ASHDOWN, Ark.-Ashdown baseball players would like to think Dugan Ward is looking down and smiling.
Jaden Hill won MVP honors after scattering three hits and striking out nine in 5 2/3 innings of work, while contributing a two-run homer in the Panthers' 8-3 victory Saturday against Greenwood in the second annual Dugan Ward Memorial Baseball Tournament.
A former Ashdown athlete, who played professionally for the Texarkana Gunslingers, drowned two years ago.
Hill was overpowering, but four Panther errors had him in trouble on more than one occasion. His pitch-count had climbed to 99 when he was relieved in the sixth by Cody Flowers.
"Hill hasn't thrown a lot of pitches for us in two years and I really didn't know what to expect from him," Ashdown coach Chuck Cross said. "Man, I couldn't be more proud of him. He wanted to keep going, but I had to take him out. It was just an unbelievable effort by him.
"His hitting and pitching, that's why he was the MVP. Greenwood could possibly be the best baseball team we see all year. We've got Pleasant Grove later. They never threw their best pitcher in the tournament. If he throws I know they're the best. From 1-to-9 that's the best hitting team Hill will see this year."
Catcher Alex Day led the Panthers at the plate with three singles and two RBIs. Bryson Haskins had a double and single, scoring two runs, while Logan Henry plated three runs with two singles.
Ryan Daggs drove in two of the Bulldogs' runs in the sixth with a double.
The Panthers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard.
Haskins was hit on an 0-2 count with one out, and stole second two pitches later. Haskins scored when Day lined a single over the second baseman's head.
Courtesy runner Kaden Stuart reached second on a wild pickoff attempt. Stuart moved to third on a groundout, scoring on Henry's single to left to make it 2-0.
Hill retired the first six batters he faced with four strikeouts, but he got in trouble in the third after walking Kameron Pugh, who reached second on a throwing error. He moved up to third on Jackson Webb's single to right, but was out at the plate trying to score on a wild pitch.
Webb ended up at second on the play, and was headed home when Colton Sagely singled to center. Centerfielder Bryson Haskins' throw and Webb reached the plate at about the same time, Day catching the ball and tagging the Bulldog runner on the head simutaneously to end the threat.
Hill crushed a two-run homer to left-center in the third to give Ashdown a 4-0 advantage. Day scored on the roundtripper after a one-out single to center.
Greenwood scored an unearned run in the fourth when Peyton Holt reached on an infield error. He promptly stole second and reached third on a wild pitch, eventually scoring on an errant pickoff attempt.
Earlier Saturday, Genoa Central rolled over De Queen, 12-1. Monticello took home the consolation plaque by defeating Arkansas High, 9-1; and Greenwood qualified for the championship game whipping Arkadelphia, 6-3.
The Badgers then lost the third-place game to Prairie Grove, 10-5.
In late Friday games Ashdown beat Prairie Grove, 8-5; and Monticello slipped past De Queen, 3-2.
Greenwood 000 102 0 3 5 3
Ashdown 202 400 x 8 9 4
Dylan Montgomery, Ryan Reeves (4), Brayden Partin (4), Issac Swartz (5) and Jace Presley; Jaden Hill, Cody Flowers (6) and Alex Day. WP-Hill (1-0); LP-Montgomery (0-1). HR-ASH., Hill, 3rd, 1 on.