Sports

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times The Farm Bureau Foundation will host “Aiming for the Future of Agriculture” Trap Shoot fundraiser, Friday, June 9, 2023 at the AGFC Foundation Shooting Sports Complex, 2800 Graham Road, Jacksonville, Ark. The entry fee is $500 for a 5 man team. The event kicks off at 8 a.m. with registration and breakfast. The Trap Shoot begins at 9 a.m. and the event concludes with lunch at 12 p.m...

By STEVE KNOX The Osceola Times Joey and Deanna Carr were both new college graduates when they moved from Central Arkansas to Blytheville in July of 1993. Joey had accepted a position as a teacher and girls basketball coach at the Armorel School District...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune BIC's Nicholas Patterson has been named to the Class 2A All-State baseball team for the second year in a row. Patterson helped lead the Mustangs to a 13-10 record finishing second in the Class 2A-3 conference, fourth in the 2A North Regional tournament and a state tournament berth where they lost to eventual state champion Woodlawn in the first round...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune EPC's Keegan McCorkle was selected to the Class 2A All-State softball team for the third year in a row after help leading the Lady Warriors to a 30-7 season and advancing to the state semi-finals. McCorkle shined at the plate and in the circle for EPC this past season as she posted a 30-7 record while pitching 217 innings. ...

By DAVID PIERCE Osceola Times Rivercrest High School hosted its annual athletic awards ceremony Tuesday, May 16 at the school’s auditorium. Student-athletes in nine sports were recognized for their achievements on the field and in the classroom. Karsyn Graham, one of eight nominees, was selected as the recipient of the Colt Award – the school’s high honor for student athletes...

Jason Durham, Riverside Athletic Director, welcomed athletes, parents and fans to the 2023 awards presentation on Tuesday, May 16. He commended all of the teams for an outstanding year. Girls basketball: Sr. Girls: Girls basketball Coach Tyler Timms, assisted by TJ Eakins, recognized the team for a 31-9 season. They were conference and regional champions and made the state quarter finals...

By DAVID PIERCE Osceola Times WILSON – The Rivercrest Colts wrapped up spring practice with an intrasquad scrimmage May 22. The team was divided into two squads – Team Koby (Turner) and Team Marcus (Slayton). That pair of seniors is expected to be among the top returners from the 2022 squad which finished 9-4 which included two playoff victories...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times ENID, OK - The seventh seeded South Arkansas Stars baseball team has been impressive thus far in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II World Series in Enid, Oklahoma. The Stars have won both their games going into Monday’s game again Southeastern by run rule...

By DAVID PIERCE NEA Town Courier An icon, legend, a maker of men… Nuh uh, Charlie Brown ain’t having it. The former Armorel High School educator and coach clasps those big ole hands as he shakes his head side to side; almost embarrassed to hear others heap that hefty praise on him...

By DAVID PIERCE Osceola Times CONWAY – Definitely not the result they wanted but the ‘team without a home’ will have some hardware for their new accommodations in 2024. The Rivercrest Colts (21-4) came up short in their bid for a 3A State Baseball championship Saturday in a 10-0 loss to Harding Academy, winners of three straight titles. Yet, the Colts still earned the state runner up trophy...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times Riverside High School and University of Central Arkansas star Gavin Stone has been called up to the major leagues and will make his second start of the 2023 season Monday in Atlanta against the Braves. Stone, a member of the Dodgers Triple-A Affiliate Oklahoma City baseball team, got his first start earlier this month in Los Angeles against the Philadelphia Phillies. ...

By STEVE KNOX - Osceola Times Newport native Grant Black is having a solid season on the mound for St. Louis Cardinals AAA Affiliate the Memphis Redbirds. The 6-5 right-hander had been particularly impressive over his last three outings prior to Sunday’s game against the Gwinnett Stripers...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times The Farm Bureau Foundation will host “Aiming for the Future of Agriculture” Trap Shoot fundraiser, Friday, June 9, 2023 at the AGFC Foundation Shooting Sports Complex, 2800 Graham Road, Jacksonville, Ark. The entry fee is $500 for a 5 man team. The event kicks off at 8 a.m. with registration and breakfast. The Trap Shoot begins at 9 a.m. and the event concludes with lunch at 12 p.m...

MEMPHIS, TN - The Memphis Redbirds ended their longest losing streak of the 2023 season with a 3-1, 10-inning victory over the Gwinnett Stripers Saturday night at Auto Zone Park. The Redbirds new left fielder Matt Koperniak blasted his first Triple-A home run of the season to walk off the Stripers. ...

The Arkansas Activities Association has announced the 2023 All-State baseball performers. Local athletes from the 3A Division include Trenton Middleton, of Gosnell; Brylan Honeycutt, of Harrisburg; and Kevin Morris and Conner Vaughn, both of Rivercrest...

The Arkansas Activities Association released its 2023 All-State softball team and eight area players made the list. In Class 1A Armorel’s Savannah Slater was named to the squad, Class 2A champion Riverside has two players named to the squad, Klaire Womack and Katie Ridge...

By MARCUS McCLAIN NEA Town Courier Spring football season has arrived and the Gosnell Pirates are back on the field working towards goals that could have them playing into mid-December. The Pirates finished with an 8-3 overall record last year, earning a third place finish in the 4A-3...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune In a game that saw Riverside's Klaire Womack and Mansfield's Alyson Edwards combine for 34 strikeouts, the Lady Rebels (25-4) plated a run in the top of the sixth inning to take the lead. Klaire Womack and Lady Rebels' defense made that lead stand up to give Riverside a 1-0 win over the Lady Tigers (28-4) Friday in the Class 2A softball state championship game in Conway. The state softball title is the first in school history...

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier Gosnell’s baseball season came to a close May 12 after reaching the elite 8 of the state tournament. The Pirates entered the tournament hitting on nearly all cylinders, carrying a seven-game winning streak. This led to the team being named as the dark horse to take the crown by SBlive - Arkansas for Class 3A. ...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune The Riverside Lady Rebels jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning and made it hold up as they beat Quitman 3-0 in the second semi-final game of the day this past Saturday to punch their ticket to the Class 2A state championship game next week in Conway. The Lady Rebels will play Mansfield...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune BIC (13-10) had trouble with both Woodlawn pitchers as the Mustangs' offense had only one hit on the on their way to 12-1 loss to the defending state champions Saturday in the Class 2A state baseball tournament being played in Greenland...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune EPC (30-7) got down 5-0, cut the lead to one, only to see back to back four run innings by Mansfield (28-3) push the lead 13-4 and the Lady Warriors could not mount a comeback in losing 14-4 in six innings in one semi-final game of the Class 2A state softball tournament Saturday in Greenland...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune Riverside (23-7) scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh to get within three before a fielder's choice grounder from Cash Gillis ended the game and season for the Rebels in a 13-10 loss to Cedar Ridge in the second round of the Class 2A state baseball tournament Friday in Greenland...

By STEVE KNOX The Osceola Times All three seniors on the Rivercrest cheerleading squad were recognized for their efforts and have been honored by the Arkansas Activities Association. Annabelle Chandler, a six-year member of Rivercrest cheer, has been honored and selected to the Class 3A All-State cheer squad and was named an All-Star. ...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times ROGERS - Rivercrest rallied from behind twice, once in the seventh inning to send the game to extra innings and for the win in the bottom of the ninth in an 8-7 victory over the Mayflower Eagles in the 3A State Tournament first round at Rogers...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times RUSSELLVILLE - Several area track and field athletes competed in the Arkansas Meet of Champions May 10 at Russellville High School. Among those competing in the boys events was 3A 100 meter and 200 meter dash champion Dreylun Haymon, of Osceola...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier The annual Troy Case Memorial Dinner and auction was held at Riverside High School on Tuesday, May 9. The dinner is held each year in honor/memory of former coach and principal Troy Case. The proceeds from the dinner go toward scholarships...

Southern Arkansas overcame an early deficit and completed the comeback with a bottom-of-the-ninth inning rally to capture the 2023 Great American Conference Baseball Championship title, 7-6, against upset-minded Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday from Arvest Ballpark...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times ROGERS - The result of Conner Vaughn’s 92nd pitch of the day was a ball fouled into the mitt of Rivercrest catcher Ian McClain for strike three. The play was the final one of the game as the Rivercrest Colts defeated the Charleston Tigers 5-0 to advance to the Class 3A baseball tournament semi-finals...

By DAVID PIERCE Osceola Times PRESCOTT – Gosnell and Manila’s girls track team didn’t fare as well as they would’ve liked at the 3A State Track and Field Meet last week at Prescott. Gosnell tallied nine points and Manila eight to finish 25th and 28th, respectively in the event won by the Mountain View Lady Yellowjackets...

By DAVID PIERCE Osceola Times PRESCOTT – Dreylun Haymon followed up his two district titles in the 100 and 200 meters with a sweep of the same events at the 3A State Meet in Prescott last week. In the 100 meter dash, the Osceola senior posted a winning time of 11.26, edging second place finisher Kylan Crite of Newport by two hundredths of a second...

By DAVID PIERCE NEA Town Courier LINCOLN – Marked Tree’s Kiasia Burns claimed two 1A State Track titles May 2 at Lincoln High School. On the boys’ side, Braylen Williams, of Ar-morel High School, captured the 400 meter state championship with a time of 52.6...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times TUCKERMAN - Joe Louis Ralph pitched a complete game two-hitter and the Rivercrest Colts would go on to defeat the Melbourne Bearkatz 3-1 in the semifinals of the Class 3A Region 2 baseball tournament at Tuckerman High School. Ralph outdueled Bearkatz ace Grant Wren, an Arkansas baseball commit, to get the win...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times TUCKERMAN - River-crest scored four runs in the first inning and three pitchers combined to toss a shutout as the Colts up-ended Cave City, 5-0, at the Class 3A Region 2 baseball tournament at Tuckerman High School. The victory guaranteed the Colts a spot in the Class 3A state tournament this week at Lincoln High School...

The fifth grade Dawgs Elite AAU basketball team took part in a one-day tournament in Jonesboro, Saturday, April 29. The boys played in two games and had one win and one loss on the day. Pictured above are team members Kadin Howard, DJ Lincoln, Colton Miller, MK Redmon, Gavin Lewis and Amari Burnett. The team is coached by Robert Burks and Sedrick Brown...

By STEVE KNOX - Osceola Times Rivercrest senior standout defensive back T.J. Scott has been added to the East squad for the upcoming Arkansas High School Football Coaches Association All-Star Game. All star games will be competed this year at the University of Central Arkansas June 23 and 24...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times EL DORADO - The South Arkansas Community College Stars baseball team completed a great regular season May 5 with a 7-6 win over SAU Tech, giving the team a four game sweep of their Region 2 rivals. Elijah Nichols, a graduate of Rivercrest, played his final home game for the team in the victory. ...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune BIC fell behind 3-1 early only to see a big fourth inning by Palestine-Wheatley (PW) push their lead to 10-1 as the Patriots would go on to beat the Mustangs 11-4 in the consolation game of the 2A North Regional Tournament this past Saturday in Lake City. BIC will advance to play defending state champion Woodlawn in the Class 2A state tournament at 10 a.m. in Greenland on Thursday, May 11...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune For the second week in a row, EPC (27-6) and Riverside (21-4) have played a softball game that was state final worthy as the Lady Rebels came away with a 3-2 walk off win in nine innings this past Saturday in the 2A North Regional Tournament in Lake City. ...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune Riverside got out to 4-0 lead after four innings before Bay cut the lead half after five innings before the Rebels kept the Yellowjackets off the board the last two innings to win 4-2 in the championship game of the 2A North Regional Tournament this past Saturday in Lake City. Riverside will play Murfreesboro at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 11 in Greenland...

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier The Lady Pirates’ softball season finished with a nail biting, 3-2 loss to Newport on May 4 in the regional tournament at Tuckerman. Gosnell ended the game on the sour end of a late comeback that captured the attention of the fans at both fields...

By DAVID PIERCE NEA Town Courier TUCKERMAN – The Gosnell Pirates scored three runs in the first inning, two in the second and four each in the third and fourth to capture a 3A Region 2 tournament crown Saturday here. Their run outburst coupled with the stellar pitching of junior Jake Reams led to a 13-0 run rule victory over Rivercrest, who they defeated two weeks ago in the 3A-3 District Championship...

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier In more ways than one, Manila's regional opener with Melbourne mirrored their season. With a historic run on the hardwood, time to prepare for baseball was limited, putting the Lions behind in the conference standings. Against the Bearkatz, a slow start put them behind the 8-ball as well. But in both cases, a decision to make the uphill battle gave them a chance to find success...

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier The Lady Colts’ season came to a close May 4 in the regional opener with a 8-3 loss against Salem. The Rivercrest offense lost its momentum at the most inopportune time over the past two games, also being held to 1 run in the district final...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune BIC (14-11) lost to Des Arc 5-1 in the opening round of the 2A North Regional softball tournament this past Thursday in Monette. The loss ended the season for the Lady Mustangs. The Lady Mustangs went down in order in the top of the first inning as Jaylyn Cagle and Hallee Wells both struck out before Sydney Bryeans popped out. ...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune EPC (23-4) took an 8-1 win over Marmaduke in one semifinal game of the 2A-3 softball district tournament this past Friday in Monette. Kelly Ashcraft had two hits, a run scored and a RBI to lead the Lady Warriors as Mercedes Reel finished with a hit, a run scored and a RBI. ...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune Riverside (17-4) held on to beat EPC (23-5), 1-0, to take home the championship trophy in the 2A-3 district tournament this past Saturday in Monette. It was their second 1-0 win in two days. Both teams will be in action next Thursday in the 2A North Regional Tournament in Lake City...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County BIC and Riverside played a game that was state final worthy as they battled it out with the Lady Rebels scoring in the bottom of the seventh to take a 1-0 win, on Klaire Womack's no-hit performance, advancing to the finals...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune Marked Tree (3-11) lost 21-6 to Maynard in the opening round of the 1A-3 softball district tournament his past Friday in Marked Tree. The loss ended the season for the Lady Indians. Maynard sent 14 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning and scored nine runs to take the early 9-0 lead over Marked Tree. ...