ROGERS, ARKANSAS - Aidan Linson guessed correctly the pitch he wanted to make contact.
And it was on the very first pitch in the biggest situation in Sunday's Arkansas Class 6A state baseball championship game.
On the first pitch he saw, with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Linson hit a ball that snuck past the right side of the infield, bringing in the winning run as Rogers outlasted 6A-West Conference rival Fayetteville, 7-6, in nine innings at Heritage High School's complex.
‘25 |RHP| Aidan Linson (@BaseballMountie | @PB_Uncommitted) comes into Relief, then walks it off! Giving the Rogers Mounties their second State Title! pic.twitter.com/m7rqA6A9lM
— Prep Baseball Arkansas (@PrepBaseballAR) May 25, 2025
"So really, the last at-bat, (Fayetteville) threw a lot of cutters, and so that was kind of the approach going into it," said Linson, a senior. "Really, just kept the right set of approach going there.
"(The pitch) was a cutter/slider, something like that, and really got it outer half, and it just felt like the right pitch to swing."
Buck Ringgold
Linson's walk-off hit capped a frenzied bottom of the ninth in which Rogers (27-4) loaded the bases with two out. Jake Taylor led things off with a single, but the next two batters got out.
Then, Zach Lawing reached base on a walk, moving Taylor to second. Then the next batter, Sam Davis, got hit by a pitch, loading the bases to bring up Linson, who needed just one pitch to send everybody home as Rogers won its second title in program history, with the first coming in 2021.
"Really, I was kind of just running my heart out; it's the last out of the inning, you can't make the last out and you kind of want to move on to the next," Linson said. "There was a lot of emotions, with the hard work we've put in through the whole year, the excitement the teammates had; so many emotions for the team, for myself, for the coaches, it's just an unreal experience."
Linson, a senior who will be playing next season at Lyon College in Batesville, Ark., was also the winning pitcher in relief. He got the last two outs in the top of the ninth, striking out the last batter he faced looking as Fayetteville stranded two baserunners.
Fayetteville went into the top of the seventh trailing 5-3, but loaded the bases with none out. The Bulldogs hit into a double play, scoring one run, but reloaded the bases down to their last out.
Then the next batter, Tanner Davison, got a single into right center to score two runners and put Fayetteville (27-8) in front, 6-5.
Rogers responded in the bottom of the seventh. Andrew Blankenship led off with a single and went to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt.
Blankenship then scored the tying run on Jake Taylor's hit that bounced off the pitcher's mound and went into center field.
"Really, I don't even remember (the seventh-inning comeback); I was so in the zone, I was just like, I've got to get on base; no matter what happens, I have to get on first base," said Blankenship, a junior. "That's all I was thinking.
"Get it done, that's the biggest thing, we've got to get to first base. We really harp on that, so I think that's what led us here."
Blankenship went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and scored two runs. Ty Burnham was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, and also made a throw from his position in center field to throw out a runner at the plate.
Following the game, Burnham was awarded the game's MVP.
Buck Ringgold
Taylor also had a three-hit game, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Linson was 2-for-6, including his walk-off single.
Ken Paschall, Landon Schaefer, Davison and Carter Morris each had two-hit games for Fayetteville, which was seeking to win state for the first time since 2013.
But it was not to be for the Bulldogs, as the Mounties found a way to pull things out. Rogers also ended the season winning its last 21 ballgames.
"It feels amazing," Blankenship said. "It feels so unreal. I've dreamed of this moment so many times. ... This is the highlight of my year."
Buck Ringgold
UPDATES
Delayed by rain Saturday and earlier on Sunday, the Arkansas Class 6A baseball state championship game is now a go.
6A-West Conference rivals Fayetteville and Rogers square off for the championship as part of the Arkansas Activities Association's "Weekend of Champions." Originally, the game was to have been played at Conway on Saturday, but it was postponed to Sunday, and moved to Rogers Heritage High School.
How to watch Fayetteville vs. Rogers in Arkansas Class 6A state championship baseball game
Fayetteville enters the game at 26-6 overall, while Rogers comes in at 26-4, with the Mounties riding a current 20-game win streak. The two teams split the regular season conference series, with each team winning on its home field.
Follow The Sporting News correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from Rogers.
Scroll down for live score and game updates from first pitch to the postgame. Refresh this page for the latest.
ROGERS 7, FAYETTEVILLE 6 FINAL/9
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NINTH INNING
- ROGERS DOES IT. ROGERS DOES IT. On the first pitch he sees, Aidan Linson drives a pitch through the hole on the right side, and the winning run crosses home plate. Rogers wins the 6A title, and its second title in program history.
- Sam Davis gets hit by a pitch, and the bases are loaded now, still with two out.
- A walk moves the winning run up to second base. Two on with two out.
- Fly to right for the second out.
- Bunt is laid down, but the ball glances off the batter as he's running to first, and he is ruled out. Runner stays on first.
- Leadoff single by Rogers' Jake Taylor. The winning run is now on base for the Mounties.
- STRIKEOUT ROGERS. On a full count, Rogers' new pitcher, Aidan Linson, gets a called third strike to get out of the jam, as Fayetteville strands two. Another walk-off chance for the Mounties. (6-6 | B9)
- Base hit to center and Fayetteville's lead runner is going past third towards home. But a great throw to Rogers C Caleb Porta, who applies the tag in the nick of time for the second out. Meanwhile, an intentional walk puts runners at the corners for Fayetteville.
- First and second now for Fayetteville following a walk, still with one out. Rogers is now making a pitching change. (6-6 | T9)
- A stolen base by Charlie Graves, and Fayetteville now has the go-ahead runner at second with one out.
- One-out error and Fayetteville has a runner on first. (6-6 | T9)
- Rogers pitcher Joe Canzoneri back out for his sixth inning of work as we start the ninth.
EIGHTH INNING
- Sharp grounder to third, and the throw is across the diamond for the third out. Going to the ninth in the 6A state championship game. (6-6 | T9)
- Another single into right center moves the winning run to third, still with two outs. Once again, tension is thick. (6-6 | B8)
- Single with two outs keeps the inning going for Rogers.
- Fly ball to right ends the top of the eighth. Rogers now with a chance to walk things off. (6-6 | B8)
- Fayetteville has two runners on with two out.
- A line-out by Fayetteville to start the top of the eighth. (6-6 | T8)
SEVENTH INNING
- FAYETTEVILLE STRIKEOUT. Bulldog P Landon Schaefer gets a strikeout to end the inning as Rogers strands two. We are headed to extras. (6-6 | T8)
- The winning run is now at second following a two-out walk. Can Rogers end the game or can Fayetteville force extras?
- ROGERS RBI HIT. Brand. New. Ballgame. Jake Taylor lines a shot that glances off the pitcher's mound and into center for a hit, bringing in Andrew Blankenship. Tie game, still with one out. (6-6 | B7)
- Andrew Blankenship is now 90 feet away from tying the score, as he goes to third on a sac bunt. One out now.
- Andrew Blankenship finds the gap in left center, but is held to a leadoff single. However, he goes to second on a wild pitch representing the tying run.
- Rogers gets the third out, but now the Mounties are down a run going to the bottom of the seventh. (Fayetteville, 6-5 | B7)
- RBI HIT FAYETTEVILLE. Wow, the Bulldogs have taken the lead after being down to their last out. On the very first pitch he sees, Tanner Davison lofts a single into right center to score two runners. Fayetteville is now in the lead and we will play the bottom of the seventh. (Fayetteville, 6-5 | T7)
- Fayetteville has reloaded the bases. Still two out. Drama in the air at Heritage. (Rogers, 5-4 | T7)
- Rogers turns a 5-3 double play, though a run scores. Fayetteville down by a run, but the Bulldogs are down to their last out. (Rogers, 5-4 | T7)
- And now, Fayetteville has loaded the bases as Jaison DeLamar beats out a sacrifice bunt for a single. Still nobody out. (Rogers, 5-3 | T7)
- The next batter for Fayetteville, Landon Schaefer, works a walk. First and second with nobody out for the Bulldogs. Buckle up.
- Fayetteville's Ken Paschall leads off the top of the seventh by reaching base on an infield single. (Rogers, 5-3 | T7)
SIXTH INNING
- Rogers strands two runners on in the bottom of the inning. Mounties will carry their two-run advantage into the seventh inning. Last chance for Fayetteville. (Rogers, 5-3 | T7)
- Tremendous job in relief by Rogers' Joe Canzoneri. Three scoreless, hitless innings; the latest retiring the side in order in the top of the sixth. Mounties three outs away now. (Rogers, 5-3 | B6)
FIFTH INNING
- Fayetteville finally gets out of the inning, but not before Rogers puts up four runs. Mounties with momentum now, as they need six more outs to nail down a title. (Rogers, 5-3 | T6)
- RBI HIT ROGERS. The big inning continues for the Mounties, even after Fayetteville changes pitchers. A wild pitch sends a runner to third, who scores on Jake Taylor's flare into right center. Bulldogs are switching hurlers once again. (Rogers, 5-3 | B5)
- ROGERS RUN. And just like that, the Mounties lead for the first time today as Andrew Blankenship scores on a grounder to third, but the throw goes past the first-base bag for an error. (Rogers, 4-3 | B5)
- RBI HIT ROGERS. We are now tied up, as with runners on the corners and two out, Andrew Blankenship laces a double into the left-field corner, bringing in both runners. Brand new ballgame. (3-3 | B5)
- Fayetteville has a runner on after a one-out error, but Rogers P Joe Canzoneri gets out of things with a double play, which goes 3-6-1. Bulldogs still up two heading to the bottom of the fifth. (Fayetteville, 3-1 | B5)
FOURTH INNING
- ROGERS RUN. The Mounties finally break through as Rennir Corning brings in Ty Burnham with a sacrifice fly to center. Mark Brissey is able to get the final out, though, and Fayetteville takes a two-run lead into the fifth. (Fayetteville, 3-1 | T5)
- Rogers has something cooking, as the Mounties have runners at second and third with one out.
- After Joe Canzoneri takes the mound in relief for Rogers, he retires the next three hitters as Fayetteville strands one. Halfway through here at Rogers Heritage. (Fayetteville, 3-0 | B4)
- Leadoff single for Fayetteville, and Rogers is going to change pitchers. (Fayetteville, 3-0 | T4)
THIRD INNING
- Another clean inning for Fayetteville P Mark Brissey, including a strikeout to end it. Through three scoreless innings, Brissey has thrown 59 pitches. (Fayetteville, 3-0 | T4)
- Rogers P Jake Taylor throws heat for a swinging third strike to end the top of the third, as Fayetteville strands runners at the corners. Bulldogs have had seven hits through three innings. (Fayetteville, 3-0 | B3)
SECOND INNING
- Fayetteville P Mark Brissey strikes out the side in order to cap the inning. Bulldogs take a three-run lead to the third. (Fayetteville, 3-0 | T3)
- RBI HIT FAYETTEVILLE. The Bulldogs add to their advantage, as Landon Schaefer brings home another run on a base hit. All three Fayetteville runs have come with two out, but Rogers does finally get the third out. (Fayetteville, 3-0 | B2)
- RBI HIT FAYETTEVILLE. With two out and the bases loaded, facing an 0-2 count, Fayetteville's Ken Paschall lines a single that drops into shallow center, bringing in two runs and putting the Bulldogs in front. (Fayetteville, 2-0 | T2)
- Action under way in the second with Fayetteville batting.
FIRST INNING
- Rogers gets runners on second and third with two out, but Fayetteville P Mark Brissey escapes trouble by getting a strikeout. Scoreless through one. (0-0 | T2)
- Top of the first, Fayetteville got a one-out single and the Bulldogs put a runner on second with two out, but a strikeout from Rogers P Jake Taylor ends things. Mounties coming to bat in their half of the first. (0-0 | B1)
PREGAME
- Rogers is the home team. The lineup for the Mounties: Zach Lawing (1B); Sam Davis (DH); Aidan Linson (SS); Ty Burnham (CF); Andrew Blankenship (3B); Beau Williams (RF); Jake Taylor (P); Rennir Corning (2B); Caleb Porta (C); and in the field, Kord Marcotte (LF).
- Fayetteville is the visiting team in this matchup. The Bulldogs' lineup: Ken Paschall (2B); Landon Schaefer (SS); Jaison DeLamar (CF); Landon Holzhauer (C); Mark Brissey (P/DH); Charlie Graves (RF); Tanner Davison (3B); Jude Rana (1B); Carter Morris (LF).
- Coming to you from an overcast Rogers Heritage, but at least the rain has subsided. We're about to have the Arkansas Class 6A baseball state championship game between Rogers and Fayetteville.