By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
LITTLE ROCK--Forrest City's Mustang Arena will be the site for the 2001 Class AAAAA State Tournament.
The new 2,000-plus seat facility, completed three years after Forrest City's Sam Smith Gym was destroyed by fire in 1998, was chosen over Pine Bluff's Convention Center at Wednesday night's meeting of the Arkansas Activities Association Board of Directors.
Since Mustang Arena opened and hosted the 2000 Rumble on the Ridge Thanksgiving Tournament, Athletic Director Bill Baxter and Superintendent Lee Vent have called the facility the "Star of the Delta," fashioned after Forrest City's adopted slogan "Jewel of the Delta" which refers to Sara Harris becoming Miss Arkansas.
The Hughes Blue Devils, ranked second overall in Class AAA, came away with a relatively easy travel plan should their post-season hopes pan out.
Their regional tournament will be played at Beebe High School while the AAA State Tournament will be played at Riverview High School in Searcy.
A year ago, the Blue devils, who reached the semifinals of the AAA tournament, had to play the regional at Dover and the state at Clarksville.
It is the first-time ever for Riverview to host a state tournament.
Riverview is a consolidation effort of Kensett, Judsonia and Griffithville and is in its seventh year as a high school.
This is the first full season of use for the school's multi-purpose facility -- the Riverview Activities Center -- which will host the state tournament.
"We feel like we have a lot to offer the teams that will be here for the state tournament," said Riverview Athletic Director Robin Hopper. "We hosted one of the AAA regionals last year."
Riverview took a clear majority during the first vote.
Three other schools placed bids on the AAA state tournament -- Valley View, Pine Bluff and Drew-Central.
Valley View was awarded the AAA Region 2 Tournament.
Other AAA regional sites include Paris and Star City.
Riverview is located just about one mile from Harding Academy, the site of the AA Region 6 Tournament.
That tournament includes the Palestine-Wheatley teams. The 6AA District Tournament will be played at Elaine this year.
The AA State Tournament bid went to Danville, located the other side of Conway.
Last year P-W hosted the regional tournament and traveled to Marmaduke for the AA state.
Palestine-Wheatley did not submit any bids for regional or state tournaments this year.
Danville edged out Harding University and Greenland in the closest vote of the night in the right to host the Class AA State Tournament. Newark and Jessieville also submitted bids but were eliminated in the early voting.
Other AA regional sites include Pea Ridge, Midland, Mayflower, Marmaduke, Centerpoint and Parker's Chapel.
In Class A, the state tournament will be played at North Arkansas College in Harrison. regional bids went to St. Paul, Calico Rock, Armorel, Plainview-Rover, St. Joseph, Fountain Hill, Wickes and Emerson.
The bids were awarded this year from the state tournament sites down to the regionals.
Forrest City made only the single bid on the Class AAAAA State.
Before Wednesday's meeting, Baxter said he was confident that Forrest City would get the AAAAA state.
"I think we've proven with the Rumble tournament, that we have volunteers who are willing to work and do what needs to be done," Baxter said.
The Class AAAA State Tournament also went to a gymnasium that opened its doors this season.
Greenbrier's Panther Pavilion was awarded the AAAA state bid, leaving Pine Bluff and Harrison, the site of last year's tournament, out in the cold.
Greenbrier's new arena, it's third in the last eight years, seats just a little
The state tournaments will be held starting the week of Feb. 26.
Regional tournaments will be held Feb. 20-24.
Pine Bluff, which hosted last year's Class AAAAA State Tournament, may have lost out on the regional and state tournament bidding, but the Convention Center will once again this year host the State Overall Championship Games on March 9-10.
Forrest City's slow-pitch softball conference continues to dwindle as teams across the state move to the fast-pitch ranks. This year, the Lady Mustangs will play in the 6-East Conference with Osceola, Stuttgart and West Helena. Sue Jayroe will coach the girls' softball team this year and will be assisted by John Fortenberry.
Forrest City's youth baseball and softball registration will begin Jan. 16 and will run through March 3. men's and women's adult softball registration also begins on jan. 16 and will run through April 3. Youth baseball and softball fees are $15 for youths living inside the Forrest City city limits and $25 for those living outside the city limits. For info call, 633-3667.