What else is coming up in today’s Bulletin?

🎙️ Darby Burnett on her next steps and time at Bentonville
📈 Who’s heating up when it matters most?
🏆 Handing out awards for Team & Athletes of the Week

Let’s dive right in!

🎙️ Moving Forward. Bentonville pitcher Darby Burnett is about to end her high school career with the Tigers and take the next step to the SEC, playing at Texas A&M. The senior would love to end her time at Bentonville with another state championship. She joined Alyssa Orange to talk about her softball journey, the recruiting process and the advice she would give to younger players who want to play at the next level.

🥎 Tiger Takedown. Bentonville is headed back to the Class 6A state championship game after holding off Bentonville West for a 7-3 semifinal win. Junior Isabella Mears delivered a clutch two-run double in the fifth inning, while senior Marissa Gianneschi and senior Violet Nguyen helped spark the offense late in the game. In the circle, senior Darby Burnett struck out nine to seal the victory. Bentonville will chase its third straight state title when the Lady Tigers face Har-Ber in the 6A championship game for the third-straight season.

💪 Back on Top. For the first time since 2019, Benton baseball is headed back to the 5A state championship game. The Panthers punched their ticket with a big 15-7 comeback win over Greene County Tech. Despite trailing 7-3 in the fifth inning, the Panthers exploded for nine runs. The run was sparked by back-to-back hits from senior Marcus Bates and sophomore Easton Snellings, followed by a three-run homer from sophomore Caleb Curry.

❌ No Quit. Bryant baseball fought hard in extras, using a 6-run ninth inning to pick up a 12-6 win over Conway. Despite dropping both regular-season meetings to Conway, Bryant was able to battle back, ending the Wampus Cats’ 11-game winning streak. Senior Andrew Tate-Lee sparked the offensive explosion with a two-run single, while sophomore Nathan Nalley and senior Jeremiah Motes each added RBI singles to help Bryant pull away.

⚾️ Springdale Har-Ber came through, battling back from a 3-run deficit to take down defending state champ Rogers with a 6-4 victory. The Wildcats’ offense came alive in the sixth inning with four runs, highlighted by RBIs from senior Logan Thessing and senior Caden Rundle. After falling to Rogers twice during the regular season, the Wildcats found redemption at the perfect time and will now face Bryant for the 6A state title.

⚾️ Har-Ber’s Max Stewart delivered in the biggest moment of the Wildcats’ season, helping send the Wildcats to the state championship game with a clutch performance in a 6-4 win over defending state champion Rogers. With the game tied 4-4 in the top of the ninth inning, the senior ripped a go-ahead RBI double to give the Wildcats the lead.

⚽️ Sophomore Mikayla Sullivan delivered when Bentonville West needed her most in the Class 6A quarterfinals, helping lead the Wolverines to a hard-fought 4-3 win over Conway. Sullivan broke a 2-2 tie less than a minute into the second half when her shot slipped through the goalkeeper’s hands to give Bentonville West the lead for good.

May 22:
⚾️ 6A Har-Ber vs. Bryant, 7:00 pm | Watch Here
⚾️ 4A Brookland vs. Pulaski Academy, 1:00 pm | Watch Here
🥎 6A Bentonville vs. Har-Ber, 4:00 pm | Watch Here
🥎 4A Warren vs Monticello, 10:00 am | Watch Here

May 23:
⚾️ 5A Benton vs. Valley View, 4:00 pm | Watch Here
🥎 5A Benton vs. Farmington, 7:00 pm | Watch Here

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