The Greenwood Bulldogs defeated Benton Saturday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville to win the 6A State Championship.
Connor Noland was on the bump for Greenwood and he was nothing but stellar. He worked around a lead-off walk in the first to bring up the Bulldog offense who struck early. With two outs, Peyton Holt, doubled down the right field line. Noland was intentionally walked to put men on first and second for Colton Sagely who delivered. Sagely doubled on a line drive to left field scoring two runs and giving Greenwood the early 2-0 lead.
Benton went away quietly in the second and third inning as Noland shut them down in order. The Bulldog offense kept pushing as they added another run in the bottom of the third inning. Holt and Noland both singled to start the bottom of the third before Colton Sagely hit a sacrifice fly to center field. This made it a 3-0 ballgame and with Connor pitching the way he was it would take a miracle for Benton to come back.
The Bulldogs started a two out rally in the bottom of the fourth inning as Jackson Webb and Cooper Passmore both singled to right field. Peyton Holt kept the train moving when he doubled to right field knocking in Webb and making it 4-0.
Benton saw life in the top of the fifth with a two out rally of their own. After a hit by pitch and an error they had men on first and second with two outs. Noland would do what Noland has done all season long. He mixed his fastball and curveball to strike out the batter and end the threat from Benton.
Nothing else was going for the Greenwood offense in the game, but it was not a problem. Noland kept throwing heat on the mound. With two outs in the top of the seventh, Noland threw his last pitch of the season. A sharp grounder was hit to second base; Passmore grabbed it on the run, turned, and threw the runner out at first. Gloves went flying everywhere and there was a dog pile on the mound because Greenwood had just won their fourth State Championship.