Sports

MARIE - Rivercrest got home runs from Elijah Nichols and Conner Vaughn, while taking advantage of 10 walks, to post a 16-0 run-rule win Monday at Harvey Barton Field. The Colts scored once in the first, twice in the second, seven times in the third and six times in the fourth in earning the conference victory over the Hornets...

MARIE - Manila took an early lead and went on to defeat the Rivercrest Colts 9-2 Thursday in Conference 3-3A baseball action. The Lions scored four unearned runs, three in the first inning and one in the second, of Colts starter Conner Vaughn. Elijah Nichols surrendered four runs in the fourth and one more in the seventh, with only one of those runs being earned, as the Colts committed nine errors on the day...

MARIE - Rivercrest scored seven runs in the fourth inning to blow open a tight game against visiting Hoxie and went on to a 14-4 run-rule victory over the Mustangs Tuesday at Harvey Barton Field. The Colts and Mustangs were locked in a one-run game, with the Colts on top 5-4, after three innings. After holding the Mustangs scoreless in the top of the fourth, Rivercrest would score seven two-out runs in their half of the inning...

The Kekembas 10 U Live Arm baseball team sponsored by Kennemore Real Estate won their preseason league tournament held recently in Leachville. The team members are Jimmy Atchley, III, Cooper Chandler, Damion Daniels, Jake Gore, Rylan Griffin, Sebashtion Grindle, Ashton Harris, Rylan Hollins, Dennis Tucker, III and Cade Williams. The team is coached by Andre Harris, Jacob Grindle and Jon Williams...

The 12 U Kekembas, sponsored by Nucor Yamato Steel were the winners of their preseason league tournament April 9 in Lake City. The team members are Joshua Barclay, Lathan Bolden, Markavious Bruce, Dayvion Dixon, Marley Hill, Stephan Hill, Aden Lucius, Payton McCormick, Jayden Ralph, Hunter Rolland, Carter Sharp, Tylen Whitted and Nolan Williams. The team is coached by Jimmy Atchley and Josh Barclay...

The 8 U Kekembas, sponsored by Milan’s Mini Mart in Osceola, won their preseason league tournament recently defeating the runners-up Lake City Rebels. The team members are Jase Bell, Joshua Carter, Garrett Ferguson, Caleb Gray, Adrian Gregory, Weston Griffin, Christian Hill, Emorej Jackson, Jackson Lucius, Tripp Routledge, Major Tucker, Gregory Turner and Kane Vasquez. The team is coached by Shane Cagle, Chris Vasquez and Bob Sellars...

Osceola recently held open tryouts for the 2021-2022 Seventh Grade and Junior Lady Seminoles basketball teams. Osceola coaches Shane Young, Jarma Perkins and Indy Haynes selected the following young ladies for next seasons seventh grade squad: Landajah Brown, Natalie Dancy, Makayla Ewing, Kamariya Fowler, Kamryn Goodlow, Promise Hatch, Skyana Hill, Ranyah Joplin, Taraji Miller, LaKerria Stacy, Charlissa Thomas and Kyrie Woodson...

Osceola has lost all nine baseball games they have played this season but has shown some improvement of late. The Seminoles have been outscored 136-11 this season but has come close in two of their last five games losing a 2-0 at Harrisburg April 2 and 14-9 at home to Corning on April 6...

WALNUT RIDGE - Rivercrest overcame an early Walnut Ridge lead, scoring six times in the second inning, to claim a 9-1 Conference 3-3A victory over Walnut Ridge Tuesday. The Lady Colts loaded the bases in the top of the first with two outs but stranded all three runners...

CORNING - Rivercrest broke open a tight game with four runs in the fifth inning and scored sixth in the seventh inning to post a 12-1 Conference 3-3A victory over the Corning Lady Bobcats. With Rivercrest leading 2-0 after four innings, the Lady Colts added four runs in the top of the fifth. ...

MARIE - Rivercrest overcame an early BIC lead with a five run second inning and added four runs in the third and fourth innings and went on to defeat visiting Buffalo Island Central 13-1, in five innings, Monday. Senior pitcher Sydney Shempert had a huge game allowing only a single unearned run in the first inning and drove home five runs with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate, slamming a pair of doubles and hitting a home run for the second consecutive game...

Farm Bureau Insurance recognized the Lady Seminoles players of the month Thursday. Osceola Farm Bureau Agent Grant Barnett presented the award winners for November, December, January and February with a personalized basketball. Pictured are, from left, Barnett, November POM Kayla Newson, December POM Shaccoryea Weatherspoon, January POM Heavenly Hopper, February POM Doniah Haynes and Lady Seminoles head coach Shane Young...

Farm Bureau Insurance recognizes a Player of the Month from each school in its coverage area during the basketball season. During the COVID-19 Pandemic the awards could not be given in person. Thursday Osceola Farm Bureau Agent Grant Barnett presented the award winners for November, December, January and February with a personalized basketball. ...

Osceola will host a basketball tryout for all rising sixth grade girls interested in playing seventh grade basketball for the Lady Seminoles next in 2021-2022. The tryout will be held at the Osceola STEM Academy gym, Wednesday, April 14 from 3-4:30 p.m...

HOXIE - Hoxie scored a pair of runs in the first inning and went on to post a 6-0 Conference 3-3A victory over Rivercrest Thursday. Rivercrest, which had been unbeaten in conference play, was no match for the Lady Mustangs. The Lady Colts got two runners on in the first inning as Sydney Shempert and Railee Powell both walked with two out. But Hoxie would get out of the inning unscathed as Chesnee Chandler struck out to end the threat...

MARIE - Senior pitcher Sydney Shempert pitched six strong innings and senior catcher Paxton Pierce belted a long home run as the Lady Colts posted a 6-0 non-conference win over visiting East Poinsett County Monday. The Lady Colts scored all the runs they needed in the home half of the third inning as Emma Barnett doubled to center field and Pierce followed with a home run to right field to give RHS a 2-0 advantage...

OSCEOLA - Fifth ranked Rivercrest sent 24 men to the plate, scoring 18 runs in the top of the first and went on to post a 20-0, run-rule, win over Conference 3 rival Osceola. The Colts added two more runs in the second inning to set the final score of 20-0...

Manila senior Ty Wagner, Osceola junior Daylen Love and Seminole senior Chris Littleton have all been named to the Class 3A All-State Basketball squad. The Seminoles Littleton was also named to the Class 3A State Tournament team as well. Love averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds this season, while Littleton averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds for the Seminoles who finished 20-5. ...

A pair of Rivercrest football players and a pair of cheerleaders were named to the Arkansas Activities Association 2020-2021 all-star squads. Colt cheerleaders, seniors Lily Brooks and Caroline Booker, were named to the East All-Star Cheer squad. Both Brooks and Booker are multiple time state champions in cheer and excel as members of the Lady Colts softball team...

MARIE - The Rivercrest won a pair of games Saturday over the visiting Piggott Mohawks winning game one 12-2 and game two 11-0. RHS 12, PHS 2 The Mohawks grabbed the early lead as the first five hitters reached base. Two walks, a hit batsman, a fielding error and a run scoring double gave the Mohawks a 2-0 advantage. However, with the bases loaded, Colts starting pitcher Elijah Nichols would set down the final three Mohawks hitters on strikes, keeping the Piggott lead at two runs...

MARIE - Rivercrest rallied past Gosnell with a six-run fourth inning and went on to post a 14-4 run-rule victory over the Lady Pirates. Gosnell got on the scoreboard first with a pair of two out runs in their half of the second inning, as Emery Cash led off with a single and scored on a bunt by Aspen Austin. Logan Tilly who was hit by a pitch later scored on an error by Chesnee Chandler to make it 2-0 Gosnell...

Conference 3 is well represented in the April 5 Arkansas Media Baseball Class 3A rankings with three teams in the poll. The Rivercrest Colts have been voted to a tie for fifth place with Camden Harmony Grove (12-5, 4-1). The Colts swept a weekend doubleheader against conference foe Piggott to improve to 9-2 overall and 6-0 in conference play. This is the Colts first top five ranking in several years...

Williams Baptist University women’s track and field standout Hannah Baker, a sophomore from Osceola, Ark., set a new school record in the discuss toss recently. Baker hurled the discuss 31.18 meters, breaking the WBU record by nearly two meters while competing in the Carey Outdoor Challenge, at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Baker, a Osceola High School alumnus, finished in tenth place in the event...

Osceola Lady Seminole basketball stars, seniors Shacorreya Weatherspoon and Destiny Dyson, along with junior Doniah Haynes and sophomore Kayla Newson have been named to the 3A-3 All Conference team. Weatherspoon picked up an additional honor, being named the Class 3A All-State squad. The senior forward averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds per game this season...

CORNING - Rivercrest didn’t let having to move its scheduled conference game to Corning Tuesday because of wet grounds at Lady Colts Field. Instead Rivercrest turned in a stellar defensive performance into a 6-0 victory over the Lady Bobcats. The two teams played great defense and the starting pitchers kept runners off the bases until the top of the fourth inning when the Lady Colts Caroline Booker laced a double to left field. ...

By STEVE KNOX Times Sports Editor JONESBORO - Rivercrest lost two of three games in the Brookland Tournament played at the Southside Softball Complex in Jonesboro. The Lady Colts are now 6-3 overall this season. PHS 5, RHS 1 Paragould scored two runs in the first and three in the fourth to claim a 5-1, six-inning, win over the Lady Colts...

LAKE CITY - Rivercrest dropped games against the Highland Rebels and Nettleton Raiders in the Riverside Round Robin Tournament Monday. The Colts are now 6-2 overall on the season. HHS 11, RHS 1 Highland built a 9-0 lead after four innings and went on to defeat Rivercrest 11-1 Monday giving the Colts their first loss of the season. The Colts saw their six-game winning streak snapped as the Rebels took advantage of a pair of Colts errors to build a 4-0 lead after one inning...

MARIE - Elijah Nichols had four hits, including a two-run homer and Gunnar McCullar blasted a grandslam as Rivercrest defeated Riverside 13-3 Tuesday at Harvey Barton Field. The visiting Rebels grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as they touched Colts starter Mike Sharp for a couple of runs on an error and a wild pitch...

TRUMANN - Rivercrest baseball opened the 2021 season with a 12-0 shutout March 4 at Trumann. The Colts scored one run in the third inning, two in the fourth, six in the fifth and three in the sixth to claim the non-conference win over the Wildcats. The Colts took a 1-0 lead in the third as Jase Smith singled and scored on a single by Austin Elrod...

Rivercrest defeated Jonesboro, Armorel and Walnut Ridge and lost to EPC to start the 2021 season 3-1. RHS 16, JHS 1 The Lady Colts snapped a scoreless tie in the third inning with four runs and went on to a 16-1 season opening win at Jonesboro. Rivercrest broke open a tight game in the third as Laynee Gardner walked with one out and scored three batters later on a Jonesboro error to make it 1-0 RHS. ...

MANILA - Rivercrest scored seven times in the fifth inning to break open a tight game against Manila and went on to post a 14-4 victory over the Lions. The win improved the Colts to 4-0 on the season and 2-0 in Conference 3-3A play. The Colts broke a scoreless tie in the third inning as Austin Elrod hit a one out home run to left field, scoring Jase Smith who led off the inning with a single. ...

CLINTON - Osceola rallied to defeat Dumas in the opening round of the Class 3A State Tournament at Clinton High School and lost in foul plagued quarterfinal game to Mayflower. The Seminoles finished the 2020-2021 season with a record of 20-5. OHS 68, DHS 62 OT - First Round...

MANILA - Osceola got 21 points from sophomore guard Jerry Long and 11 points from junior Don Littleton as the Seminoles edged the Pangburn Tigers 52-50 in the Region 2 3A basketball tournament at Manila. The Seminoles win put them in the semifinals against the Newport Greyhounds and also earned them a spot in the state tournament at Clinton...

MANILA - Rivercrest saw its 2020-2021 basketball season end in the first round of the Region 2 Tournament at Manila as Conference 3-2A champion Newport bounced the Colts out of the post-season with a 61-46 win. The game was tight for most of the first half as the Colts and Greyhounds both struggled early to find their range from the field. Newport would hold a 12-8 lead after one period and 21-20 at the half...

MANILA - Mountain View raced to a 9-0 lead and went on to post a 61-26 “Sportsmanship clock” win over Osceola in the opening game of the Region 2 3A Tournament Wednesday. The depleted fourth seeded Lady Seminoles came in as a heavy underdog to the top seeded 2 3A champion Lady Yellow jackets, one of the top teams in the classification. Although they gave it their all, the Lady Seminoles were no match for the more talented Lady Yellowjackets...

MANILA - Osceola and Newport battled back and forth for 32 minutes and in the end it would be the Greyhounds who would get the victory in the Region 2 3A semifinal at Manila High School. The teams would both see big first half runs, the Seminoles getting out to a 10-4 lead before Newport would respond with a 14-3 run to take an 18-13 lead at the end of the first period. ...

MANILA - Osceola’s Chris Littleton nailed a three-pointer from the left corner with one second to play to rally the Seminoles past the Clinton Yellowjackets, 73-72, in the Region 2 3A consolation game Saturday at Manila Gym. The Seminoles 19-4, found themselves down two with the Yellowjackets shooting a pair of free throws with 14.4 seconds to play. ...

Rivercrest multi-sport athlete Jaylan West signed national letter of intent papers Thursday to attend Southeast Missouri State University on a football scholarship. West is the second Colts football player to sign to play college football next season. ...

OSCEOLA - Manila handed cold shooting Osceola a regular season ending, 41-28 loss Monday night at Seminole Arena. The Lady Lions 13-point victory gave them the third seed in the upcoming Conference 3-3A Tournament. Manila led from start to finish in posting the all important victory. Manila led 5-2 after one period and 15-11 at the break. The Manila lead grew to 27-20 after three periods and the visitors would build the lead to the final 13-point margin...

PIGGOTT - The Rivercrest senior boys traveled to Piggott Monday and defeated the Mohawks by a final score of 89-79 in the Conference 3A-3 basketball action. The Colts were paced by seniors Jaylen West, who scored 24 points, and Kam Turner, who scored 23 points and posted a pair of dunks. Carmelo Vasquez added 16 points, while Clay Burks had 13 points and Braylon Diggs added 11 points for the Colts...

PIGGOTT - Rivercrest pulled away in the second half to post a 60-38 season ending 3A-3 Conference victory over the Piggott Lady Mohawks. After the host Lady Mohawks had closed to within three-points in the second half Rivercrest would steadily pull away to the final 22-point margin...

HARRISBURG - Visiting Osceola jumped on Harrisburg early and never let up as the Seminoles rolled to a 79-21 Conference 3-3A victory Tuesday at Harrisburg. The Seminoles were dominant from start to finish as they played the game without leading scorers Daylen Love and Chris Littleton, who watched the game in their street clothes...

HARRISBURG - Osceola had little trouble in racing past outmanned Harrisburg, 52-8, Tuesday in 3-3A girls basketball action at the Hornets Nest. After a slow start, Osceola broke a 2-2 tie with a 13-0 run to build a 15-2 advantage. Osceola would use its pressure defense to build the lead and held a 15-3 lead after one period...

MARIE - Rivercrest, down to six available players, played hard but fell to visiting Manila 41-17 Thursday night at Rivercrest Gym. Manila won the opening tip but the Colts would force a turnover moments later. The Colts would come up court on to the offensive end and then held the ball in an offensive stall. Passing the ball from side to side, corner to corner...

MARIE - One night after struggling in a one-sided loss to Manila, the Rivercrest Colts handed visiting Walnut Ridge a one-sided loss. Junior Carmelo Vasquez scored a game-high 27 points as the Colts put the “sportsmanship clock” in play in a 58-32 Conference 3-3A win over the Bobcats...

Record setting Rivercrest quarterback/defensive back Kamron Turner signed a preferred walk-on agreement with Arkansas State University Friday. Turner turned down several scholarship offers with smaller schools in favor of walking on with the Red Wolves. ...

Gosnell football standout Druw Reynolds has signed his National Letter of Intent to play football next season at Northeast State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Reynolds was a star receiver and defender for the Pirates amassing 51 catches for 778 yards and six touchdowns 118 tackles the last two seasons, while appearing in 18 games. ...

PIGGOTT - Osceola went on the road and dominated Piggott as the Lady Seminoles rolled past the Lady Mohawks 59-30 Thursday at Piggott. Osceola opened up an early lead and built their lead over the next four quarters to gain an important Conference 3-3A victory...

WALNUT RIDGE - Rivercrest’s upset bid Thursday against Walnut Ridge came up just short as the Lady Bobcats held on for a 59-56 Conference 3-3A win at Walnut Ridge. Brineka Taylor scored 18 points to pace the Lady Colts/ Thalia Jones added 10 points, Carlisha Barfield had 9 points, while Railee Powell chipped in with 8 points and Tatiunna Burks had 6 points. Macy Henderson added 3 points and Ja’Nasia Thomas scored 2 points for the Lady Colts. Rivercrest was 4-of-9 from the free throw line...

Osceola won a pair of games defeating Hoxie 85-44 on the road and then returning home to blast Piggott. The Seminoles improved to 14-0 in conference play and claimed the regular season conference championship. OHS 85, Hoxie 44 Osceola met Hoxie for the second time in three days but this time pulled away in the third quarter to get the “sportsmanship clock” victory...