What Dave Van Horn, players said after Thursday’s practice

By ESPN Arkansas News Services

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas has gotten better as the season progressed and now they have a chance to reach their goal.

Like every year it’s to finish in Omaha, which is where they are.

Until the final out last weekend in the Super Regional against North Carolina, only the biggest Razorback fans actually believed it would happen.

This team has gotten better.

“I don’t know,” Hogs coach Dave Van Horn said after their first practice in Omaha ahead of Saturday’s opening game of the College World Series against Stanford. “We’re a better team than we were in February. We’re a better team than we were in April.”

The pitching staff finally getting back to midseason form along with finding the bats for key hits are the reason they are here.

The original goal is still in front of them.

And you probably didn’t see it coming, either, a month ago.

RAZORBACK FOOTBALL

Sat, Sep 5vs North AlabamaW 31-14
Sat, Sep 12@ UtahL, 43-10
Sat, Sep 19GeorgiaL, 45-17
Sat, Sep 26Tulsa7:00 PM
SECN+
Sat, Oct 3@ Texas A&M6:00 PM
ESPN or ESPN2
Sat, Oct 10TennesseeTBA
Sat, Oct 17@ VanderbiltTBA
Sat, Oct 31vs MissouriTBA
Sat, Nov 7@ AuburnTBA
Sat, Nov 14South CarolinaTBA
Sat, Nov 21@ TexasTBA
Sat, Nov 28vs LSUTBA

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

OVERALLRecordPts
1.Bentonville (15)3-01861
2.Conway2-11552
3.Shiloh Christian (2)3-01463
4.Bentonville West (1)3-01324
5.Joe T. Robinson3-01038
6.Searcy3-0837
7.North Little Rock3-0799
6.Bryant (1)0-3526
9.Benton1-3305
10.Fayetteville2-1510
Others receiving votes: Sylvan Hills 12, El Dorado 12, HS Lakeside 8, Springdale Har-Ber 7, Greenwood 6, Stuttgart 5, Pulaski Academy 4, Sheridan 3, Mountain Home 2.
CLASS 7A
1.Bentonville (15)3-0911
2.Conway2-1642
3.Shiloh Christian (2)3-0524
4.Bentonville West (1)3-0493
5.North Little Rock3-0143
Others receiving votes: Bryant (1) 13, Fayetteville 1, Springdale Har-Ber 1.
CLASS 6A
1.Searcy (16)3-0921t
2.Benton (1)1-2591t
3.Sylvan Hills (1)2-1513
4.El Dorado (1)3-0344
5.Mountain Home2-1225
Others receiving votes: Sheridan 19, Van Buren 8.
CLASS 5A
1.Joe T. Robinson (19)3-0951
2.Greenwood1-2542
3.Greenbrier2-1443
5.Farmington3-0354
4.Hot Springs Lakeside (1)2-1305
Others receiving votes: LR Parkview 12, Jacksonville 9, Valley View 6.
CLASS 4A
1.Stuttgart (16)3-0891
2.Nashville (2)3-0673
3.Gosnell (1)3-0324
4.Arkadelphia2-1285t
5.Elkins2-1232
Others receiving votes: Ozark 14, Hamburg 13, Fountain Lake 8, Gravette 7, Bauxite 2, Pottsville 1, Booneville 1.

CLASS 3A
1.Fordyce (16)1-1901
2.Bismarck (1)2-1582
3.Mansfield2-238—
4.Rivercrest (1)3-0314
5.Smackover (2)2-1213
Others receiving votes: Glen Rose 19, Walnut Ridge (1) 11, Rison 11, Palestine-Wheatley 4, Newport 2.
CLASS 2A
1.Mount Ida (17)3-0891
2.Baptist Prep (1)3-0553
3.Junction City1-3292
4.Hazen3-026—
5.East Poinsett Co.2-1155
Others receiving votes: Poyen 17, Gurdon 14, Bigelow 11, Earle (1) 8, Dierks 7, Marked Tree 6, Hector 2, Des Arc 3, Cross County 2, Bearden 1.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
2.Corning (8)3-0322
1.Cedar Ridge (6)4-0311
3.Izard County3-010—
Others receiving votes: Magazine 9, Woodlawn 5, Rose Bud 2, Strong 1.

RAZORBACK NEWS