Down to last strike, Benton makes it count

Photos by David J. Beach - The Benton Panthers celebrate as Breanna Langford hit a homerun in the top of the 7th inning against the Sheridan Yellowjackets to claim the 6A high school softball championship, at Bogle Park at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR on May 23, 2014

Photos by David J. Beach - The Benton Panthers celebrate as Breanna Langford hit a homerun in the top of the 7th inning against the Sheridan Yellowjackets to claim the 6A high school softball championship, at Bogle Park at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR on May 23, 2014

Saturday, May 24, 2014

FAYETTEVILLE -- One swing made all the difference.

Benton was down to its final strike of the season Friday afternoon, trailing Sheridan 2-1 in the top of the seventh inning in the Class 6A softball state championship game at Bogle Park, when freshman Breanna Langford smashed a three-run home run to left field to give the Panthers their first lead.

Then Langford finished off the Lady Yellowjackets, taking the mound and slamming the door shut on Benton in a 4-2 victory.

Langford came into the game in relief in the fifth inning and did not allow a run over the final 2 2/3 innings.

"I didn't feel nervous. I felt confident," said Langford, who came into the title game batting .301 with 20 RBI. "I just felt like I had to do my job."

Benton (22-5) lost twice to Sheridan (28-3) during the regular season, but Benton Coach Heidi Cox said a late-season victory over Class 7A power North Little Rock -- which will play Bentonville today in Class 7A state title game -- gave the Panthers a big boost of confidence.

"This team has that mind-set that they are not going to give up," Cox said. "We have battled and battled all year. We've had a couple of comebacks, and that just gave us confidence we could do it here.

"Sheridan is a great team with great coaches, great players. We were the underdogs, and no one thought we could win this game."

Sheridan pitcher Sydney Bonner came into the game with a 14-0 record and a 0.29 ERA, and she took a shutout into the top of the seventh inning.

But Hannah Ward -- the No. 8 hitter in Benton's batting order -- singled with one out. After two more singles, Stevi Muilenberg lifted a sacrifice fly ball that scored Ward to cut the lead to 2-1.

With runners still on first and second, Lankford worked the count full before sending a high fly ball over the fence in left field that gave Benton a 4-2 lead and sent the Panthers' fans into hysterics.

Sheridan had two base runners on with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Lankford sealed Benton's victory by inducing a flyout to center field.

Friday's game marked Benton's second consecutive state championship game appearance. The Lady Panthers lost 2-1 to Russellville in the last season's title game. That came after one of its players had been killed in an auto accident earlier in the year.

"It's been a roller-coaster ride, for sure," Cox said. "I can't even describe about how proud I am of these girls and for all they have been through. It's just amazing."

Benton; 000 000 4 -- 4 8 1

Sheridan; 000 020 0 -- 2 9 2

Hurley, Langford (5) and Currey; Bonner and Talbert. W -- Langford. L -- Bonner.

Sports on 05/24/2014