ALWS Day 3: Texarkana bounces back
Texarkana's Matt Goodheart had a two-run triple to spark his team's win Saturday. (Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion)

ALWS Day 3: Texarkana bounces back

Two critical base-running errors in the eighth and ninth innings killed rallies for Texarkana, Ark., Post 58 on Friday in a 4-2 loss to California. But after a slow start Saturday against Cumberland, R.I., Post 86/14, the Razorbacks turned things around and put themselves in a position to advance from American Legion World Series pool play.

A six-run fourth inning set up Post 58’s 8-3 win that left both teams 1-1 in pool play. Texarkana (39-5) didn’t let the California loss hang around very long on Saturday.

“We just had to realize it was a new day,” said Texarkana leftfielder Matt Goodheart, who was 2-for-5 with a two-run triple. “Not that (the California game) didn’t matter at all, but we’re still in this. In our past two tournaments we’ve lost the first game of the tournament anyway. We knew the first game shouldn’t put a damper on the rest of the tournament for us.”

Things didn’t look to be going Post 58’s way early. Cumberland’s Tyler Calabro reached on a fielder’s choice in the first inning, and Tyler Walsh followed with a single. Chris Wright then drilled a line drive into center field that just got past diving Texarkana centerfielder Blake Hall’s mitt, bringing home both baserunners.

Neither team could muster any more major threats until Texarkana’s big fourth inning. With one out, Parker Ribble and Beau Burson hit consecutive singles. One batter later, Riley Orr reached on a fielder’s choice and error, bringing Ribble home from second.

Matt Goodheart followed with a triple to right-center field, scoring Burson and Orr, and then came home himself on a wild pitch. A single and error put Cole Boyd and Blake Hall on base, and Will Smith then delivered a two-run single that put Texarkana on top 6-2.

“We’ve hit well all year,” Goodheart said. “Our strongest attribute’s probably offense. We knew it was just a matter of time.”

Cumberland (34-5) came back with a run in the top of the fifth on singles from Josh Brodeur and Calabro, and a Texarkana wild pitch. But two innings later Post 58 responded with a two-run rally of its own. After Orr and Goodheart each singled, Hall brought Orr home on a bunt and Goodheart scored on a fielding error on the same play, pushing the advantage to 8-3.

Texarkana’s Tanner Vaught (1-0) pitched a complete game, scattering 12 hits. Post 58’s defense didn’t commit an error, while Cumberland was charged with four. Cumberland pitcher Ryan O’Neill allowed all eight runs – none earned.

Cumberland will face California (2-0 in pool play) Sunday, while Texarkana faces Virginia (0-2).

“We’ll go out there and give it 100 percent, but that should be a given,” Goodheart said. “We just need to have a good night, (and be) focused and ready to play.”