Larkin's Home Run Pushes Farmington Past Gravette

FARMINGTON -- Brooke Larkin needed just one swing to put Farmington in its customary spot atop the 4A-1 Conference softball standings.

Larkin drove a home run over the left-center wall to help the Lady Cardinals rally past Gravette 4-2 on Thursday.

The Lady Cardinals (11-4, 4-0) had trailed 2-0 and 2-1 before Larkin launched her second home run of the season to back the pitching of teammate Jordin Smith. Smith scattered five hits and struck out seven to earn her ninth win of the season in the circle.

Farmington coach Randy Osnes said Larkin's patience at the plate allowed her to get a pitch she could handle.

"We'd been chasing some pitches that were out of the zone and being overly aggressive, and she was disciplined and looked for her pitch," Osnes said. "She got one up in the zone that she could drive and parked it against the wind."

The Lady Cardinals were playing their third conference game in as many days as weather-related issues, including rain and snow, have caused Farmington to shuffle its schedule, Osnes said.

Gravette (7-7, 1-3) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning as Abbie Krewson and Destiny Laymon smacked back-to-back singles, and both scored to give the Lady Lions the early lead.

Lindsee LaBrecque held Farmington's bats in check over the first three innings, allowing just two hits.

"She threw the typical Lindsee LaBrecque style," Gravette coach Taos Jones said. "She located the ball really well. That's a great hitting ballclub and she managed to keep them under control for a while."

Farmington scratched out a run in the fourth when Bethany Doty doubled and scored to cut Gravette's lead to 2-1.

Then in the fifth inning, Lady Cardinal leadoff batter Oakley Sisemore collected her third hit of the day and stole second. With one out, Larkin got the pitch she was looking for and drove the 0-1 offering over the wall, and Farmington never trailed again, adding an insurance run in the sixth.

Smith (9-3) allowed just three hits after the second inning.

"She did a great job today," Osnes said. "She kept them off balance. They got a couple of bloop singles early in the game, but she kept her composure and did a great job."

With the three league games this week, Farmington's schedule is finally back on track heading into the stretch run of conference play.

Sisemore ended the day going 3-for-4, and Larking was 2-for-3 at the plate. Emily Miller was 2-for-3 for Gravette.

Baseball

Farmington 13, Gravette 7

Keaton Austin pitched no-hit baseball for 4 2/3 innings, and Farmington launched a pair of home runs in a key 4A-1 Conference home win.

Adam Ness launched a solo homer run in the third inning, his sixth of the year. He later added a two-run double for the Cardinals (8-3, 2-1).

"He's been swinging it well all season," Cardinals coach Jay Harper said. "You put it in the wrong place with him and you're going to pay. He does a great job of working the counts to his advantage and he did it today."

Austin, who is still trying to come back from a broken foot suffered in the fall, was sharp early.

"He's still not 100 percent," Harper said. "He did a great job of getting ahead in the count and working his fastball and slider."

Gravette (9-6, 2-1) finally solved Austin's pitching later in the game and scored seven runs. Aaron Means had a two-run single, and Ethan Vanderpool added a ringing double to highlight the Lions attack.

"Austin was locating it well today," Gravette coach Randall Hunt said. "Our guys were able to make adjustments the second and third time through. To put seven runs up against a quality arm like that was a good thing from our perspective."

Lions starter Vanderpool battled control issues, hitting three batters and walking three.

Cardinals' nine-hole hitter Chase Norwood homered and crushed a two-run double. Flint Oxford added an RBI triple and a single.

Sports on 04/11/2014