JONESBORO – Early runs for the Scrappers proved to be the difference in the quarterfinals of the state baseball tournament in Jonesboro. Nashville played Union Christian, the number one seed from the North regional, on the campus at Arkansas State University.

Nashville scored three runs in the first, to capture the 4-2 win and advance to face the Rivercrest Colts in the semi-finals Monday afternoon at Valley View High School.

Michael Nava pitched seven complete innings for the win. He allowed four hits, struck out 12 and walked four.

Union Christian’s Casey Mikula matched Nava, with five hits, 13 strike outs and four walks.

Michael Milum opened the game with a lead off single to left field. Tyler Serrano drew the first walk of the game, but the Eagles pitcher settled down and struck out the next two batters he faced. Bubba Browning calmly drove in Milum for a RBI on a single, and Serrano scored on a throwing error by Union Christian to take a 2-0 lead early in the ballgame.

Cade Richards would drive Browning in, and stretched his single into a double by taking second on the throw.

Union Christian bounced back in their half of the first with two runs of their own.

Following a walk, Kyle Mathis hit a single to score the Eagles first run of the game. Mathis advanced to second on the throw and moved over to third on a wild pitch. Mathis would later score on a wild pitch, to make the score 3-2 after one inning of play.

Nava would hit a double in the third, but be stranded at second by Union Christian. 

Mathis would walk in the third, but Scrapper catcher Lane Chism threw him out as he attempted to take second.

Milum would lead off the fifth with a walk and score on a single by Luke Jamison. Jamison drove the ball back through the box to center field. Union Christian would end the inning by throwing out Jamison when he attempted to steal second.

Josh Sherrouse would lead off the Eagles half of the fifth inning with a single, but Nava would pick him off at first with a good move. Dustin Flaspohler would get a single but no damage would be done for the remainder of the inning.

Nava had a double to lead the Scrappers while Milum, Jamison, Browning and Richards each hit singles for Nashville.

Flaspohler, Sherrouse, Dawson, Urrutia and Mathis had singles for the Eagles.

WHITE HALL - It took three pitchers and seven innings for the Dierks Outlaws to overcome the tenacious Poyan Indians Saturday, May 10, in the second round of the 2A State Tournament in White Hall.

Drew Walston started the game for the Outlaws in what looked to be an easy win for Dierks, but the Indians refused to accept defeat and tied the game in the sixth inning.

The Outlaws scored two more runs in the top of the seventh to give the Outlaws a 9-7 lead. Cody Chandler took the mound for the Outlaws in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn the 9-8 victory.

Dierks got things started quickly with Chase Mitchell reaching base on a hit that got past the shortstop and David Bray reached on a shot to center field.

Walston drove in the first runs of the game when he went yard for a three run homer over the left field fence for a 3-0 lead.

Walston dominated from the mound striking out two while giving up one hit in the bottom of the first inning.

The Indians proved they could score too with a run in the second inning.

24 got the inning started by reaching base on an error. Poyan was able to load the bases without achieving a single hit before 2 snuck one up the middle scoring 24.

The Bray-Walston combination was good for a run once again when Bray reached on a hit to centerfield before trotting home on a rope by Walston that bounced off the left field fence.

Joey Osbourne came in as a pinch runner for Walston and later scored giving the Outlaws a 5-1 lead.

In the fourth inning Mark Hill led off with a walk, but was thrown out at second when teammate Mitchell hit the ball to the shortstop.

Mitchell moved into scoring position by stealing second base. Walston was then intentionally walked to give the Outlaws two possible runs.

Chandler answered the challange with the next at bat by firing off a shot to right field scoring Hill.

Walston entered the sixth inning with twelve strikeouts, but lost sight of the strike zone walking the first two batters he faced.

Bray was asked to take the mound after Walston gave up a single to load the bases for the Indians. Bray appeared to have things under control when he struck out the first batter he faced, but then gave up a double to center field bringing the score to 7-3.

Bray went on to strike out three batters total in the inning, but not before Poyan was able to tie the game 7-7.

Undaunted by the comeback, the Outlaws focused on regaining the lead in the top of the seventh inning.

Ethan Mays reached base on a walk and was followed by Cody Stapp who beat out another beautiful bunt for a second baserunner.

Hill walked to load the bases giving Dierks the perfect opportunity to put the game away.

Mitchell followed him to the plate and drove Mays in for the go ahead run. Bray followed suit with a sacrifice fly that scored Stapp giving the Outlaws a 9-7 lead.

Poyan was unwilling to end their season and came out with a single by 24 as he tried to get another rally started.

Bray walked the next batter and then came out of the game with a sore elbow.

Chandler entered the game focused on preserving the win for the Outlaws. Things didn’t go as well as hoped when Chandler hit 17 to give the Indians the tying run on first base.

11 scored on a deep flyball to centerfield to bring Poyan to within one run, but the Outlaws regained control and ended the game with a 9-8 victory.

Chandler was credited with the win for the Outlaws giving him the both victories in this year’s state tournament.

1 pitched a complete game for the Indians and had five strikeouts and six walks in the loss.

Walston dominated the Indians with his bat. Walston was a double shy of hitting for the cycle and scored three runs while driving in four. Walston also drew two intentional walks.

Chase Mitchell hit well from the lead off position scoring two runs off three hits and drove in the go ahead run in the seventh inning.

Bray also had two hits, two runs and drove in one run in the Outlaws 9-8 victory.

Dierks will play Hampton Monday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m. at White Hall High School in Pine Bluff.

JONESBORO – Nashville used two home runs in the fifth inning to power past the Ricebirds of Stuttgart, in the first round of the state tournament on the campus of Valley View High School in Jonesboro.

Sophomore Luke Jamison pitched seven complete innings for the Scrappers on his way to the victory. Jamison struck out six and walked two, but scattered six hits over the seven inning contest.

Stuttgart used two pitchers during the game. Nick Koneony pitched five innings. He allowed five hits, including the two home runs. Koneony struck out six and walked six. He was relieved by Lukas Murray in the sixth inning. Murray gave up four hits and walked one, in his one inning of work.

Both teams managed a hit in the first inning, but both defenses stepped up, not allowing a run to score.

In the second inning, Stuttgart used a double by Trevor Freemyer to take one run, as Carrison Vaughn drove Freemyer in from second on a single to centerfield.

Nick Reeves would get the only hit for Nashville in the second inning with a Texas leaguer over the head of the second baseman into shallow right field. Reeves would be stranded on base with the Ricebirds leading 1-0, after two innings of play.

Jamison struck out two Ricebirds in the third and allowed a harmless double to right field to keep the Scrappers within one run going into their half of the inning.

Nashville loaded the bases as Koneony hit Michael Nava and walked Jamison and Bubba Browning, to load the bases with two outs. Koneony would get out of the inning without allowing a run to score.

Stuttgart would add another run to their lead in the fifth, as Logan Ward would score on an error by the Scrappers.

Nashville responded in the bottom of the fifth with two big shots from Tyler Serrano and Jamison.

Michael Milum led off with a walk and Serrano hit the ball over the centerfield fence to tie the score at two. Two batters later Jamison would drive one out of the park to give the Scrappers a one run lead, which proved to be the difference in the game.

Alan Copeland would hit a blooper into shallow leftfield to put runners on the corners for the Scrappers before Cade Richards was thrown out attempting to steal home on a double steal to end the inning.

Reeves led off the sixth inning with a single. Milum moved Reeves over with a single to left field. Stuttgart would walk Nava to load the bases with two outs. Jamison once again helped his cause by scoring Reeves from third on a squibber to the infield. Browning would follow by driving in Milum and Nava on a sharply hit single to left-center field.

Nashville scored three runs in the sixth to put the game on ice and advance to the semi-finals.

Jamison led the Scrappers from the mound and at the plate. Jamison had two hits; a home run in the fifth and a RBI single in the sixth.

Serrano also had two RBIs on his homer in the fifth. Browning had two RBIs on one single.

Reeves had two singles. Nava had a double and Copeland had a single during the game.

MENA-The Nashville Scrapperettes led the field in the 7-4A Distict Track Meet with 165.5 points with the Scrappers finishing third with 91.

Jaleesa Jetton and Jasmine Ellis once again led the Scrapperettes, with four first place finishes between them, to a first place finish in the district track meet.

The Scrapperettes were strong in every event and finished 1-2-3 in the 100-meter dash and 1-2 in the 300-meter hurdles and the triple jump.

100-meter dash: Jaleesa Jetton, first place (13.21); Melissa Millwood, second place (13.46); Jasmine Witherspoon, third place (13.54)

200-meter dash: Jasmine Witherspoon, third place (28.75)

400-meter dash: Jaleesa Jetton, third place (1:05.02)

100-meter hurdles: Jasmine Ellis, first place (15.80)

300-meter hurdles: Jasmine Ellis, first place (48.96); Melissa Millwood, second place (49.33)

4X100-meter relay, first place (51.80)

Pole Vault: Chelsea Vinyard, second place (9-4); Melissa Millwood, third place (8-6.75)

Long Jump: Jasmine Ellis, third place (15-11)

Triple Jump: Jasmine Ellis, first place (34-9.5); Sherri Ellis, second place (33-10.5)

The Nashville Scrappers continued to win in the field events with first place finishes in three of the six events. They combined their talents in the field events with a good showing in the 400 and the distance relay races for 91 points, enough to earn a third place finish in the district meet.
Pole Vault: Max Smith, first place (13-8); Corey Hockaday, third place (12-8)
Shotput: Marcus Wither-spoon, first place (49-1), Marcus Turner, second place (47-7.5)
Discus: Tyler Lingo, first place (145-7)
400-meter dash: Brandon Witherspoon, second place (52.82)
4x400-meter relay, second place (3:35.90)
4x800-meter relay, second place (8:48.32)

NASHVILLE – The Nashville Scrapperettes found themselves down by two runs in the first inning, and could not overcome the strong pitching performance of Chelsea Verser and Hannah Hargus.

Following a difficult first inning, Scrapperette Andi Reeves settled down to strike out two and scatter three hits. However, Heber Springs touched Reeves for three hits and two walks in the first which resulted in two runs.

Hilary Hargus hit a base hit for Heber Springs’ first hit of the game after Nashville tagged Tamara Moore out at second base. Hannah Hargus drove in her sister on a double that put Heber Springs up one to nothing. With two outs, Kasey Sumpter picked up the only other RBI with a single.

Katie Parrish reached base in the Scrapperette half of the first inning on an error and stole second and third base to get into scoring position. Heber Springs’ pitcher Chelsea Verser prompted the next three Scrapperettes to ground-out to end the inning and to strand Parrish at third.

Heber Springs had two runners on base during the second inning, but the Scrapperettes caught Ashley Barbie attempting to steal second and Morgan Anderson out at home, to keep the score 2-0 after two innings.

Reeves shut down the bats of Heber Springs in the third inning. Allison McJunkins put two Lady Panthers out on grounders to second.

Nashville’s Tiffany Lee reached base in the bottom of the third on another error by the Lady Panthers. Lee would reach third on two ground-outs by Brittany Pearson and Parrish, but Heber Springs ended the inning on a pop fly to right field.

It would not be till the sixth inning that Nashville would threaten to score again. Pearson reached on an error by the Lady Panthers and moved over to third, but Heber Springs would throw her out at home to keep the score 2-0.

After Reeves set the Lady Panthers down one-two-three in the seventh inning, Jessica Giachino drew a walk to put the lead off runner on first for the Scrapperettes. Reliever H. Hargus would strike out two of the next three batters she faced to end the game.

Nashville’s season ended in the semi-finals of the state tournament, but the Scrapperettes look to reload next season after losing only three seniors from this year’s team.

He was born on Aug. 12, 1934 in Daisy, the son of Ezra and Fannie Simmons Funderburk.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Louise Funderburk.

Jimmy was an avid hunter, fisherman, gardener and an all-around outdoorsman.

He is survived by five sons and daughters-in-law, Jimmy Ray and Marsha Funderburk of Camden, Johnny and Stella Funderburk, Nickey and Geraldine Funderburk, Greg and Velma Funderburk, all of Nashville, and Tracy and Mary Irvin of Newhope; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Glenda Irvin, Brenda and John Young, and Debra and Keith Tedder, all of Newhope; one brother, Vearl Funderburk of Delight; and four sisters, Erma Griffith of Rough and Ready, Calif., and Mazzie Brewer, Mildred Wiley and Murel Carr, all of Kirby; 17 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and his former wife, Sandra Kay Hardin of Nashville.

Memorial services were held Saturday, May 10, at Davis-Smith Funeral Home Chapel, Glenwood, with Bros. Kenny Fant and Raymond Dees officiating, under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home.

You may send an online sympathy message at http://www.wilkersonfuneralhomes.com.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Today, Teague is being endorsed by the Nashville News for the Senate District 20 position.

Teague is running against a fine man in Scott Sullivan, but Teague never lost his State Representative seat. He was unable to run for another term due to term limits.

Teague continued to serve in the office of Senator Jim Hill to stay informed of the issues that would be facing Arkansas for the next several years.

Teague is qualified to be our next senator because he has a record of service to the citizens of Southwest Arkansas.

He served on the Nashville City Council for five years, so he understands the problems facing small rural communities.

Teague was our state representative from 1997-2002. Following his service in Little Rock, he remained active in the communities surrounding Nashville and Howard County.

Teague is committed to issues that effect everyone in Southwest Arkansas.

He plans to continue the work started by Hill and other dedicated senators.

Teague hopes to help make I-49 a reality in our lifetime. He will work to make sure that Arkansans receive the health care they need and tackle difficult issues facing the senior citizens of Arkansas.

He also understands the necessity of jobs in our area. Teague is a local business owner and sees the problems facing small businesses. He also understands the need for more well paying jobs in our area. Teague will work to keep industries that are in Southwest Arkansas here to provide job opportunities for the
future.

Teague also recognizes the position of the government in stabilizing the economy.

Teague will work hard to help every citizen of Arkansas live the American Dream.
We are thankful for the service of Scott Sullivan, but it is time that Teague resume the service that he started and continue to move Southwest Arkansas forward.