Victory, so sweet! : Siloam 14-year-old All Stars roll into Babe Ruth State Championship

By Graham Thomas Sports Writer grahamt@nwanews.com

BENTONVILLE — Siloam Springs came into Monday’s winner’s bracket final with a small ball gameplan and expecting to face Mountain Home ace pitcher Trey Killian, who struck out 17 batters in a tournament-opening, 2-0 win over Springdale. A sore arm prevented Killian from pitching but Siloam Springs’ gameplan didn’t change and the team worked it to perfection in a 14-3 victory in five innings Monday at the North Arkansas 14-year-old Babe Ruth State Tournament at Phillips Park. Siloam Springs got on base early and often, stole bases, suicide squeezed and even stole home plate to manufacture runs. The team has now scored 48 runs in three tournament games. “Bunt and run,” said Siloam Springs manager Jim Snodgrass. “That was the name of the plan today and it worked. Offensively, we did what we wanted to. We had a gameplan coming in and our boys executed it.” Siloam Springs played in the championship Tuesday evening against a team to still be decided. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Siloam’s Allison receives A2 Camp invite

By Tim Ritter Sports Editor timothyr@nwanews.com

One of Arkansas’ top high school volleyball players is taking her game to the national level. Siloam Springs High School junior setter Hannah Allison recently was selected as the first volleyball player from the state of Arkansas to be invited to the A2 camp held this week in Tucson, Ariz. Allison will be competing with and against girls her age from all across the United States for 10 days. Allison, who made the A1 team as a sophomore, but was unable to participate due to a wrist injury, said she’s looking forward to this summer’s camp. “I’m not going to be nervous. I’ve been in club volleyball enough that I always find someone that I know, plus this is another great opportunity to meet girls from all over the country,” Allison said. Allison and the other campers will spend six days training before going through the final four days with live game competition. Also, Allison and her Ozark Club volleyball team recently placed ninth overall in the Silver Championship of the 2008 16-and-under National Division to - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Panthers finish 4-3 at 7-on-7 tournament

By Tim Ritter Sports Editor timothyr@nwanews.com

The Siloam Springs Panthers may have graduated the majority of its offense, but the continued preparation in 7-on-7 competition is paying off. The Panthers, behind the leadership of junior quarterback Bryan Adair, finished the VYPE Select 7-on-7 National Tournament in Fayetteville with a 4-3 record. On Friday, in the opening round of pool play, the Panthers defeated Des Arc (27-12 ), Bryant (26-10 ), Gentry (28-9 ) and Springdale Har-Ber JV (25-2 ). The Panthers reeled off three straight wins after dropping a 28-10 decision to Fayetteville in the tournament opener. Shiloh Christian also defeated the Panthers, 25-17. On Saturday, the Panthers lost to Gravette, 23-4, in Round 1 of the tournament. Gravette progressed to the consolation semifinals, following victories over Little Rock Christian (29-20 ) and Nashville (29-22 ). In the consolation semifinals, Springdale Har-Ber edged Gravette, 20-14. Har-Ber went on to defeat Rogers, 37-22 to win the consolation championship. Pulaski Academy, who finished the tourn - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

HOG CALLS : Williams seeks ‘bigger’ role for Razorbacks

Nate Allen

FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks want D.J. Williams a little bigger for the much bigger role planned for him this season. Former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt and his regime obviously thought highly of the tight end from Central Arkansas Christian or they wouldn’t have signed him last year a true freshman. However, with an attack geared around now NFL tailbacks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, that staff had the luxury of gradually working Williams into the offense. There’s nothing gradual that new coach Bobby Petrino and his staff project for Williams. They want a big-time, spread offense passing attack, and Williams proved last spring he’s the best receiver they’ve got. And they still want to run the ball. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Naturals’ relief staff shuts down Travelers

By RICK FIRES Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

SPRINGDALE — No starter? No problem. Northwest Arkansas’ bullpen by committee approach worked just fine Monday as the Naturals defeated Arkansas, 2-1 before 4,365 at Arvest Ballpark. Chris Nicoll, Gilbert de la Vara and Chris Hayes held Arkansas to a combined seven hits and retired 20 consecutive batters during one stretch. Juan Richardson had three hits for the Naturals, including a sixth-inning home run that broke a 1-1 tie. The home run was the second in two days for Richardson, who hit a grand slam in Sunday’s 6-5 victory at Springfield. The victory for the Naturals (13-10 ) was their eighth in the past nine games. Cody Fuller hit a home run for Arkansas (7-16 ), which has lost 14 of its past 19 games since a major overhaul of its roster. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Mavericks continue quest through 13-and-under AAU tourney

Staff Reports

NORMAN, Okla. — The Arkansas Mavericks, a ninth-grade girls’ basketball team coached by Siloam Springs resident Jerry Larkin, finished 1-1 in the Classic round of the winner’s bracket of the 13-andunder AAU National Tournament. The Mavericks opened tournament play Monday morning with a 59-39 win over Oklahoma Bobcats, before falling 76-72 to SE Tenn. Extreme. The loss moved the Mavericks into the loser’s bracket of the Classic round where they played North (New Jersey) Blast on Tuesday. Over the weekend, the Mavericks finished third in its pool with a 1-2 record. The Mavericks defeated the Georgia Pistols Gold (44-36 ), before losing to Oklahoma Select (67-46 ) and Missouri Dream Team (48-27 ). The Mavericks are comprised of three girls from Siloam Springs — Lindsey Larkin, Makenzie Sharp and Emery Rakestraw — as well as girls’ from Springdale, Lincoln, Prairie Grove and Bentonville. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Siloam Springs rallies past Fayetteville

By Graham Thomas Sports Writer grahamt@nwanews.com

BENTONVILLE — If you’re a pitching and defensive baseball purist, you probably didn’t want to witnes what happened Friday night in Bentonville at the North Arkansas 14-year-old Senior Babe Ruth State Tournament. Siloam Springs and Fayetteville combined to score 46 runs, issue 28 walks, hit seven batters with pitches and commit 12 errors in a wild 25-19 Siloam Springs victory in the second scheduled game at Phillips Park. Yep, you read it right, 25-19 and it’s not a football score. “Nineteen runs,” said Fayetteville coach Robert Gibson. “I’ve been a part of baseball since I was 6 years old and I’ve never been a part of any game where my team scored 19 runs and we got beat.” Said Siloam Springs coach Jim Snodgrass after the game, “That game was a pitching duel to see who could walk the most.” Both coaches agreed they had never been a part of anything like that. The game, which started two hours late because of the first game between Jonesboro and Fort Smith Boys Club, lasted three hours and 45 minutes and set t - Sunday, July 13, 2008

SPORTS NOTES

FOOTBALL Panther Camp Siloam Springs head coach Clint Ashcraft will hold his annual camp for kindergarten through seventh grade boys July 15-17 at Glenn W. Black Stadium. - Sunday, July 13, 2008

Razorbacks launch new Web address

Staff Reports

FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas fans will soon have a new Web address for the latest information on Razorback athletics as the all-new ArkansasRazorbacks.com launches July 21. - Sunday, July 13, 2008

Voice of the Naturals : Davis carries on family tradition in broadcasting

By Rich Polikoff Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

SPRINGDALE — Four years ago, Steven Davis’ career plans didn’t include being a radio announcer for a minor league baseball team. In fact, the voice of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals had another line of work in mind altogether. Davis wanted to be a basketball coach. Then a senior at the University of Kansas, Davis was in his fourth year as manager of the men’s basketball team. Before that he had been a volunteer assistant at Lawrence (Kan.) High School. Yet as much as Davis loved being involved with basketball, there was another group of athletes he wanted to be around more: the Kansas City Royals. “I would have been happy to (be a coach), but I didn’t want to spend the summer sweating. I - Sunday, July 13, 2008

FROM THE BENCH : Pagnozzi serves Northwest Arkansas with a ‘charitable’ heart

Tim Ritter

FAYETTEVILLE — Ask retired University of Arkansas head baseball coach Norm DeBriyn to talk about his passion for America’s Favorite Pastime — baseball — and his words are overflowing. Ask the 33-year coaching veteran to reflect on his personal relationship with Tom Pagnozzi and his face lights up. Pags, according to DeBriyn, is a man with a giving heart. “He will go out of his way to help others,” DeBriyn said. As the President of Pagnozzi Charities, the former St. Louis Cardinals Golden Glove catcher (Pagnozzi) believes that the youth of Northwest Arkansas should have every opportunity to participate in sports. “Our mission is to open the door of athletic experience to disadvantaged youth,” Pagnozzi said in the organization’s Youth Sports Scholarship Program brochure. “Our goal is to advance the well-being of youth by giving them the same opportunity as their peers and introducing them to positive life experiences.” Founded in 1999, the charity was conceived by Pagnozzi and DeBriyn as a way for “Pags” to giv - Sunday, July 13, 2008

OKLAHOMA FISHING REPORT

Bell Cow: Elevation normal, water muddy. Bass good on spinnerbaits and plastics. White bass good on cut baits and dough baits. Crappie good on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County. - Sunday, July 13, 2008

Naturals look to reschedule concert

Staff Reports

SPRINGDALE — The Northwest Arkansas Naturals have released details for customers affected by the suspension of the July 3rd game against San Antonio at Arvest Ballpark, which was to feature a post-game performance by the North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and a fireworks show. The game was suspended in the bottom of the seventh with the two teams tied 5-5. Tickets may be exchanged beginning today at the Naturals box office in exchange for tickets to future Naturals games at Arvest Ballpark up to the value denoted on the face of the ticket, subject to availability (a $20 special event from the July 3rd game is good for $20 credit for future Naturals games.) The Naturals will be working with the North Arkansas Symphony orchestra on a makeup date for the concert. Further details regarding the date were released on July 10th. When that date has been set, fans may redeem their July 3rd tickets to return for that engagement, which will use up the entire value of their ticket. Anyone with questions regarding the tick - Sunday, July 13, 2008