With the heavy rains that have soaked most of the state, Wednesday was filled with doubt as to whether the non-conference match between Dover and Paris scheduled for ARVEST Ballpark in Springdale would be played. But as it turned out, the rain stopped, and Northwest Arkansas seemed to be not as affected by the heavy rains as had the River Valley. So, it was “game on” in Springdale, and on a cool and overcast afternoon that eventually turned to night in an extra innings thriller, the Paris Eagles completed a comeback to win in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Eagles won in “walk off” fashion when senior Nate Henderson sacrificed a lead runner to third base and was followed by another senior, Cooper Haley, hit the game winning RBI to score Konnor Edwards from third with one out to defeat Dover, 9-8. Junior relief pitcher, Mason Bradley, in a gutty relief appearance, got the win on the mound for the Eagles.
Eagles coach Josh Hart, thrilled with his team’s effort and comeback win at ARVEST Ballpark, said after the game that he thought, “It will be a game that they will remember for the rest of their lives and will talk about for a long time. It was an awesome experience getting to play on such a nice field and win in a thrilling nine inning, one run game.”
And thrilling it was. Paris started the game with a big first inning, retiring the side in the top half and then scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Dover then scored in a big fifth inning to give the Pirates a 6-4 lead. Coach Hart said after the game, “But we never backed down or let it bother us. Mason Bradley came in to relieve in the fourth and shut them down holding them scoreless for five and two thirds innings. That was huge for us. He gave us the chance by holding them to come back and tie it in the sixth. That allowed us to set up the walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth. These boys just don’t have any quit in them and never get rattled.
This special group of seniors will be honored tomorrow in a Senior Day pregame ceremony in their last home game. The opponent will be Booneville, and I expect this very special group of Paris athletes will give it their best in their final home appearance in a Paris uniform.
The Paris win over the 4A Dover Pirates was a big one for the Eagles as they now prepare to end the conference season and look ahead to the district tournament and beyond. The Eagles are deep in talent and experience, and have plenty of pitching to make a deep run in the state tournament.
Resident News Network Sports will be in Alma today to bring you coverage of a non-conference game between Paris and the Lady Airedales. First pitch in Alma is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Stay with RNN Sports for the latest in River Valley baseball and softball action!
