 44 with 5:46 left. Carlisle drove 44 yards in six plays with Allen scored on a 2-yard run with 2:42 left. The two-point conversion was no good, leaving the Bison up 44-38.

England did not go away. The Lions, behind the passing of Brazeal, moved the ball to the Carlisle 4. On third-and-goal with 7 seconds left, Brazeal rolled to his left and tried to throw into the end zone. Jinks intercepted the pass and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown on the game’s final play. 

“It’s a big, big win,” Shock said. “We push these guys hard. They work hard. We expect a lot out of them. It validates us for those guys having success. I’m glad that they had the success that they had tonight. It springs us into the next round of the playoffs.”

In addition to Sullivan’s 191 yards rushing. Allen had 124 yards on 19 carries. Carter had 61 yards on 9 carries. 

Brazeal completed 7 of 11 passes for 132 yards. 

Ian Seidenschwarz led the Bison with 10 tackles. Carter had 5 tackles and an interception in the first quarter. Sullivan had 4 tackles. Lynn Mills had 3 tackles. 

Jackrabbits beat Stuttgart, playoff picture not clear

Lonoke's M.J. White catches a touchdown pass against Stuttgart on Friday. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits broke a three-game losing streak Friday night but the playoff picture got a little more muddy.

Diego Contreras kicks an extra point out
of the hold of Riley Miller.

Lonoke held off winless Stuttgart for a 35-28 win in the final home game. However, Heber Springs beat conference leader Riverview to force a four-way tie for third place with Lonoke, Mills and Central Arkansas Christian. 

Lonoke beat Heber Springs but lost to Mills and CAC. The tiebreaker scenario is way too long to figure out. 

Lonoke travels to Riveview on Thursday for the regular-season finale. 

Against Stuttgart, the Jackrabbits took a 7-0 lead when Dayton Smith returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown with 8:36 left in the first quarter. Diego Contreras kicked the first of five extra points.

The Jackrabbits added to their lead when Spencer Pepper scored on a 37-yard run with 57.1 seconds left.

Stuttgart scored the next three touchdowns to take a 21-14 lead with 5:21 left in the third quarter. 

The Jackrabbits tied the game at 21-21 with 1:46 left in the third quarter when Anthony Parks scored on a 1-yard run. 

Stuttgart reclaimed the lead at 28-21 with 11:48 left in the game. 

The Jackrabbits tied it at 28-28 with 8:08 left when Pepper threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to M.J. White. After Lonoke forced a punt, Parks had a long return and set up the Jackrabbits to win the game.

Pepper threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to White with 1:07 left.

Stuttgart’s final gasp came to an end when White intercepted his second pass of the game.

Pepper led the Jackrabbits with 128 yards rushing on 36 carries. He also completed 13 of 19 passes for 142 yards. On defense, Pepper intercepted a pass.

Parks rushed for 73 yards on 15 carries.

Chris Lucas caught 6 passes for 89 yards. White caught 5 passes for 67 yards.

Smith and John Lawson led Lonoke with 10 tackles each. Brayden Coble and Lucas hd six each. Anderson Fletcher had five. 

Jackrabbits fall to CAC in 2OT

Lonoke's Anthony Parks goes around CAC's Nathan Velek en route to a touchdown (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits battled back from a two-touchdown deficit to force overtime against Central Arkansas Christian on Friday night. However, the Mustangs would have the final say.

CAC beat Lonoke 28-21 in double overtime at James B. Abraham Stadium. With the loss, Lonoke falls to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in 4A-2 play. The loss was Lonoke’s third consecutive.

CAC led 21-7 following a 61-yard touchdown pass from Palmer Gilbrech to Aiden Hughes with 

Lonoke's Chris Lucas defends against CAC's Ethan Demarco.

2:21 left in the first half. 

The Jackrabbits pulled to within 21-14 with 37 seconds left in the first half. Spencer Pepper scored on a 6-yard run. Diego Contreras kicked the extra point. The play was set up by a long pass on fourth down from Pepper to Chris Lucas.

Lonoke tied the score at 21-21 on the first possession of the second half. Pepper scored on a 25-yard run with 8:17 left in the third quarter.

The score remained the same the remainder of regulation. CAC had a chance to win it in regulation but Eli Jenkins missed a 30-yard field goal attempt with 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

CAC had the ball first in the first overtime. The Jackrabbits defense pushed the Mustangs back to the Lonoke 33. On fourth down, Gilbrech threw an incomplete pass.

Lonoke had a chance to win the game in the first overtime. On third-and-goal from the 10, Pepper ran 9 yards to the CAC 1. Lonoke coach Harry Wright sent Contreras out for an 18-yard field goal attempt that he barely missed, sending the game into a second overtime.

Lonoke got the ball to start the second extra period. On the third down, CAC’s Gentry Miller intercepted a Pepper pass.

Miller then ran three times, including two yards for the game-winning touchdown on third down. Jenkins kicked the extra point to set the final score.

CAC took a 7-0 lead on the first play of the game. Gilbrech threw a 64-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Morse. The Mustangs added to their lead on a 73-yard pass from Gilbrech to Miller, making the score 14-0.

Lonoke got the board when Pepper threw a screen pass to Anthony Parks, who worked his away across the field and down the sideline to make the score 14-7.

The Jackrabbits, CAC, Heber Springs and Bald Knob are all Atied for fourth place with a 2-3 record. Lonoke’s two conference victories are over Heber Springs and Bald Knob.

Lonoke hosts Stuttgart in the final home game this Friday at James B. Abraham Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Jackrabbits hold off Bald Knob for 3rd straight win

Lonoke's Anthony Parks carries the ball against Bald Knob on Friday night. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits had to play all 48 minutes to come away with a 38-36 win over the Bald Knob Bulldogs on Friday night at James B. Abraham Stadium. 

Bald Knob quarterback Johnson Capps’ pass into the end zone was batted away on the final play as Lonoke won it’s third consecutive game after starting the season 0-2. The Jackrabbits are 3-2 overall and 2-0 in 4A-2 conference play.

“Any win is a good win … I’ll take every one of them,” first-year Lonoke coach Harry Wright said. “They [Bulldogs] are a good football  team. They saw something on film and took advantage of it in the first half for sure. We came out and made adjustments.”

Lonoke led 24-20 at halftime following a 31-yard field by Diego Contreras on the final play of the second quarter. 

Brayden Coble blocks for Spencer Pepper. 

Bald Knob took a 28-24 lead early in the second half. Lonoke responded with another touchdown. Anthony Parkers scored on a 2-yard run with 6:56 left in the third quarter. Contreras’ extra point gave the Jackrabbits a 31-28 lead. 

Bald Knob fumbled the ball back to Lonoke with Da’Lynn Waits recovering the ball at the Lonoke 31. Six plays later, Lonoke quarterback Spencer Pepper threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Shawn Lake with 7 seconds left in the third quarter to make the score 38-28.

Bald Knob cut the deficit to 38-36 on a 51-yard touchdown pass from Capps to Tyrese Dinwiddie with 6:54 left in the game.

Lonoke had a chance to put the game away but pass into the end zone was incomplete on fourth down at the Bald Knob 19 with 36.7 seconds left in the game. 

Bald Knob’s Leason Pierce lined up at quarterback and pitched to Capps, who threw a 53-yard pass to Josh Clark down to the Lonoke 28 with 27.4 seconds left.

After an incomplete pass, Capps was tackled after a 6-yard gain. The Bulldogs tried to kill the clock but Capps spiked the ball after taking a snap from the shotgun. Bald Knob was called for intentional grounding. That set up one last play from the Lonoke 28.

Capps final pass into the end zone was incomplete, giving Lonoke the victory. 

Pepper finished with 146 yards rushing on 17 carries. He completed 12 of 20 passes for 115 yards. 

Anthony Parks rushed for 84 yards on 19 carries. Lake had 22 yards on two carries. 

Chris Lucas caught four passes for 82 yards, 45 of which came off a lateral from Parks on the first play of the game.  Parks caught five passes for 10 yards. Lake caught three passes for 22 yards. 

Capps completed 7 of 20 passes for 193 yards. 

Lonoke took a 7-0 lead with 11:12 left in the first quarter. Pepper scored on a 2-yard run. The play was set up by a hook and lateral play. Pepper threw to Parks who laterally the ball to Lucas, who took it 50 yards.

Bald Knob cut the deficit to 7-6 on a 30-yard run by Capps with 6:02 left in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs took a 14-7 lead on a 9-yard run by Pierce. They scored the two-point conversion. 

Parks returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 14-14. 

Bald Knob reclaimed the lead at 20-14 on a 6-yard run by Pierce with 12.5 seconds left in the first quarter.

Lonoke took a 21-20 lead on a 41-yard run by Pepper with 1:44 left in the first half. 

Lonoke will travel to Southside Batesville this Friday. The Southerners are 3-2 overall and 1-1 in 4A-2 play following a 35-7 loss to Riverview on Friday night.

Jackrabbits start conference 1-0 for first time since 2013

Lonoke kicker Diego Contreras attempts an extra point against Newport. Contreras kicked a 32-yard field goal against Heber Springs on Friday night. Holding for the kick is Riley Miller (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

HEBER SPRINGS — For the first time since 2013, the Lonoke Jackrabbits are 1-0 in conference play.

The Jackrabbits routed the Heber Springs Panthers 32-12 on Friday night to improve to 2-2 on the season and start 4A-2 play at 1-0. The last time Lonoke beat Heber Springs, which was also the conference opener was 2013. The Jackrabbits beat the Panthers 63-34 on Sept. 27, 2013.

In Friday’s win, Lonoke jumped out to an 11-0 lead. 

Lonoke kicker Diego Contreras kicked a 32-yard field goal in the first quarter. Lonoke then pushed the lead to 11-0 on a 14-yard run by Anthony Parks. Chris Lucas caught a pass from Spencer Pepper for the two-point conversion.

Hebei Springs scored a touchdown in the second quarter to make the score 11-6. Lonoke followed up with a 35-yard pass from Pepper to Parks. Contreras kicked the extra point to make the score 18-6. 

Each team scored a touchdown in the third quarter. Pepper scored on a 25-yard run. Contreras kicked the extra point. The Panthers also scored on a pass to make the score 25-12.

Lonoke’s final score came in the fourth quarter. Lucas caught a 23-yard pass from Pepper, and Contreras kicked the extra point to account for the final score. 

Pepper completed 10 of 16 passes for 131 yards. he also rushed for 130 yards on 22 carries. Parks had 75 yards on 16 carries. He caught 5 passes for 79 yards. Lucas and MJ White each caught two passes. 

Dayton Smith led Lonoke with 15 tackles. Brayden Coble and Lucas had 9 tackles each. Daylynn Waits had 8. 

John Lawson had two sacks for the Jackrabbits. Riley Miller had an interception.

Lonoke will host Bald Knob on Friday night at James B. Abraham Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Bison fall to Hornets in conference opener

Carlisle's Devarius Allen pulls away from a Hazen defender for a third-quarter touchdown Friday night. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

HAZEN — For the first time this season, the Hazen Hornets had to play four quarters. However, for Carlisle Bison fans, it was not the outcome they wanted.

Hazen jumped out to a 20-0 lead en route to a 32-14 win over the Bison. It was Carlisle’s third consecutive loss to the Hornets but the first one in that run to not end with a mercy rule.

The Bison are now 3-2 overall and 0-1 in 2A-6 play. Hazen is 4-0 and 1-0 in league play. 

The first half was a defensive struggle with the Hornets leading 8-0 at halftime. 

Carlisle’s second possession started at its own 4 following a muffed punt. 

A few plays later, Carlisle fumbled with Hazen recovering at the Bison 1. On the next play, Hazen’s Ayjon Green scored on a 1-yard run with 3:30 left in the first quarter. Terrell Penn added the two-point conversion. 

The score remained the same until the Hornets took the second half kickoff and drove 55 yards in five plays with Penn scoring on a 2-yard run with 9:42 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion was no good, making the score 14-0. 

After a Bison punt, Green scored on a 50-yard run to make the score 20-0 with 7:21 left in the third quarter. 

The Bison showed some life on their next possession. They drove 66 yards in five plays with Devarius Allen scoring on a 25-yard run with 4:11 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the score at 20-6. 

Hazen responded with a 56-yard, 10-play scoring drive with Green scoring on a 1-yard run with 11:29 left in the game. 

Carlisle wasted no time answering as Bison quarterback Eli Moody found receiver Will Carter with a pass and he tightroped the sidelines for a 64-yard touchdown pass with 10:28 left. Carter scored the two-point conversion on a pass from Moody to make the score 26-14. 

Hazen averted disaster on its next possession. Penn fumbled the ball into the end zone and it laid there for a a second before Blayne Toll pounced on the loose ball for a Hornets touchdown with 7:50 left to make the score 32-14.

The Bison will host Des Arc for homecoming this week. The Eagles are 2-2 overall and 1-0 in 2A-6 play following a win over Marvell on Friday.