Ozark earns first state tourney berth

PRAIRIE GROVE -- Ozark earned its first trip to the state tournament in its softball program's history, but had to work overtime to do it.

The Lady Hillbillies (18-13) scored four runs in the eighth inning of an 8-5 win against Prairie Grove (19-15) in the 4A North Regional Tournament on Thursday.

"I'm just excited for my kids," said Ozark coach Jason Wilbanks. "They've never been to this spot before ... so it's a great moment for them.

"I told them, 'Enjoy the win, but tomorrow it's back to business because we still have things we still want to accomplish.'"

Ozark plays Pottsville at 2:30 p.m. today. The other semifinal game begins at noon between Dardanelle and Lincoln, the top seed from the 4A-1 and only team from the conference to survive Thursday by defeating Clinton 8-3.

A three-run triple by Lexi McClellan in the top of the eighth proved to be the game-winner as Mackenzie Terry drove in a run for Prairie Grove in the bottom of the inning.

"Sometimes, it just takes one hit," Wilbanks said. "We had the bases loaded and Lexi McClellan's been struggling all day, but she's been a rock for me all year and came up with a clutch hit."

The Lady Tigers put up three runs with two outs in the third inning on Anna Kidd's two-run double and Brooke Ketzler's RBI single.

Ozark answered with an RBI single by Sydni Casto in the fourth and three more runs in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead before Prairie Grove sent the game into extra innings on Anna Kidd's RBI single in the seventh.

"That's about as tough of a loss as I've ever taken," said Prairie Grove coach Dustin Beck. "They showed a lot of fight coming back to get back in it and that wasn't surprising to see because they've showed a lot of heart all year long."

Lincoln 8, Clinton 3

A sixth-inning rally helped the Lady Wolves (18-6) win their 12th straight game and punch their ticket to the state tournament for the first time since 2002.

Trailing 3-2, Lincoln put up six runs in the sixth with a three-run double by Madison Reed to left center doing the most damage.

With the lead, Lincoln hurler Ashtyn Rothrock retired the side in order in the seventh. The senior right-hander retired the first 10 batters in a row before giving up a one-out walk in the fourth, which set the tone for a three-run inning by the Lady Yellowjackets.

Rothrock scattered 6 hits while striking out 6 and also scored two of the Lady Wolves' runs. Madison Jones was 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs while Reed was 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs.

Clinton (23-7) was led by Tori Johnson, who was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run.

Pottsville 3, Pea Ridge 1

The Lady Apaches (24-6) struck first on Aspen Campbell's two-run single in the first inning and never trailed behind the pitching of senior right-hander Savannah Gosnell.

Gosnell tossed a three-hitter while striking out 4 to record the complete-game win.

Pea Ridge (13-7) broke up Gosnell's shutout bid when Halley Laster -- who had two of the Lady Blackhawks' hits -- hit a two-out, RBI single in the seventh inning.

Dardanelle 6, Berryville 5

The Lady Sand Lizards (18-11) scored three runs in the sixth inning on two hits, a sacrifice fly, a hit batsman and an error, but had to hold off a Lady Bobcats' rally attempt to secure the victory.

Berryville (17-11) had the winning run on base with no outs after Jaeanessa Smith's two-run single in the seventh. But Dardanelle pitcher Allie Weber retired the next three batters in order for the win.

Weber helped her own cause by driving in two runs and Jorika Alvarez went 2 for 2 with 2 runs to lead the Lady Sand Lizards offensively.

Emma Hill went 3 for 3 with 2 doubles, an RBI and a run and Christian Villenueva was 2 for 3 with 2 runs for Berryville.

Sports on 05/06/2016