Jackrabbits win 5 in a row

Lonoke's Anderson Fletcher awaits a pitch during the Jackrabbits' sweep of EStem on Tuesday. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — After a getting off to a slow start, the Lonoke Jackrabbits have won five in a row, including four conference games, to improve to 6-7 on the season. 

Lonoke is now 5-3 in the 4A-5 conference. The Jackrabbits are tied for third with Mills but hold the tiebreaker over the Comets by virtue of their sweep. Joe T. Robinson is 6-0. Wynne is second at 5-1. 

“We’re sitting at 5-3 in the conference, which is a good spot for us right now,” Lonoke coach Nick Smith said. “We have a huge doubleheader at Wynne on Tuesday. That could really put us in a great position going forward.”

Before spring break, Lonoke beat Mills 9-1 and 11-4 on March 15. 

In the first game, Lonooke led 8-0 after four innings. 

Dalton Smith led Lonoke with four runs. Spencer Pepper had two. Also scoring were Julian Medina, Christian Cooper, and Anderson Fletcher. 

Noah Mulligan had three RBIs. Cooper, Smith, and Pepper had two hits each. 

Will Roark got the win. He struck out four in six innings of work. 

In the second game, Lonoke jumped out to a 8-0 lead after two innings. 

Cooper, Smith and Pepper each scored two runs. Also scoring were Logan Sharp, Ryan Cleveland, Grant Lingo, Mulligan and Riley Miller. 

Lonoke swept a doubleheader from EStem on Tuesday. The Jackrabbits won the first game 25-0 and the nightcap 12-0. 

Media, Smith and Roark each scored three runs. Scoring two runs were Cleveland, Miller and Pepper. Also scoring were Cooper, Will McNeil, Sharp, Fletcher, Mulligan and Daniel DeViney.

Mulligan hit a home run. 

In the second game, Lonoke scored five runs in the second and seven in the fourth. 

McNeil and Chase Rogers each scored two runs. Also scoring were Isaiah Thomas, Cooper, Smith, Roark, Sharp, Fletcher, Brayden Knox and DeViney.

Smith, Shapr and Mulligan competed on a no-hitter, striking out 11 EStem batters.

“Our pitching is really starting to settle in and pound the strike zone,” Coach Smith said. “At the plate, our guys are really seeing the ball well and squaring a lot of balls up. I’ve been please with the depth of this team. We’ve got a lot of good ball players on this team so we have a lot of options on doubleheaders on conference nights.

“Lastly, this team is starting to put all phases of the game together and it’s showing.”

Bison hold off Hornets, improve to 8-3

The Carlisle Bison rally up before an inning during their win over Hazen on Friday. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

Ian Seidenschwarz makes contact with a pitch
against Hazen. 

CARLISLE — The Carlisle Bison continued their early-season roll with a 9-5 win over the Hazen Hornets on Friday at Rockefeller Park.

The Bison aren now 8-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

Carlisle led 5-0 after three innings. Hazen scored twice in the top of the fourth to cut it to 5-2. The Bison plated a run in the bottom of the frame to lead 6-2. However, the Hornets would not go away, scoring once in the fifth and twice in the sixth to make the score 6-5.

The Bison scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth push the lead back to four at 9-5. 

“I wasn’t surprised at jumping out to a big lead,” first-year Carlisle coach Steven Tew said. “Yesterday at practice, it was probably the best we’ve swung the bat all year. That was really encouraging coming off the last two games where I thought we didn’t swing the bat that well. 

“We knew we were facing one of the top guys in our conference in Jacob Weems. He’s had great numbers. Everything that I heard is that he’s a two strikeout an inning pitcher. It was going to be hard for us.”

Ben Orton, Blake White and Kamryn Taylor each scored two runs. Also scoring were Coby Brown, Gauge Shaw and Jasean Harper.

Brown and White led Carlisle with three hits each. Orton and Eli Moody had two hits each. 

Also getting a  hit was Creed Carter. 

Paxton Hitchings pitched the first three innings. He allowed no hits but two runs while striking out give. White got a save, pitching the final 1 2/3 innings, He struck out three. Also pitching were Noah Seidenschwarz and Brown. 

“Paxton gave us three solid innings and I kinda pushed him for a fourth,” Tew said. “He got into a little bit of trouble. Noah came in and pitched really well. Coby struggled some. He didn’t have his best stuff but he got out there and competed. 

“Then we just got to Blake. We knew that if we had the lead and we were getting late in the game that we were going straight to Blake. He was able to come in and get five big outs for us.”

A year ago, the Bison were 12-11 but had turmoil because of a midseason coaching change, going from Phil Bernhardt to Ryan Johnson, son of former Arkansas Razorbacks pitching coach Wes Johnson. 

Carlisle made it to the regional under Johnson and was close to advancing to the state tournament. 

Tew is pleased with the progress his team is making in his first season as the head Bison. 

“Next week, we’re playing five out of the first six days,” he said. “We’ll get to see a lot of baseball and get a lot of at bats. We’re definitely happy with where we’re at right now. We just have to keep it going and finish.”

Carlisle also bet Abundant Life 12-10 last week. 

White and Carter each scored three runs. Orton scored twice. Also scoring runs were Ian Seidenschwarz, Hitchings, Taylor and Harper. 

The Bison beat Bigelow 6-3 in a conference game Monday. 

Bigelow led 2-0 after one inning. The Bison plated three runs in the both the third and fourth innings to lead 6-2. The Panthers scored once in the top of the seventh. 

Brown and Moody each scored one run. Also scoring were Carter and Taylor. 

White got the win, pitching six innings. He struck out 13. 

Lady Bison edge Hazen, improve to 6-1 on the season

Carlisle third baseman Raegan Mills catches a fly ball in front of shortstop Mackenzie Raper during the seventh inning of the Lady Bison's 3-1 win over Hazen on Friday (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

Carlisle pitcher Bailey Crump picked up a save
against Hazen. 

CARLISLE — The Carlisle Lady Bison used pitching performances from sophomores Shelby Hancock and Bailey Crump to hold off Hazen for a 3-1 win Friday at Bobby Glover Field at Rockefeller Park.

With the win, Carlisle improves to 2-0 in conference play and 6-1 on the season. 

Hancock struck out seven in five innings to get the win. She allowed two hits while walking only one. Crump struck out three in two innings. She allowed two hits and one run, which was unearned, to get the save. 

“I thought we were pretty solid on defense and the pitchers did a good job of hitting their spots,” Carlisle coach Jonathan Buffalo said. “We did just enough at the plate, but we have to continue to get better at all facets of the game.”

The game was scoreless until the third inning when the Lady Bison plated three runs. 

Heather Bowlan and Gracie Brown both scored on a single by Crump with two outs, who eventually scored on a single by Caty Parker.

Carlisle had seven hits in the game. Bowlan and Brown had two each.

“It is always good to get a big win over a rival, especially when it’s a conference game,” Buffalo said. “It was a complete team effort, and that’s how it has to be.

Carlisle also beat Abundant Life.

The Lady Bison beat the Lady Owls 15-0. 

Ansley Terry and Crump each scored three runs. Scoring twice were Parker, Hancock and Brown. Also scoring were Hailey Thrift, Josie Fortner and Bowlan. 

Hancock and Crump each hit home runs, with Crump’s coming as an inside-the-park homer.

Crump got the win, allowing only one hit through four innings of work. She struck out eight. 

Lady Bison open conference play with rout of Bigelow

Carlisle's Ansley Terry follows through on her swing during the fourth inning of the Lady Bison's win over Bigelow on Monday at Bobby Glover Field. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

CARLISLE — The Number 4 was key for the Carlisle Lady Bison in their 12-2 win over Bigelow in the 2A-5 North opener at Bobby Glover Field.

Carlisle scored four runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings en route to their fourth win of the season. The Lady Bison are now 4-1 on the year. 

“It was a great way to start off the conference season, especially coming off spring break,” Carlisle coach Jonathan Buffalo said. “We put the ball in play against a good pitcher. They have a good team, and we played very well.”

The Lady Bison based out 12 hits in the victory and took advantage of three Bigelow errors. 

In the first inning, Bailey Crump singled with one out. Mackenzie Raper followed with a single then Caty Parker walked. Raegan Mills reached on an error, which allowed Crump, Raper and Parker to score. 

Mills scored on a single by Shelby Hancock. 

Scoring for the Lady Bison in the fourth were Heather Bowlan, Gracie Brown, Ansley Terry and Crump. 

The Lady Bison ended the game in the fifth inning, scoring four in the bottom of the fifth. Brown tripled with one out and scored scored on a single by Terry. Crump followed with a double, driving in Terry. Crump scored on a single by Raper. Parker then hit a ground rule double to center field. Raper scored on a the play after she went to second on a passed ball. 

Crump led Carlisle with three hits. Getting two hits each were Terry, Raper and Brown. Parker, Hancock and Bowlan had one hit each. 

Hancock got the win. She gave up two runs in five innings of work. She struck out nine. 

Bison win two games in Ouachita tourney

Carlisle catcher Eli Moody catches a pitch during the Bison's season-opening loss at Atkins. (Photo by Micah Moody)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

DONALDSON — The Carlisle Bison baseball team won two games out of three in the Ouachita High School Spring Break Tournament.

Carlisle lost to Nevada 4-0 in the first game Thursday. The Bison beat fellow conference member England 10-1 in their second game Friday then routed Gurdon 16-1 on Saturday. The Bison are now 5-3 on the season. 

“I thought the tournament went really well,” Carlisle coach Steven Tew said. “It was fun to get down there and play over the break with conference play starting Monday.”

The Bison host Bigelow in the conference opener Monday at Rockefeller Park. 

In the loss to Nevada, the Bison had only two hits. Coby Brown and Blake White each had hits. 

Nevada scored twice in the third and once each in the fourth and sixth.

“Nevada gave us a real good look and that kid who pitched for them did a great job commanding three different pitches and keeping us off balance,” Tew said. “Our defense and pitching kept us in the game but we just couldn’t get anything going offensively. It was a tough break for Blake, who got stuck with he loss.”

In the win over England, the Bison led 2-1 after one inning. Carlisle scored six runs in the fourth and two in the fifth. 

Creed Carter scored three runs for the Bison. Brown and White scored two runs each. Also scoring were Gauge Shaw, Noah Seidenschwarz and Blane Sharp. 

Paxton Hitchings pitched three innings. He allowed no earned runs while striking out five to get the win. Zac VanHouten pitched two scoreless innings. 

“I was happy with how we competed against England,” Tew said. “We had some good at-bats against their guys and did a  good job backing up Paxton and Zac.”

In the win over Gurdon, the Bison scored four runs in the first and 12 in the second. The game lasted 2 1/2 innings. 

For the second game in a row, Carter led the Bison with three runs scored. Sharp also had three runs. Kamryn Taylor scored twice. Also scoring were Brown, White, JaCoda Gray, Ian Seidenschwarz, VanHouten, Jasean Harper, Shaw and Hitchings. 

Brown, Eli Moody, White, Shaw and Taylor had two hits each. 

“Saturday, we played a real young Gurdon team,” Tew said. “I think they start four or five freshmen. In those games though against a team which is struggling, we accomplished what we wanted. We swung the bat well so we earned the majority of our runs.

“Our pitchers, Coby and Ben Orton, threw well. They didn’t strike out very many so our defense had to make the plays behind them.”

Tew was pleased with the tournament.

“All in all, it was good to build a little momentum heading into an important part of our schedule,” he said. “I hope we can continue this type of play.”

Lady Bison start season 3-1

Carlisle's Raegan Mills stands at third base during the Lady Bison's 15-0 win over Des Arc in the season opener. (Photo by Cara Parker)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

The Carlisle Lady Bison softball team is off to a  3-1 start under first-year coach Jonathan Buffalo, who previously coached the softball team during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. 

“We’ve been playing well at times,” Buffalo said. “I’m please with the way the season has started but we’ve got a long ways to go.”

Carlisle beat Des Arc 15-0 in the season opener March 5. The Lady Bison beat Class 5A Jacksonville 7-2 on March 7. They lost to Riverview 8-7 on March 11 before beating Midland 12-6 on Thursday.

In the win over Des Arc, Carlisle scored 14 runs in the bottom of the first. Ansley Terry, Mackenzie Raper, Shelby Hancock, Raegan Mills and Caty Parker each scored two runs in the inning. Also scoring were Heather Bowlan, Bailey Crump, Hailey Thrift and Gracie Brown.

Thrift scored Carlisle’s 15th run in the fourth inning. 

Hancock got the win, striking out four in two innings. Crump pitched two innings, striking out three.

In the win over Jacksonville, Carlisle led 5-1 after three innings. 

Raper led Carlisle with two runs scored. Also scoring were Terry, Hancock, Mills, Parker and Crump. 

Hancock struck out four in five innings of work to get the win. Crump struck out three in two innings of work to get the save. 

In the win over Midland, Raper hit a grand slam in the third inning. 

Parker, Hancock and Shea Alberson each scored two runs. Also scoring were Raper, Mills, Bowlan and Emma Cook.
Hancock got the win, allowing two earned runs in four innings of work. She struck out three. Crump pitched the last three innings, striking out five.

The Lady Bison will host Bigelow in the conference opener on March 25. 

Bison win third straight, beat Episcopal in 8 innings

Carlisle's Blake White delivers a pitch against Midland. White picked up a win in relief against Little Rock Episcopal on Friday. (Photo by Micah Moody)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LITTLE ROCK — The Carlisle Bison won their third consecutive game Friday, beating Little Rock Episcopal 7-2 in eight innings at history Lamar Porter Field.

Carlisle is now 3-2 on the season following the victory. 

The score was tied 2-2 after seven innings. Coby Brown led off the top of the eighth and scored on a triple by Blake White. Creed Carter followed with a sacrifice fly to score White with the second run. 

Also scoring in the eighth were Ian Seidenschwarz, Noah Seidenschwarz and Jasean Harper. 

White allowed a walk to start the bottom of the eighth then retired the next three batters to end the game. 

“Pitchers and defense did a great job making plays,” Carlisle coach Steven Tew said. “Paxton Hitchings, Noah and Blake all threw really well. Our defense made great plays behind them. Ben Orton made a couple of really outstanding plays in center and Ian Seidenschwarz made a key play, picking off a runner on third after a pitch from behind he plate.”

Carlisle scored two runs in the top of the first to lead 2-0. Scoring were Brown and Ben Orton. 

The Wildcats scored single runs in the fourth and seventh innings. 

Brown led the Bison with three hits. Orton, Zac VanHouten and White had two hits each. Also collecting hits were Noah Seidenschwarz, Ian Seidenschwarz, Kamryn Taylor and Gauge Shaw.

White the victory in relief. He struck out seven in four innings of work. He allows five hits and one earned run. 

“To get out of the game in the bottom of the seventh was a huge boost to force extra innings,” Tew said. “In extras, Cody had a great at bat to start it then Blake drove him in with the go-ahead run. After that, we got several more big hits that inning, and it was nice to come out of there with a  big win going into spring break.”

Jackrabbits split DH with Stuttgart

Lonoke third baseman Dalton Smith skies to keep a throw from going into the outfield during the Jackrabbits' recent game with Joe T. Robinson. (Photo by Ashley McGowan)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits baseball team has gotten off to a slow start this season. 

After eight games, Lonoke is 1-7 under first-year coach Nick Smith, who previously served as interim coach during the 2016 season.

Lonoke’s lone victory came over Stuttgart, 17-9, in the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday at Stuttgart.

Lonoke led 6-1 after two innings but trailed 9-8 after five. The Jackrabbits scored nine runs in the seventh to get the victory.

Dalton Smith was 3 for 5 with three runs scored and four RBIs. He also hit a home run in the victory. 

Also scoring runs were Julian Median (2), Christian Cooper (2), Isaiah Thomas, Ryan Cleveland (2), Anderson Fletcher (2), Noah Mulligan (2), Daniel DeVinney and Spencer Pepper (2), who went 3 for 3 at the plate with four RBIs. 

Mulligan gets credit for the win as he pitched the last 2 2/3 innings of the game. He struck out four while giving up four runs, three of which were earned. 

Lonoke lost the opener 8-4.

The Jackrabbits led 3-1 after two innings but the Ricebirds scored five runs in the third and two in the fifth. Lonoke scored once in the seventh. 

Smith was 3 for 3 at the plate with a run scored. Pepper was also 3 for 3 with a run scored. 

Lonoke will host the Carlisle Bison on Monday at the Lonoke Ball Park. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.

Carlisle enters the game at 2-2, riding a two-game winning streak. 

Bison rout Riverview for second win

Carlisle's Ian Seidenschwarz  waits on a pitch during action against Des Arc. (Photo by Micah Moody)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

The Carlisle Bison baseball team is now 2-2 after beating Riverview 15-1 on Thursday and Midland 11-7 on Monday. 

Carlisle had started the season 0-2 with losses to Atkins and Des Arc before getting on a winning streak this weeks. 

In the win over Riverview, the Bison scored twice in the first, six in the second, four in the third and three in the fifth. The Raiders lone run came int he bottom of the second. 

Coby Brown, Ben Orton and Blake White each scored three runs. Zac VanHouten scored twice. Also scoring runs were Creed Carer, Ian Seidenschwarz, Braiden Wakefield and Jasean Harper. 

The Bison had 13 hits. Getting two each were Brown, Orton, White, Carter,  Noah Seidenschwarz and VanHouten.

The Bison used three pitchers. Paxton Hitchings pitched the first inning while Noah Seidenschwarz and Wakefield pitched two innings each. Seidenschwarz got the win. He struck out give. 

“Tonight, we did a good job with a little adversity too,” first-year Bison coach Steven Tew said. “Paxton was scheduled to start. He went out there and stuck out the first two guys on six pitches, but after his third strikeout of the inning, he said he just didn’t feel right out there. We shut him down and had to go to our relievers a little earlier than expected.”

Tew said Seidenschwarz and Wakefield pitched well in relief.

“They threw a lot of strikes,” Tew said. “Our hitters did a great job shining the bat and continued to score runs. It made it a lot easier for those pitchers, who hadn’t gotten whole lot of experience pitching in varsity games yes.”

In the win over Midland, the Bison banged out 18 hits. 

White, Hitchings and Ian Seidenschwarz had three hits each. Carter and Noah Seidenschwarz had two hits each. Also getting hits were Eli Moody and Orton. 

White got the win, pitching four innings. He gave up one earned run while striking out eight. Hitchings got the save, pitching 2/3 of an inning in the bottom of the seventh.

“I’m very proud of how well the kids are playing right now,” Tew said “They’ve shown me a lot of positives and done a good job of trying to do things that we’ve been working on — a lot of what is new to them. We’ve definitely got some things to clean up and work but that just gets us something to focus on.”