The Greenwood Bulldogs have put together a fine record (18-10) in their first full season under Head Coach Chad Mercado, finishing in a three-way tie for second place in the 5A West conference standings. Unfortunately, the league’s tie-breaking procedures were not kind to the Diamond ‘Dogs, who will open state tournament play at Jonesboro as the #4 seed from the West against the top-seeded Sheridan Yellowjackets from the 5A South. That game is Thursday at 3 p.m.
The Van Buren Pointers (12-2) won the regular season league title in their first year in the 5A West after dropping down from Class 6A. Greenwood, Greenbrier, and Russellville finished with identical 10-4 conference marks, but the Bulldogs were seeded fourth because of earlier losses to the Cyclones and Panthers.
Greenwood split a doubleheader (1-1) with Greenbrier but suffered a sweep (0-2) by Russellville. Those were the first four league games of the season. After that, the Bulldogs went 9-1 in conference play. Should the Bulldogs defeat Sheridan on Thursday, they will face the winner between Benton and Batesville in the second round on Friday at 5:30 p.m. The semifinals will be on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. with the state finals set for Benton High School the following weekend.
“Going into the tournament, we just make sure all of our guys are prepared and ready to contribute when their name gets called,” said Coach Mercado. “We don't give too much thought to the [bracket], because we know that no matter what, we've got to beat good teams to get to where we want to go. So, Landry [Jurecka] gets the ball game one and we'll take it from there,” referring to his team’s best starting pitcher.
“We've played tough competition throughout the year, which has given us the chance to continue to learn and prepare for the situations we'll see as we progress through the tournament,” the coach continued. “We feel like our guys are ready, so now [we] just show up and leave it all out on the field.”
Greenwood completed its league schedule on April 26th with a pair of wins over the Alma Airedales before taking on a series of non-conference foes, all Class 6A teams, in preparation for the state tournament. Those games included a recent shutout win over Fayetteville and losses to Rogers and Springdale Har-Ber.
Mountain Home
On April 20th the Bulldogs hosted the Bombers and completed a doubleheader sweep with back-to-back victories, 11-1 and 10-6. The opener lasted just five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule, but the nightcap ended after 6½ frames. Winning pitcher Landry Jurecka went the distance in game one, while fellow senior Reed Carroll started game two and went four innings, though reliever Austin Mitchell eventually earned the win with three innings of work.
The home team took advantage of some early defensive miscues by the Bombers to plate nine of their 11 runs. The ‘Dogs scored twice in the first, seven times in the second, and twice more in the fifth to build their 10-run margin. Greenwood had only three hits in the game, but obviously made them count.
Senior outfielder Chance Eoff had a pair of doubles and two RBIs, while Landry Jurecka aided his own cause with an RBI single. The Bulldogs benefitted from three bases-on-balls in addition to the visitor’s fielding lapses. The GHS hurler had nine Ks with no walks and allowed three hits. Mountain Home’s only run was unearned.
In game two, Greenwood jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after two frames, but briefly surrendered the lead to the Bombers in the fifth inning, 6-4. The Bulldogs then regrouped and scored four times in the bottom of the fifth and added two more runs in the sixth. Uncharacteristically, Greenwood was charged with seven errors in the game. Only one of Mountain Home’s six runs were earned.
Reed Carroll led 4-0 before giving up two runs in the top of the third, only one of which was earned. After throwing a scoreless fourth, he was replaced by senior Colton Payton, who gave two walks and allowed three unearned runs without recording an out. Mitchell then entered and pitched the last three innings in relief as his teammates rallied for the win.
Offensively, the Diamond ‘Dogs had six hits, including two by sophomore Aiden Kennon, both doubles, driving home three runs. Also getting hits were Dylan Strozier with a double, Harrison Adams with a double and RBI, Chance Eoff with a single and RBI, and Bryce Morgan with a single and RBI. Adams and Kennon scored two runs each.
Rogers Heritage
On April 22nd Greenwood traveled to Rogers to take on the Heritage War Eagles in what turned out to be a pitching duel between the two starters. Hunter Houston started for the Bulldogs and went four strong innings, giving up only two runs before being relieved by Jake Baxley, who gave up just one run but was tagged with the tough-luck loss.
The Heritage starter pitched himself in and out of trouble for five-plus frames before leaving the game with two outs in the sixth, having yielded eight GHS hits and issuing six walks. The visiting Bulldogs put runners on base in every single inning, but couldn’t get big hits when needed, leaving numerous runners stranded.
Greenwood sent eight hitters to the plate in the top of the first, scoring both of their runs on a double by Reed Carroll, an RBI triple by senior Caden Brown, and an RBI single by Hunter Houston. The Bulldogs then loaded the bases with two outs but did not score again. They also loaded the bases in the second inning with one out, but a lineout to shortstop stifled a potential rally.
Rogers scored in the bottom of the first, but trailed 2-1 until tying the game in the fourth before scratching out the winning run on a hit batsman, a stolen base, and an RBI triple in the sixth. The War Eagles put two runners on in the sixth as well, but both were stranded by GHS pitching. Greenwood got a lead-off walk in the fifth, but a double play ended the threat.
The Bulldogs received a walk in both the sixth and seventh innings and had runners at second base in each frame, but could not score. Caden Brown walked to lead off the seventh and stole second base, putting the tying run in scoring position, but he was stranded to end the game.
At the dish, the Diamond ‘Dogs totaled eight hits, three of them belonging to Reed Carroll, including a double. Hunter Houston also had two hits with an RBI. Caden Brown had a triple and a run batted in as well to account for the GHS runs.
Alma Airedales
On April 26th the Bulldogs hit the road for the short journey to Crawford County, closing out their conference schedule with a doubleheader at Alma. GHS pitching held the Airedales to only nine hits and two runs across both games, winning 7-1 and 12-1. Landry Jurecka started the opener and pitched into the sixth inning for the win, striking out 13 Alma batters. Reed Carroll started game two and nearly went the distance as well, requiring only one out from the GHS bullpen.
Greenwood bats accounted for single runs in each of the first three innings, then one more in both the fifth and sixth frames before pushing across two more in the seventh. The Airedales’ only run came in their last at bat in the seventh, but senior reliever Coleton Payton closed out the inning, leaving two enemy runners stranded.
The Bulldogs had eight hits in the opener, with Aiden Kennon and Andrew Elliott getting two knocks each. Both players had a single, double, and a run driven home. Chance Eoff also singled and had an RBI to go along with four stolen bases. Bryce Morgan also singled and drove home a run.
In the nightcap, the Bulldogs saved their offensive ammunition until late in the game, scoring seven times in their seventh at bat for the 12-1 victory. Scoreless after two frames, Greenwood broke the scoring drought with solo runs in the third and fourth innings and three runs in the fifth. Once again, Alma did not score until the seventh.
The Diamond ‘Dogs out-hit the hometown Airedales 10 to three and Alma made six defensive errors to allow Greenwood to score four unearned runs. Starter Reed Carroll fanned a dozen Alma hitters, who generated just three hits off the GHS righthander. Coleton Payton recorded the final out on the mound for Greenwood.
At the plate, the visitors had four extra-base hits among their 10 knocks, including a pair of doubles from Dylan Strozier, who drove in three runs. Carroll tripled and Andrew Elliott added a double and RBI. Hunter Houston had two singles and two RBIs. Aiden Kennon and Luke Brewer also had single RBIs in the game.
Springdale Har-Ber
On the last day of April, the Bulldogs were once again on the road at Springdale Har-Ber in non-conference action, falling to the Wildcats, 10-4. Sophomore pitcher Hunter Houston started the game but allowed six runs (3 earned) over two innings. Austin Mitchell followed Houston and pitched three frames, giving up four earned runs in the third inning. Coleton Payton finished the game for the visitors.
Trailing 10-0 early, the Bulldogs didn’t score until the latter innings, plating a run in both the fifth and sixth frames and two more in the seventh on a total of eight hits, all but one of them singles. Dylan Strozier had two hits, as did Aiden Kennon. Both players also had solo RBIs. Bryce Morgan added a single and RBI and Caden Brown had a double.
Rogers
With their post-season fate settled, the Bulldogs hosted the Mountaineers last Friday in a pitching duel that ended in the visitors’ favor, 2-0. The home team was able to muster just three hits against two opposing hurlers. The Rogers’ starter went six innings, yielding all three hits and a pair of walks. GHS hitters went down in order in four of their seven at bats, including the sixth and seventh innings and never sent more than four hitters to the dish in a single frame.
For the Bulldogs, Coach Mercado used three pitchers to give them all work and keep them sharp for the upcoming playoffs. Matthew Munday (3.1 innings), Landry Jurecka (2.0), and Austin Mitchell (1.2) all toed the rubber for Greenwood. Jurecka started for Greenwood and gave up a earned run on four hits and eventually took the loss. Munday also surrendered an unearned run on four hits. Mitchell gave yielded two hits but no runs. The trio combined for six strikeouts in the game.
The visitors scored a solo run in the top of the first and added another tally in the fourth on a total of 10 hits. Both teams committed an error. The Bulldogs’ three hits came off the bats of Chance Eoff (2) and Bryce Morgan, all singles.
Fayetteville
This past Monday the Bulldogs hosted the Purple Dogs and came away with an impressive 5-0 win. Fayetteville is headed to the Class 6A playoffs later this week in Fort Smith, but could manufacture no runs and only three hits against a quartet of GHS pitchers.
Reed Carroll started for the home team and went 2.2 innings, followed to the mound by relievers Hunter Houston (2 innings), Coleton Payton (1.1), and Austin Mitchell (1). They combined to give up just three hits, five walks, and no runs while fanning eight opposing hitters.
At the dish, the Diamond ‘Dogs scored two times in the third inning, twice more in the fifth, and once in the sixth off a parade of five Fayetteville hurlers. Only two of the five runs was earned as the Purple Dogs made two costly errors. Despite the victory, only four Bulldogs hit their way on base, though two were extra-base knocks and each drove home a run.
Reed Carroll and Andrew Elliott whacked the two doubles, while leadoff hitter Dylan Strozier and first baseman Matt Munday added singles, with Munday’s hit also driving in a pair of runs in the third inning. Elliott’s two-bagger came in the fifth and Carroll’s in the sixth.