Ashdown Panthers honor fallen teammate, celebrate historic win

CONWAY, AR (KTAL/KMSS) – On Friday, Ashdown faced Genoa Central in the AAA Class 3A state championship, on the hunt for the first baseball state championship in school history and its 24th win; something much more than just another win.

A Nathaniel Thomas RBI single got Genoa Central on the board first in the top of the second, but Ashdown was not about to back down coming up win an answer immediately after.

With two outs, Kutter Dollarhide had a base hit to second, bringing home Tyler Porter who was waiting at third to tie the game up 1-1. Dollarhide was safe at home.

In the next inning, Porter’s bunt brought in a run as well as allowed the time for him to make it safely to one. Ashdown took the lead for the first time of the day.

In the fifth inning, Porter, once gain, but this time he found the gap between left and center, bringing home Wood Walton to touch home for the Panthers, tacking on another run to Ashdown’s lead, 3-1.

In the sixth, Dollarhide stole home off a wild pitch to extend the lead 4-1.

Kyler Jones was on the mound for the Panthers for most of the day, with Walt Jones as the relief, delivering the final dagger in Ashdown’s 4-1 victory.

“Emotions that I can’t even explain,” head coach Jordan O’Bannon said. “I mean we’ve had a heck of a year.”

Friday’s win makes for the first state baseball championship in school history.

“Out of this world, I mean we’ve been here two other times than this, my freshman and sophomore year, but we couldn’t get it done and this year, we came out a little slow, but I mean, we got it done,” senior Gunnar Altenbaumer said.

While it is exciting to win a state championship, this win, 24th win of the season, has even more meaning to the team.

“We had a kid here that passed away years ago. He wore the number 24. And we just ended with win number 24,” O’Bannon said. “I’m about to go and cry. This is a magical year.”

The Panthers finish the season with a record of 24-8 and hardware to bring home.