By Jason Avery
News-Times Staff
EL DORADO - Six Union County baseball players were recently honored for their performances during this past season by the Arkansas Activities Association.
Five players earned All-State honors with Parkers Chapel's T.J. Bale and Junction City's Logan Disotell also getting nods for making the All-State Tournament team.
Bale was superb for the Trojans down the stretch, turning in dominant outings in wins over Taylor, Spring Hill and Mountain Pine.
After throwing a one-hitter to beat the Bears in the district tournament, Bale struck out 13 in tossing a no-hitter against Mountain Pine in the opening round of the regional tournament.
On the hill, Bale went 6-3 with a 1.48 ERA. In 56 1/3 innings, allowed 22 hits, walked 34 and struck out 76.
At the plate, the sophomore hit .253 with two homers, 17 RBIs and eight stolen bases while posting an on-base percentage of .504 with 27 runs scored.
Hitting in the heart of Junction City lineup, Disotell finished second on the team in RBIs with 31.
Overall, the senior hit .270 with 30 hits and 22 runs scored.
On the mound, Disotell had an up and down season, fashioning a 5-5 record with a 5.00 ERA, but in 42 innings, Disotell racked up 63 strikeouts while issuing just 17 walks. He allowed 48 hits.
In the state tournament against Bald Knob, Disotell turned in an outstanding performance, striking out 10 while allowing just four hits and one run in six innings of work.
Senior Joe Lowe is the second representative from Junction City on the 3A All-State squad.
At the plate, the infielder hit .300 with one home run and 22 RBIs. He also scored 37 runs and stole 18 bases, both of which ranked him second on the team.
On the mound, Lowe settled into the role of closer, tallying seven saves while going 2-0 with a 2.80 ERA.
In 22 innings, Lowe allowed 15 hits, walked 27 and struck out 44.
A trio of Smackover seniors received recognition for their work on the diamond, as Beau Burson and Brennan McKnight earned All-State honors, while Nick Jennings made the 3A All-State Tournament team.
A two-way standout, Burson clobbered opposing pitchers to the tune of a .381 average with eight home runs and 47 RBIs. He scored 47 runs and was 24-for-26 in the stolen base department.
On the mound, Burson went 7-2 with a 1.31 ERA. In 64 innings, he allowed 51 hits, walked 10 and struck out 94.
Hitting directly behind Burson in the Bucks' lineup was McKnight.
A first baseman and catcher for the team, McKnight led the Bucks in hitting with a.412 average.
He hit one home run, drove in 26 runs and scored 26 runs. He was also 10-for-11 in stolen bases.
Smackover's final representative is Jennings, who had a solid performance in his final game with the Bucks.
An outfielder, Jennings went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the Bucks' first-round loss to Greenland in the state tournament.
Overall, Jennings scored 20 runs, had 10 RBIs and stole 11 bases this past season.