The Conway Wampus Cat baseball team won the 2022 6A State Baseball Championship Thursday night, defeating the Bentonville Tigers 10-7 at Panther Stadium in Benton. The Wampus Cats captured their 3rd State Championship in program history, the first since 2011, with the win.

Starting Pitcher Austin Rainey pitched two scoreless innings to begin the game, while Will Thompson would hit a three run home run as part of a four run first inning for the Cats. Hugh Hill was brought in to pitch in the third inning, and after giving up a three run third inning, Conway would respond in the bottom frame with a five run inning. Bentonville would add on another four runs in the top of the fourth, before Conway called on Austin Rainey once again to come back in to pitch. The Tigers wouldn’t score again, as the Cats added another insurance run to secure the 10-7 victory. 

Austin Rainey was named the MVP of the game, pitching five scoreless innings total as he helped lead the Cats to their first State Championship in 11 years. “It was a dog fight for sure,” Rainey said. “We got into a couple holes early in the game but stuck with what we knew best.  The team came together for one last go around and we came out on top.” 

This baseball season will be one that will never be forgotten in Conway, as the Cats finished the job and brought the State Championship trophy back to Conway Arkansas.