Badgers collapse against Nashville in region semifinal

By ISAAC BOURNE | The Arkadelphian

The Arkadelphia Badgers (14-9) suffered an 8-0 loss at the hands of the Nashville Scrappers (19-6) Friday afternoon in the 4A South Regional in De Queen. A huge sixth inning allowed the Scrappers to pull away from the Badgers, who just could not seem to get any runs on the board.

After trailing just 1-0 after a Nashville score in the 3rd, a controversial 3rd-out call on junior first baseman Kaden Brown at home plate prevented the Badgers from notching a potential game-shifting run. A disgruntled Arkadelphia team went into the fifth inning and allowed another run after an error by senior shortstop Donovan Whitten. From there, six runs in the sixth inning was enough to be the finishing blow to the discouraged Badgers.

On the pitching end, the game saw five innings of play from senior Carter Babb, with Whitten and junior Ashton Cobb also seeing time on the mound.

This loss brings the Badgers to a consolation final game in De Queen against the Magnolia Panthers, another conference opponent for Arkadelphia. The Badgers and Panthers are split 1-1 in their prior matchups this season. A win would give the Badgers a three seed heading into the state tournament next week, while a loss would put them at four in Lonoke.