Winning state championships is nothing new for the Woodlawn High School baseball team, but this year’s squad has a chance to make state history.
Woodlawn will play for its 10th state championship at 4 p.m. Saturday when the Bears face Ouachita in the Class 2A finals at the University of Central Arkansas’ Bear Stadium in Conway.
Woodlawn (34-1) would tie Pine Bluff for the most Arkansas state baseball titles if the Bears can win their fourth-straight. The Zebras last won in 1995, while Woodlawn has won all of its titles since 2008.
Except for the 2020 season, in which no state champions were crowned because of the covid-19 pandemic, Woodlawn has reached the state finals every year since 2016. The Bears’ only finals defeat in that time came in a 2-1 loss to Junction City in 2019.
Ouachita (20-11) has won two state championships, most recently in 2015.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
This state championship will be a conference matchup. Woodlawn went undefeated to claim the Conference 2A-8 championship, while Ouachita finished second. The Bears handed the Warriors their only two conference losses, 7-3 and 9-6.
The Bears went on to win the 2A South Regional tournament, while Ouachita finished third. The two did not meet at regionals.
Woodlawn reached the finals by defeating Mountainburg 11-2, Riverside 1-0 and Cedar Ridge 8-5 in the Class 2A state tournament at Palestine-Wheatley. Ouachita defeated Greenland 6-0, McCrory 4-1 and Rector 8-4.
Woodlawn’s only defeat this year came to Gosnell, which will play in the 3A finals Saturday morning.
A Bears win would bring a third state championship this year to southeast Arkansas. The Pine Bluff boys basketball team and Sheridan softball team also won titles this season.