Dane Peavy's Red River Credit Union Razorbacks are still reaping rewards from winning the American Legion World Series last summer.
The Razorbacks lived up to billing Sunday at George Dobson Field by winning the third annual Phil Sandoval Memorial Tournament over the host Guaranty Bond Bank Bulldogs, 9-3.
Now Peavy's squad travels to Alabama for another tournament next weekend. Then it's on to South Carolina for another event before
returning to Texarkana.
"I don't think we felt a lot of pressure coming into this tournament; We teach our kids to just play games," Peavy said. "We don't really worry about tournaments, or tournament championships until we get to the end. We felt like we had to come out and win five games, and that's what we did."
RRCU (9-1) was on cruise control in both of its' Sunday games, beating the East Texas Renegades, 10-0, prior to the title encounter with the Bulldogs.
The Razorbacks never trailed, scoring three unearned runs in the first and four more in the second for a 7-0 advantage. Tyler Moreland's three-run home run in the second accounted for the most exciting fireworks. The Genoa Central graduate will play at Arkansas State University next season.
Southpaw Austin Cross pitched the first four innings for the win, allowing three runs on three hits, while walking none and striking out five. Justin Swecker held the Bulldogs scoreless the final three frames on three hits with four strikeouts.
"Swecker was out last summer with a stress fracture in his elbow," Peavy said. "He's all healed up and ready to go now. Justin is probably throwing 88-89 with his fastball.
"In our first ten games I've kind of felt like we're in a lull. We're waiting on 9,000 fans showing up in the stands. Hopefully our trip coming up will humble us. We're looking forward to playing some great competition, which we hope gets us rolling. We know there's some great teams in the Southeastern region of the United States.
"Winning the World Series has definitely put us on a national scale. We're excited to get this opportunity to travel and play."
Riley Orr and John Michael Russ led the winners at the plate with two hits each.
Despite the final margin, Bulldogs' right-hander Jake Thompson was impressive on the mound. He allowed only one hit after the second inning, finishing with fur walks and four strikeouts.
Chris Sutton had two hits for the Bulldogs (9-2), with Connor Allred contributing a two-run triple in the third.
Junior Division
The host Junior Bulldogs won this grouping at Joe Blagg Field Sunday by defeating previously unbeaten Mount Pleasant, 5-4.
Payton Trammell was the winning pitcher, with Kade Wood and Matthew O'Neal contributing two hits each.
The Bulldogs beat the Junior Razorbacks in the semifinals, 3-2, while the Tigers outscored the Leopards, 12-4.
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Semifinals
Razorbacks 10, Renegades 0
Tanner Vaught was near perfect on the mound and got lots of offensive support Sunday morning in blanking the East Texas Renegades.
Matt Goodheart led the winners at the plate with a double, two singles and four RBI.
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Bulldogs 5, Braves 3, 8 innings
Bryan Moore and Chris Lyles delivered run-scoring hits in the eighth inning as the host team beat Ada (Okla.), which scored in the bottom of the seventh on Texarkana's first error of the game.
Southpaw Rory Baugus pitched seven strong innings for the Bulldogs to get the win, with Slayton Holland holding the Braves scoreless in the eighth for the save.
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Championship
Razorbacks 9, Bulldogs 3
Bulldogs=003=000=0==3=6=2
AAA Razorbacks=340=200=x==9=7=1
Jake Thompson and Hayden Hackett; Austin Cross, Justin Swecker (5) and Kade Garmony. WP-Cross; LP-Thompson.
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Semifinals
AAA Razorbacks 10,
East Texas Renegades 0
Renegades=000=0==0=2=2
AAA Razorbacks=121=6==10=9=0
Game called after 4th, 10-run rule.
Josh Simmons and Brooks Minter; Tanner Vaught and John Michael Russ. WP-Vaught; LP-Simmons.
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Bulldogs 5, Ada 3, 8 innings
Bulldogs=201=000=01==5=10=2
Ada (Okla.)=100=100=10==3=9=0
Rory Baugus, Slayton Holland (8) and Triston Brooks; Ty Gibbs, Cole Broughton (3), Darien Davis (8) and Hunter Searight. WP-Baugus; LP-Davis.