Six trips by Arkansas teams, including two by Texarkana, and finally an American Legion World Series championship belongs to the Natural State.
The Red River Credit Union/TABA Texarkana Razorbacks gave the 8,496 fans at Keeter Stadium quite a show, especially since the vast majority were pulling for the Rowan County, N.C. team, which traveled just 83 miles for the World Series.
Both teams lost their opener and then won three straight, finishing second in their respective pools and then knocking off the pool winners in Monday's semifinals. North Carolina belted San Mateo, Calif., 13-4, and the Hogs topped Lockport, Ind., 4-1.
"It's been an absolute dream coaching these guys," Razorback manager Dane Peavy said. "They made my job easy. There's a lot of people who're going to give me a lot of credit for it, and I don't deserve a lot of credit. They did it all: they throw the ball, they hit the ball and they pitch the balls.
Rowan County (41-14) took advantage of some errors and wildness early to build a 4-0 deficit through four innings.
Texarkana (42-5) turned it into a new ball game in the fifth with four runs, and then in the top of the 12th plated four more to go ahead 8-4. The almost-home team plated two in the bottom of the 12th but was left with the bases loaded, as the Hogs clinched the title after 3:30 of play.
Will Smith, who had a 2-run home run against San Mateo, had an RBI in all five World Series games for Texarkana and was 2 for 5 in the championship. Smith was selected the George W. Rulon American Legion Player of the Year.
Texarkana's Logan Vidrine, who pitched 8-plus innings of 3-hit ball in the semifinal win, was selected as the James F. Daniel, Jr. Memorial Sportsmanship Award winner, and the Razorbacks coaching staff received the Jack Williams Memorial Leadership Award.
Also selected to the All-Tournament team were Razorback pitcher Austin Cross, center fielder Blake Hall and catcher Smith.
Cross, who took a no-decision after pitching eight innings and allowing seven hits against San Mateo Friday, worked 6 2-3 innings of relief for the championship win Tuesday. Parker Ribble was 3 for 6 with a pair of doubles and two RBI, and Nick Myers broke the 4-all knot with his clutch 2-out single to center field to drive in a pair. Ribble followed with his second double of the game for two more runs.
"I just told the guys how proud I was and I love 'em," Peavy said after the championship game. "There wasn't much left to say. If I had 16 sons that's how I would treat them; I love each and every one of them to death, and I hope that they know that."
The rest of the World Series champions are shortstop Riley Orr, catcher/outfielder Cole Boyd, outfielder Matt Goodheart, outfielder/pitcher Beau Burson, pitcher Patrick Flanagan, outfielder Jay French, pitcher Tanner Vaught, pitcher Zac Harrington, pitcher Hunter Lewis, and first baseman/pitcher Austin Stubber.
It was the third World Series trip for a Texarkana Legion team (Texas-side Indians went in 2009, Razorbacks in 1990) to qualify for the American Legion World Series, and both of those teams had reached the semifinals. Three other Arkansas teams had made the ALWS: Jonesboro, Bryant and Russellville, which has twice qualified for the national tournament.
"We didn't have that traditional No. 1 guy; we knew we were going to go out and play defense," Peavy said. "Our guys were going to come at you and hit spots, and that's what we continued to do. Myself, my coaching staff, my kids, we know what our game plan is every time we go out. I probably haven't had but four hours sleep the entire time I've been here just because we've been watching film and preparing.
"It's been a total team effort in everything that we've done. It's indescribable, honestly, because so much hard work and effort has been put into this, and to see your dreams materialize in front of your face, it's overwhelming."
Assisting Peavy were Jonathan Orr, Reid Peavy, Jonathan Boucher, Carlton Bailey and Seth Bearden.