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THREE RIVERS EDITION/RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE DIAMOND ROUNDUP SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2020
MCCRORY JAGUARS
With 7 returning starters, Jaguars look to compete
PHOTOS BY STACI VANDAGRIFF/THREE RIVERS EDITION
McCrory senior Tyler Blackmon delivers a pitch during an Arkansas Select Tournament game against Jonesboro on March 2 at Harding Academy in Searcy.
BY MARK BUFFALO
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
McCrory’s baseball Jaguars are used to going deep into the playoffs each year. Despite what appears to a be a subpar record, they did
just that last season.
McCrory finished 17-16 but advanced to
the semifinals of the Class 2A State Tourna- ment, beating Flippin 16-6 and Parkers Chapel 5-4 before falling to powerhouse Woodlawn 7-6. The Bears finished as the state runner-up.
McCrory won the 2A-6 Conference, then won the district tournament. The Jaguars followed that up by winning the regional tournament, beating Bay 8-6 in the championship game.
The Jaguars return seven starters from a year ago.
“We want to improve each and every day,” longtime McCrory coach Glen Campbell said. “We want to learn to play as
Conference: 2A-6
Coach: Glen Campbell
Assistant coach: Chris Kennon 2019 record: 17-16
Returning starters: Seniors Tarzan Alumbaugh, Colby Lane and Tyler Blackmon; and sophomores Cason Campbell, Lathan Briley, Reid Kennon and Keaton Bull
a team and build character along the way. “Our biggest goal is to play 100 percent
every day and make the state tournament.” The returning starters include sophomores Cason Campbell, Lathan Briley, Reid Kennon and Keaton Bull; and seniors Tarzan Alumbaugh,
Colby Lane and Tyler Blackmon.
Coach Campbell said the team’s best hitter
for average is his son Cason. A year ago, Cason hit .453 with 48 RBIs, 15 doubles and 4 triples. The team’s best power hitter is Alumbaugh, who hit 8 home runs a year ago, the coach said, and the team’s best fielder is Cason
Campbell.
The best speed on the team belongs to
Kennon and freshman Akeem Tucker, and the team’s best pitchers are Cason Campbell and Kennon, Coach Campbell said.
As a freshman, Kennon threw the most pitches on the team with 816, and Cason Campbell was third with 712 pitches.
The coach said games to watch include ones with conference teams Marked Tree and East Poinsett County and nonconference games with Parkers Chapel and Junction City.
McCrory sophomore Cason Campbell prepares to take a swing during a game against Harding Academy on March 2.
MCCRORY BASEBALL
APRIL 2
APRIL 6
APRIL 7
APRIL 9
APRIL 10 ................................................ BAY APRIL 14 ................EAST POINSETT COUNTY* APRIL 16 ..................................CLARENDON* APRIL 18 ..................................WONDERVIEW APRIL 21 ............................ @MARKED TREE* APRIL 23 ..........................@CROSS COUNTY* APRIL 24 ......................... @PARKERS CHAPEL APRIL 25 .... JUNCTION CITY @PARKERS CHAPEL
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
.................................MARKED TREE* ..................... @PALESTINE-WHEATLEY .............................. CROSS COUNTY* ....................................... @BARTON*
AUGUSTA • 888-210-8514 BRINKLEY • 888-245-6505 WEST HELENA • 888-291-3938 USED PARTS • 888-393-7640