Bulldogs hoping to save celebration
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Sports/65195/
The post-game reaction wasn’t typical of a team headed to the state championship game.
Fayetteville had just beaten North Little Rock on the Charging Wildcats’ home field, but any euphoria following the 6-4 win Monday in the 7 A semifinals at Burns Park was tem- pered by what lies ahead.
The two-time defending state champions weren’t ready to revel in their victory. They hope to celebrate in earnest Friday afternoon at Baum Stadium, site of the 7 A state title game against Springdale Har-Ber.
Rather than exulting in their triumph, the Bulldogs (29-3 ) soberly strode off the field in a manner suggestive of a nonconference victory. Players intoning the mantra of “ one more game to go ” was the only indication that Fayetteville was on the verge of another state championship. For a team’s that’s won three since 2003, a semifinal victory is old hat.
The muted celebration was a reflection of the cool demeanor Fayetteville displayed during the game. While state tournament pressure forces other teams to make uncharacteristic errors, Fayetteville has shown that it’s impervious to big-game nerves.
The Bulldogs’ semifinal win, scoring 4 unearned runs on as many North Little Rock errors, was reminiscent of their 10-0, run-rule win over Texarkana in the 2006 state championship game. The Razorbacks committed seven errors that led to 8 unearned runs.
Mistakes are magnified in the state tournament. The team that makes the fewest prevails most often. North Little Rock (20-11 ) coach Randy Sandefur said his team’s four errors were an anomaly.
“ Uncharacteristically, we made some errors, ” Sandefur said. “ We misplayed some balls. That’s life. That’s baseball. There’s not one of those guys out there who did it on purpose. It just happens. I look at the board and I see four errors, I don’t see North Little Rock doing that, especially this late in this season. ”
Mistakes are inevitable, but Fayetteville has been almost infallible in games of consequence. The Bulldogs were flawless in the field after a first-inning error allowed North Little Rock’s only unearned run to score. Slick-field shortstop Adam Baker authored five of Fayetteville’s eight infield assists. His glove squeezed the final out of the game.
Fayetteville’s defensive aplomb is one of the factors contributing to its 17-2 record in games decided by 2 runs or less. In games decided by 1 run, the Bulldogs are 9-1. The close calls have taken their toll on venerable Fayetteville coach Vance Arnold. After a 3-2 win over Van Buren in the state quarterfinals Saturday, Arnold admitted as much.
“ I think the kids are just waiting to see if I drop dead after all these close ones, ” Arnold said.
Arnold may be nervous on the inside but he projects an aura of calm that pervades his team. His composure was needed after North Little Rock scored two runs in its last at-bat and brought the tying run to the plate.
There was no handwringing on Arnold’s part. Instead of panicking, Arnold was the picture of repose as he repositioned his infielders and outfielders. Though he affected a calm presence, Arnold was racked by anxiety.
“ That last inning, when [Scott McFall ] walked those two with two outs, you’re going, ‘ ugh, gosh, somebody’s going to hit it out of here, ’” Arnold said.
McFall was the hero of Fayetteville’s semifinal win. He came on for senior starter Spencer Hansen only 18 pitches into Hansen’s outing. McFall delivered Fayetteville from the bases-loaded, noout jam he inherited with North Little Rock scoring only 2 runs.
He retired 17 of the next 21 hitters he faced before encountering a rough patch in the seventh. McFall’s only walks of the game came in succession to North Little Rock’s No. 1 and 2 hitters with two outs. Bryan Bryles ’ frozen-rope double scored both runners, prompting Arnold to dispatch assistant coach Randy Salsbury to the mound.
“ Randy went out, ” Arnold said. “ He always talks to [the pitchers ]. It’s a confidence deal. He told [McFall ], ‘ hey we’re back here with you. You’ve got a lead. Don’t be afraid of them. ’ Credit Scott. He’s matured as a person and a player this year and just did a fantastic job. ”
With his confidence buoyed, McFall induced Hunter Benton into an infield pop-up that ended the game.
Fayetteville now turns its focus to Har-Ber. The Bulldogs have won two of the three games they’ve played against the Wildcats this year. A 6-4 loss to Har-Ber late last month in the nightcap of a 7 A-West Conference doubleheader ended Fayetteville’s 24-game win streak and served as the lone blemish on its otherwise spotless conference record (13-1 ).