Class 6A Softball

Sheridan turns it into Names' game

SHERIDAN -- Sheridan got the revenge it was looking for against Greenwood on Saturday afternoon.

Charlie Names' three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning polished off Sheridan's four-run rally and helped the Lady Yellowjackets (22-5) take a 5-1 victory over the defending state champions in the semifinals of the Class 6A state softball tournament at Oliver Williams Field.

"I can't say enough about this team, I really can't," Sheridan Coach Tamara Strawn said. "We talked about facing adversity, but the girls told me, 'We're gonna face it, kick it in the butt and keep going.' We were excited to play in this one because of that bitter taste in our mouths from last year.

"But these girls were energized from the start, and they believed that they'd get the job done this time."

Greenwood (22-6), which had won its past 12 games, shut out Sheridan 3-0 in last season's state title game behind Victoria Taylor, who also started Saturday. Taylor was solid throughout in the rematch, allowing eight hits, with five of those coming in Sheridan's four-run seventh, and striking out 16. She gave up two hits and struck out 10 while earning MVP honors in last year's meeting and was equally dominant at times Saturday.

"She's one of the top 2-3 pitchers in the state," Strawn said. "We've always been a pretty big-hitting team, but we struggle against her. But it was just a matter of the girls believing and stepping in the box with confidence.

"We were more disciplined against her this time, and it was vital for us."

Strawn got a strong pitching performance on the mound from her starter, junior Regan Martin, who gave up a run on four hits in the first inning, but one hit thereafter. Martin allowed one Greenwood base runner to get in scoring position for the remainder of the game.

The Lady Bulldogs scored their run on Mariah Hamilton's RBI single in the first. Phoebe Ulmer and Tatum Holland followed with consecutive hits to load the bases, but Greenwood failed to push across any more runs.

Sheridan left fielder Tobi Finley hit a home run to tie the game 1-1 in the top of the third. The Lady Yellowjackets weren't able to do much against Taylor over the next three innings, but Corbin Talbert's double to start the seventh started Sheridan's closing rally. Finley Norman's sacrifice fly scored courtesy runner Claudia Benning and gave the Lady Yellowjackets a 2-1 lead before Names lofted a 2-2 pitch 10 feet above the right center field wall to put the game away for Sheridan.

"This is the biggest win we've had all year, and it couldn't have come at a better time," Strawn said. "We've been saying we're going to finish it this time. We've been knocking on the door, and hopefully we can knock it down this year."

BENTON 5, MARION 3

Two sixth-inning home runs allowed Benton to bounce back from an early three-run deficit and into next week's state title game against 6A-South Sheridan.

It will be a rematch of the 2014 state final, won by Benton 4-2.

Raygan Shelton followed Mabry Watson's home run with a two-run home run of her own to give Marion (18-8) a 3-0 lead in the first. Breana Langford pulled Benton (17-7) to within 3-2 with a two-run double in the fourth. Rylea Brimhall tied it at 3-3 with a home run in the sixth before Taylor Oglesby's two-run shot put the Lady Panthers ahead to stay.

Marion had a runner on third with two outs in the top of the seventh, but Benton pitcher Madi Lancaster got Micah Tolleson to ground out to end the game.

Sports on 05/15/2016

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