ROGERS -- Dasha Donahoe and Rogers Heritage were perfect Thursday afternoon.
Donahoe pitched a perfect game and Heritage sent 25 batters to the plate the first two innings as the Lady War Eagles defeated West Memphis 16-0 in a first-round game at the Class 7A state softball tournament at Veterans Park in Rogers.
SOFTBALL STATE TOURNAMENT
CLASS 7A
At Veterans Park, Rogers
Thursday
Game 1 North Little Rock 8, FS Northside 5
Game 2 Van Buren 11, FS Southside 1
Game 3 Rogers Heritage 16, West Memphis 0
Game 4 Springdale Har-Ber 7, Conway 6
Today’s games
Game 5 Rogers vs. North Little Rock, 10 a.m.
Game 6 Bentonville vs. Van Buren, 10 a.m.
Game 7 Bryant vs. Rogers Heritage, 12:30 p.m.
Game 8 Cabot vs. Springdale Har-Ber, 12:30 p.m.
Saturday
Game 9 Winner 5 vs. Winner Game 7, 12 p.m.
Game 10 Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 8, 2:30 p.m.
Class 7A Softball Tournament
At Rogers
Rogers Heritage 16, West Memphis 0
West Memphis^000^—^0^0^1
Heritage^6(10)x^—^16^4^0
Pouncy and Greene; Donahoe and Garcia. W-Donahoe. L-Pouncy. Sv-none. HRs-None.
Heritage (16-7) will face Bryant at 12:30 p.m. today on the Rogers High field at Veterans Park. The victory was the first postseason win for third-year Heritage coach Tiffany Taylor but the Lady War Eagles coach knows a much tougher opponent awaits today.
Bryant (16-5) went 11-3 in the 7A/6A-Central Conference and the Lady Hornets had a first-round bye.
"This is exciting to make it to the second round, but we know Bryant is going to be a big challenge for us," Taylor said. "Getting a win under our belt going in to face a team like Bryant is good for us."
Donahoe started the game with two strikeouts and the senior struck out the last six West Memphis batters she face in a game shortened to three innings on the 15-run mercy rule. Donahoe finished with eight strikeouts and the only West Memphis batter that made contact grounded out.
"My curveball was working well," Donahoe said. "It was big to get those first few outs so we could get some momentum. We always talk about getting that first out to start the game. We then just got it going offensively. It feels good to get this win."
Taylor was not surprised that Donahoe was so effective on the mound. Donahoe also reached base safely three times while scoring three runs.
"She has been huge for us this year," Taylor said. "Her ERA is under three, and she is having her best year at the plate."
Heritage scored six runs in the first inning and they then added 10 more in the second. In all, five Heritage batters were hit by a pitch and the Lady War Eagles drew 11 walks. Leadoff batter Kenzi Ziem had two singles and two RBIs for Heritage.
Paul Nielsen can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAPaul.
Sports on 05/15/2015