Bulldogs resist Warriors' late rally, win school's first state title

Shelly Sconce/SOUTH CALLAWAY HIGH SCHOOL photo
The South Callaway Bulldogs gather in a pile in the moments after their 4-3 win over Valle Catholic in the Class 2 state championship early Thursday night at Meador Park in Springfield. The Bulldogs' state title is the school's first in any team sport.
Shelly Sconce/SOUTH CALLAWAY HIGH SCHOOL photo The South Callaway Bulldogs gather in a pile in the moments after their 4-3 win over Valle Catholic in the Class 2 state championship early Thursday night at Meador Park in Springfield. The Bulldogs' state title is the school's first in any team sport.

SPRINGFIELD - Jared Wood needed more.

Not more on the field. His South Callaway Bulldogs had just taken care of that with a 4-3 win over the Valle Catholic Warriors to capture the Class 2 state baseball championship early Thursday night.

No, Wood needed more noise. The Bulldogs' first-year head coach raised his hands, imploring the South Callaway faithful at Meador Park to get louder, to get crazier.

Then the noise died down, with the Bulldogs standing on the first-base line. Facing its team, the contingent readied itself for the official trophy and medal presentation.

"Sweet," yelled one South Callaway fan as the rest of the crowd fell quiet.

Sweet it was for South Callaway. The Bulldogs (21-5) - closing the season with a nine-game winning streak - were state champions for the first time in school history. Not just in baseball, but period.

In this, its first trip to the final four, South Callaway will return to Mokane with the state champion's hardware.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.