Marion Athletics -

Tuesday night saw a rematch of the 2025 Class 5A state baseball final inside First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas Stadium.

Unfortunately for the Marion Patriots, the result was the same.

Marion pushed two-time defending Class 5A state champion Valley View in the lid-lifter, playing the Blazers to a 2-2 tie after two innings before the visitors pulled away to a 13-3 conquest.

The Blazers completed the sweep in the nightcap, scoring single runs in the first, third, fourth, and seventh innings, along with a four-spot in the fifth and two more in the sixth to account for a 10-0 victory.

Marion hosts Palestine-Wheatley on Thursday afternoon for a varsity/junior varsity doubleheader that begins at 4:30 p.m. The Patriots continue 5A East play on Tuesday, April 7, at Nettleton in a 5A East varsity doubleheader.

Marion muscled out 11 hits in the first contest against Valley View, including a 2-3 day from junior all-state performer Max Molloy, a 2-4 showing from senior utility man Brody Byrd, and a 3-4 showing from senior Ouachita Baptist signee Coleman Barnett.

Solomon Flores, Robert Hall, and Barnett accounted for Marion's runs in Game No. 1.

The Pats came up with three hits in the first inning of the initial contest, as Molloy, Byrd, and Barnett singled to open the frame, but a double play vanquished the threat and kept Marion off the scoreboard.

Marion tied the game at 2 in the bottom of the second when Flores and Hall singled and doubled to open the inning, leading to Ryan Cook delivering Flores with a hit, and Molloy plating Hall with a knock.

But the Blazers struck back for six runs in the top of the third to take control of the contest.

Marion came up with its final run of the day when Barnett struck a two-out single and scored on a wild pitch.

Marion came up with four walks in the nightcap, including two in the seventh inning, but could not scratch out a run.

5A EAST RESULTS FROM 3/31
Valley View 13, Marion 3
Valley View 10, Marion 0

Greene Co. Tech 3, Paragould 1
Greene Co. Tech 4, Paragould 1

Searcy 10, Nettleton 0
Searcy 15, Nettleton 0

Batesville 18, W. Memphis 0
Batesville 10, W. Memphis 0

5A EAST STANDINGS ON 4/1
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
Valley View 4-0
Greene Co. Tech 4-0
Searcy 4-0
Batesville 3-1
Paragould 1-3
Marion 0-4
Nettleton 0-4
W. Memphis 0-4
The top four teams make the state tournament May 14-16 at Greene Co. Tech.

5A EAST SERIES ON 4/7
Marion at Nettleton
Greene Co. Tech at W. Memphis
Batesville at Valley View
Paragould at Searcy