Airedales finish big week by beating Northside, 5-4 

By Kevin Taylor

Alma Schools 

The Alma Airedales aren’t just winning. They’re finding ways to win close games, too. 

Junior Logan English tripled home two runs and scored the tie-breaking run on a wild pitch moments later to help the Airedales fend off For Smith Northside, 5-4, Thursday night at chilly Hunt’s Park to complete a 3-0 week. 

Alma (9-7) has won three straight games and six of seven. 

They do it with offense, timely hitting, strong pitching, and great defense. 

Senior Camden Curd leads the Airedales with a .447 batting average. He went 7-for-13 this week at Van Buren and Fort Smith Northside with five RBIs. 

Photos By Patti Webb

Alma junior Logan English (top) has been stellar for the Airedales at shortstop, at the plate, and on the mound. 

Senior Camden Curd (bottom) leads the team with a .447 batting average. He was 2-for-4 in Thursday’s victory.

Curd had a two-out, two-run single to cap Monday’s 7-6 win over Van Buren, then added a key two-out, two-run double in the team’s 7-3 victory over the Pointers Tuesday. 

“Timely hits are coming up and down the line, and we haven’t had to lean on just one or two guys to step up,” Alma coach Brian Fry said. 

On Thursday, he had two more hits and reached on a key error to trigger a four-run fifth at Hunt’s Park.

“Camden and Logan are both seeing the ball really well right now and swinging the bat with confidence; they have 26 RBI between them,” Fry said. “(Michael) Taylor and (Piercen) Howell are over .300, (Shepphard) Osborn's .521 on-base percentage leads the team. Cash Wilson leads the team with five doubles.”

Alma starter Braden Green set down the first five hitters Tuesday before five straight two-out hits led to two Northside runs. 

Alma scored once in the fourth on a wild pitch, but Green allowed an unearned run in the Northside fourth, helping the Grizzlies extend the lead to 3-1. 

Curd reached on an error, and Northside first baseman McLane Moody lost Michael Taylor’s pop-up in the lights, allowing the first two hitters to reach in the Airedales’ fifth. 

English made them pay by lining a rocket toward the right-field corner. By the time the Grizzlies retrieved the ball, English was standing on third base, and the game was tied. 

Wilson, meanwhile, relieved Green with one out, and the bases loaded in the fourth earned the win by throwing 3 ⅓ innings of solid relief. He struck out eight, allowed just two hits, and didn’t walk anyone. 

Alma’s senior leadership has been huge, Fry said. 

“The senior leadership this year has been exactly what we expected and needed,” Fry said. “They get along, don't blame each other for mistakes, and have figured out what it means to play this game, one pitch at a time. We have come from behind in multiple games this year, and to the coaching staff, that tells a lot about the culture they have created.”

The Airedales resume 5A-West play Monday at Siloam Springs and return home Tuesday to play the Panthers at 5 p.m.