FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.-Spring Hill is in the Arkansas 2A state championship game for the first time under head coach Rusty Winfield.
The Bears (24-9) take on Saint Joseph (17-9-1) today at 3 p.m. at Baum Stadium on the campus of the University of Arkansas.
Spring Hill has a veteran starting lineup with three seniors and five juniors. The Bears have won two of their three state tournament games by one run.
"The kids are resilient and just refuse to lose," Winfield said. "We've had to battle hard to get to the championship game as we come out of a tough region. There has always been someone that has stepped up when we've needed it. Our pitcher has been doing a good job of throwing strikes. If someone is not hitting, there has been someone else that has stepped up and hit."
Starting on the Hill for Spring Hill is junior Kaleb Blair, Josh Winfield, a senior, is the catcher, senior Daden Reed plays first, junior Cameron Middleton is at second, freshman Wesley Featherson plays third, and junior Will Phillips rounds out the infield at shortstop.
Sophomore Lewis Chambliss plays left field, senior Blake Waller is in center, junior Parker Freeman starts in right, and junior Conner Bell is the designated hitter.
"Saint Joseph's starting pitcher is pretty good, has a lot of strikeouts, and they've been very successful with him on the mound," Winfield said. "He is also a good hitter. We are going to do whatever we need to do to try and score against him up
there."