Gragg Pitches Prairie Grove Into Regionals

Tigers Play At Home At 3 p.m. Thursday

MIKE CAPSHAW ENTERPRISE LEADER Prairie Grove senior Logan Gragg pitched the Tigers’ way into regionals during a 10-3 win against Gravette on Thursday in Gentry. Prairie Grove is hosting the 4A North Regional and plays at 3 p.m. on Thursday.
MIKE CAPSHAW ENTERPRISE LEADER Prairie Grove senior Logan Gragg pitched the Tigers’ way into regionals during a 10-3 win against Gravette on Thursday in Gentry. Prairie Grove is hosting the 4A North Regional and plays at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

GENTRY --A five-run fifth inning was more than enough cushion for Prairie Grove starter Logan Gragg to finish off Gravette during a 10-3 victory in the 4A-1 Conference Tournament on Thursday.

The victory secures the Tigers' spot in the 4A North Regional, which they will host this week. The Tigers are the No. 4 seed from the 4A-1 and will play Thursday at 3 p.m. against the winner of the 4A-4 Conference Tournament.

"We do feel better punching our ticket [to regionals] today," said Prairie Grove first-year coach Chris Mileham. "It takes a little [pressure] off, but there's a lot of work left to do."

Gragg, who entered the tournament leading the league with 80 strikeouts in 48 innings, had struck out just four Lions through the first five innings.

"We knew we were going to face Gragg and rose to the challenge, in my opinion," said Gravette coach Randall Hunt. "We had a great approach, but tip my cap to him, he's an outstanding pitcher with a very bright future ahead of him."

The Connors State signee struck out five while retiring the final six batters in order. He allowed just one earned run on five hits and finished with 9 strikeouts by throwing first-pitch strikes to 21 of the 29 batters he faced. Gragg said it "feels great" to make it to regionals and said he was extra fired up after his team's five-run fifth inning.

"The momentum had me going," Gragg said. "Our defense was playing well behind me and our dugout was impressive -- It was a great time."

Gravette had trimmed the Tigers' lead to 5-3 with two runs in the top of the fifth inning.

"When Gravette threw up that two spot, it looked like they were going to kind of crawl back into it," Mileham said. "And we responded with five runs in the bottom [of the inning]. That right there, in my mind, absolutely contributed to the tough early schedule that we put them through. And I think the best is yet to come."

Prairie Grove's offense exploded for 12 hits and were led by Gavin Heltemes (3 for 3 with three RBIs) and Clay Fidler (2 for 4 with three RBIs).

Shiloh Christian 4, Prairie Grove 1

The top-seeded Saints used a three-run third inning and a solid pitching performance by senior left-hander Gunner Gilbert to advance to Monday's title game.

Josh Lantzsch led the way with three RBIs, including a two-run single in the third inning. He put the Saints on the board in the first when he drove in Michael Connolly, who laced a single off first base to leadoff the inning. Luke Johnson also had an RBI single in the third.

Gilbert scattered five hits while striking out five to pick up the complete-game victory. Prairie Grove's Logan Gragg led off the fourth inning with a double and later scored on a fielder's choice to prevent the shutout.

Prairie Grove will be without coach Chris Mileham for the first game at regionals after the first-year Tigers' coach was ejected while arguing a call at second base in the bottom of the third inning.

Sports on 05/04/2016