MOUNTAIN HOME — Chase Davis scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a throwing error as Sheridan advanced to the Class 6A state title game with a 3-2 win over Benton on Saturday afternoon.
Sheridan will square off against another 6A-South Conference rival, El Dorado, at 10 a.m. next Saturday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.
The Yellowjackets grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Nick Ware led off with a double to right-center field and scored on an RBI groundout by Jake Smith.
Sheridan struck again in the bottom of the third when Ware scored on a Smith single to center with Ware just beating the throw and Benton’s catcher failing to hang on to the ball in a collision at the plate.
Sheridan right fielder Jake Crenshaw preserved the two-run cushion in the top of the fourth when Benton loaded the bases off Jacket starter Landon Huggins. Crenshaw caught a fly ball and threw a strike to Smith at the plate to cut down the runner.
Benton knotted the game in the top of the sixth, setting up Davis’ run on Panther miscues. Smith singled and Davis was entered as a courtesy runner. Benton attempted to pick Davis off first, but the ball sailed wide and into the right field corner, allowing Davis to land safely at third. Benton threw across the diamond to try to nail Davis at third, but the ball skipped away there as well, allowing Davis to stroll home with the eventual game winner.
Josh Miller, who came on in relief of Huggins with two out in the sixth, then worked around walks to the first two Panthers to start the seventh with a strikeout and two ground balls to Tyler Raney at second base.