Class 4A softball state championship

Mena muscles up to subdue Bauxite

FAYETTEVILLE -- Bauxite has seen enough of Mena.

So has everyone else in Class 4A.

Mena completed a dominating run through the state tournament by beating the Lady Miners 7-3 Friday in the Class 4A softball state championship game at Bogle Park.

Mena (27-3) defeated Heber Springs 10-0 and Brookland 8-0 in the state tournament before beating Bauxite for a fourth time Friday to end the season with 15 consecutive victories.

Home runs by Daryan Torix and Macy Brotherton accounted for five of Mena's runs and came at critical junctures..

Torix's two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth put Mena up 3-2 after Bauxite took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth.

Bauxite tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth, but Mena untied it with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, with three of the runs coming home on Brotherton's home run.

"We responded both times they scored on us, and you can't ask for anything better as a coach," Mena Coach Ray Hunter said. "Macy has great power, and she put a good swing on that ball.

"We try to attack any way we can, whether it's with speed, power or whatever it takes. These girls are just awesome."

The victory was the fourth consecutive for Mena over Bauxite (23-8), its rival in the 4A-7 Conference. Mena beat Bauxite 13-0 in the regional final after beating the Lady Miners 2-1 in the district tournament and 5-0 during the regular season.

Bauxite led once and tied the game once Friday before Mena took the lead for good on Brotherton's home run over the 220-foot mark in center field in the fifth.

"She turned on that pitch and she smoked it," Bauxite Coach Sara Tew said. "We've had to play them four times, so we know what Mena was capable of. Still, this was a great experience for our young team even though we didn't win."

Mena's only losses this year were all by 1-0 -- to Greenwood, Vilonia, and Rogers. Vilonia captured the Class 5A state title over Paragould on Friday and Greenwood will face Sheridan for the Class 6A title today at Bogle Park.

"Our losses were all in tournament games," said Hunter, whose team finished as the state runner-up last season. "Our girls played with a target on their back all year and to finally finish is a good feeling."

Bauxite went ahead 2-1 in the fourth inning before Mena regained the lead on Torix's two-run home run, a drive over the center-field fence that scored Lexi Hansard, who reached on a one-out double.

Bauxite tied the game 3-3 in the fifth when Shelby Chavers legged out a triple to right field and scored on a sacrifice fly by Valery Cotton. The Lady Miners loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh before Jordan Ward, the tournament's Most Valuable Player, retired the final two batters on infield popups.

Bauxite;000 210 0 -- 3 4 2

Mena;100 240 x -- 7 9 0

Bailey and Shelby; Ward and Brotherton. W -- Ward. L -- Ward. HR -- Torix, Brotherton.

Sports on 05/23/2015

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