Jackrabbits rout Falcons in regular-season finale; play in district tourney Saturday

Lonoke shortstop Christian James throws to first baseman Todd Pool to get out a North Pulaski hitter during Monday's game. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits improved to 12-2 on the season with an 11-1 win over North Pulaski in the regular-season finale at the Lonoke Ball Park on Monday.

The Jackrabbits will now play in the 4A-2 district tournament this week at Riverview High School in Searcy.

The Jackrabbits are the No. 2 seed, having already qualified for the Class 4A East Region tournament, which will be held next week at Pocahontas. Lonoke will play in the semifinals of the district tournament at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The finals will be held immediately following the semifinal contest.

In the win over the Falcons, Lonoke jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Levi Ward was hit by a pitch and Cody Martin walked. They both scored on a single by Christian James.

Lonoke played a single run in the second. Tevin Patillo reached on a fielder's choice and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

The Falcons scored their lone run of the game in the top of the third. The Jackrabbits responded with seven runs in the bottom of the frame to lead 10-1. 

Scoring for Lonoke in the third were Casey Martin, Haven Hunter, Cody Martin, Nick Graves, James, Todd Pool and Savonte Rountree.

The Jackrabbits ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with a single run. Rountree led off with a walk and scored on single by Casey Martin. 

Lonoke had seven hits in the win. Getting hits were Patillo, Casey Martin, Cody Martin, James, Pool, Rountree and Tyler Fuhrman. 

Pool got the win as he pitched three innings. He gave up one run — unearned — while striking out five. He gave up only one hit.

Hunter and James pitched one inning each in the victory.

Lonoke coach Darrick Lowery talks to Cody Martin at third base during the Jackrabbits' game with North Pulaski on Monday. 

Johnson to play college basketball at Three Rivers

Lonoke's Kerasha Johnson, surrounded by friends, family and teammates, signs her National Letter of Intent with Three Rivers Community College (Photo courtesy of Coach Nathan Morris)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

LONOKE — Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits point guard Kerasha Johnson is taking her game to the collegiate level. 

Johnson signed with Three Rivers Community College during a recent ceremony inside the foyer of the Gina Cox Center. 

Three Rivers is a two-year school located in Popular Bluff, Missouri. 

Johnson said she originally wanted to join the United States Navy.

"I chose this school because I think it's a great school," Johnson said of choosing Three Rivers. "This is a great way to meet new people and be able to play the sport I love."

A year ago, Johnson was not able to play AAU summer ball because of a knee injury. 

"This is a big accomplishment," Johnson said. "I've always wanted to play college ball even when I was little."

Johnson said she does not know what she wants to major in as of yet.

Lady Rabbits get second in Harrison tourney

The Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits finished as runner-up in the Ozark Softball Classic in Harrison on Saturday. (Photo by Courtney Swiney)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

HARRISON — The Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits softball team had a good weekend as they finished as runner-up in the Ozark Softball Classic on Saturday. 

Lonoke went 2-1, losing to 4A-2 conference opponent Southside Batesville in the championship game. The Lady Southerners won 4-2.

Lonoke beat West Fork 4-3 in the first round and Calico Rock 4-3 in the second game. 

Against Southside, Lonoke jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Lindsey McFadden and Jasalyn Truelove scored on a single by Maddie Pool.

The score remained the same until the bottom of the fifth when Southside scored tied it at 2-2. The Lady Southerners scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to take a 4-2 lead. Lonoke was then retired in order to end the game in the top of the seventh.

Pool led Lonoke with two hits and two RBIs. Also getting hits were Truelove, Jarrelyn McCall and Gracie Cole.

Despite getting the loss, Lonoke's Charley Jo Chesney pitched well. She gave up nine hits while striking out three. 

In the win over Calico Rock, Lonoke took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. McFadden and Truelove both scored runs.

Calico Rock scored a run in the top of the second to make the score 2-1. The Lady Pirates tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the top of the third. 

Lonoke reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the third. McCall scored on a double by Amanda Sexton. The Lady Jackrabbits pushed the lead to 4-2 with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Chesney scored on a single by Truelove. 

The Lady Pirates cut the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the sixth. 

Chesney, Truelove and McCall had two hits each. Also getting hits were Sexton and Janae Miller.

Chesney allowed only three hits in seven innings of work. 

In the win over West Fork, Lonoke fell behind 2-0 in the top of the third inning. 

Lonoke cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the third. Sexton scored on an error. 

The Lady Jackrabbits scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to lead 4-2. Madison McFadden and Cole both scored on an error. Sidney Hallum scored on a single by Chesney.

West Fork scored a run in the top of the seventh but that would be the end of the scoring. 

Chesney, Truelove and Hallum led Lonoke with two hits each. McCall, Sexton, Pool, Candace James  and Cole each had a base hit. 

Chesney got the win. She gave up eight hits in seven innings of work. She struck out six in the win.

Lonoke's Charley Jo Chesney won two games in the Harrison tournament. (Photo by Mary Elisabeth Buffalo)

Jackrabbits open league play at 3-1

The Lonoke Jackrabbits infield meets on the mound during the season opener against Pulaski Robinson (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

The Lonoke Jackrabbits baseball team is 3-1 in 4A-2 league play so far this season.

Lonoke beat Helena-West Helena Central 10-0 on April 2. The Jackrabbits beat Heber Springs 11-6 on April 3. They beat Riverview 14-3 on April 6 but lost to Stuttgart 5-3 on April 8.

In the win over West Helena, Lonoke scored once in the first, four times in the second, three times in the third and twice in the fifth. 

Haven Hunter scored four runs for the Jackrabbits. Also scoring were Casey Martin, Cody Martin, Caleb Horton, Savonte Rountree and Gabe Rooney. 

Rountree and Conner Linton combined for a 1-hitter. Rountree got the win, throwing four innings. He struck out 5. Linton pitched one inning, striking out one.

In the win over Heber Springs, Lonoke trailed 1-0 after two innings. The Jackrabbits scored 8 times in the top of the third and three in the top of the sixth to get the win. 

Christian James, Nick Graves and Todd Pool scored two runs each. Also scoring were Casey Martin, Hunter, Cody Martin, Rountree and Elijah Seigrist. 

Cody Martin got the win, giving up three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out three. 

In the win over Riverveiw, Lonoke scored six runs in the first, five in the second, one in the fifth and two in the sixth.

Graves led Lonoke with three runs scored. Scoring twice were Casey Martin, James and Pool. Also scoring were Hunter, Cody Martin, Horton, Rountree and Seigrist. 

Rountree got the win, allowing two earned runs in 5 innings of work. He struck out three.

In the loss to Stuttgart, Lonoke outhit the Ricebirds 10-6. 

Lonoke led 1-0 after the second inning. Stuttgart scored four times in the third and once in the fifth. Lonoke scored twice in the top of the seventh. 

The key stat in the game was men left on base. Lonoke left 11 runners on base, including six in scoring position.

Lonoke's Haven Hunter follows through on his swing. 

Bison sweep Lions in conference DH

Carlisle's Chase Brazeal and Nick Schafer talk between innings during the Bison's game at Lonoke last week. (Photo courtesy of Rachel Schafer)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

CLARENDON — The Carlisle Bison baseball team stayed perfect in 2A-6 play with a doubleheader sweep of the Clarendon Lions last week.

Bison pitching dominated the Lions. Carlisle won the opening game 12-0 in three innings and the nightcap 10-0 in five innings.

In the first game, Bison pitcher Jacob Gordon did not allow a hit in three innings of work. His only base runner was a walk in the third inning. He struck out three.

In the second game, pitcher Dylan Brazeal allowed only two hits — both singles — while striking out nine. He walked only one batter in five innings of work. 

In the Bison's first-game win, they scored three times in the first inning. Scoring were Bradley Elder, Gordon and Brazeal.

The Bison plated eight runs in the second. Scoring were Chase Brazeal, Elder, Gordon, Nick Schafer, Dylan Brazeal, Jaden Daniels, Devon Kendrick and Clay Parker, who had an RBI double. 

Carlisle's final run came int he third. Daniels singled with one out and scored on a double by Tristan Seidenschwarz. 

In the second game, Carlisle scored single runs in the first and second innings. The Bison scored twice in the third and three times in both the fourth and fifth innings. 

Lonoke's Willis to play in all-star volleyball game

(Photo by Mark Buffalo)

Lonoke Lady Jackabbits volleyball player Eboni Willis is an all-star.

Willis, who completed her playing career last October after helping lead the Lady Jackrabbits to the Class 4A state tournament for the 13th consecutive season, was selected to play in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game this June at the University of Central Arkansas.

We will publish more details as we get closer to the all-star game.