The Paris Eagles concluded a very successful and dominant run through the 3A Region 1 baseball tournament on Monday when they capped off their appearances with a 15-5 victory over the top seed from the opposite side of their brackets, the Elkins Elks. Paris, once again getting outstanding starting pitching in the tournament, rode a complete game performance by starter Mason Bradley while shelling the Elkins pitchers for big innings on their way to the regional championship. The Eagles’ victory gave them the regional championship and a top seed in the 3A state tournament that will begin on Thursday. Elkins will be a number two seed in the state tournament. The first three rounds of the state tournament will be held in Harrison and Jack Williams / Pippin field.
In the earlier game played today, the Danville Little Johns defeated Booneville for the number three seed in the state tournament. Booneville will also advance to the state tournament as the number four seed on their side of the brackets.
The regional tournament played at Greenland High School saw the Eagles pitching staff pitch three complete games in as many days. The Paris defense and its pitching kept the Eagles ahead on the scoreboard all weekend and were never really threatened. Now, Paris will have a rested rotation and bullpen going into Thursday’s first round state tournament game vs. Rose Bud. That game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. on Thursday.
The 3A Region 1 tournament is comprised of the top four seeds from both the 3A-1 and 3A-4 conferences. The 3A-4, home to the Eagles and Booneville Bearcats, swept this year’s region baseball and softball tournaments, with the Lady Bearcats winning the softball regional over Lincoln, and Paris’s victory over Elkins in the baseball final. So, congratulations to Logan County and the 3A-4 baseball and softball conferences!
The Eagles are a confident, talented, and veteran ball club that is playing their best baseball at the right time of the season. They are clicking in all phases of the game, and when they take the field, they have an air of confidence that expects to win. In fact, I am going to say this as diplomatically as I can, but it is a travesty that this team did not place one Eagle on the all state team. I have seen politics enter into these decisions all too often throughout my career, and I am just going to say that it is a shame and will leave it at that. But watching this team over the weekend, I would say thanks to everyone who did not support them in voting for post season individual honors…this has provided motivation for their play so far, and I think it will continue to do so.
After the game, a jubilant Paris coach, Josh Hart, had this to say about his Eagles. “Words can’t express how proud Coach Devine and I of our team. These boys are giving it their all. They are hungry and I don’t think they will be satisfied unless we bring home a state title. This team is peeking at the right time and boy are they peaking! Our pitching has been phenomenal, our defense has been stellar, and our bats have been hot. We are taking it one game at a time with one goal in mind. If we keep playing this way, I don’t think they can be stopped. They are playing with confidence and this group of seniors are being the leaders they need to be to keep the team going.”
Resident News Network will be in Harrison on Thursday to bring you coverage of the Eagles’ first round game in the 3A state tournament when they take on the four seed, Rose Bud Ramblers. Watch for a recap of the Eagles Thursday game on RNN Friday night.
Congratulations to all of the teams, and congratulations to the Booneville Lady Bearcats on winning the regional softball title, and to the Paris Eagles for winning the regional baseball title!
See you Thursday in Harrison!
