FAYETTEVILLE -- Colby Norman was caught between third base and home plate, and an ensuing rundown seemed imminent.
An errant throw allowed Norman to race home, leading the way for Sheridan's 6-0 victory over conference-rival Benton in the Class 6A state softball championship Saturday afternoon at Bogle Park.
Class 6A Softball Championship
Sheridan^011^400^0^—^6^8^0
Benton^000^000^0^—^0^6^3
Martin and Talbert; Edmondson, Lancaster (4) and McClendon, Mehlin (4). W-Martin. L-Edmondson. Sv-None. HR-None.
The state title was the first since 1999 for the Lady Yellowjackets (23-5), who were making their third consecutive appearance in the championship game.
"We came in here with a bitter taste in our mouth," second-year Sheridan Coach Tamara Strawn said. "We knew what we wanted. We've been fighting for it every practice.
"It's a big burden lifted off our shoulders. We know what it's been like on the other side, and we wanted to feel the real side of a state championship this time."
Norman drew a leadoff walk in the second inning and stole second before Nicole Tompkins grounded out to second. Norman touched third base and had made it a third of the way home when the throw came to the plate. The throw to third, however, eluded Benton's Jordan Herbner and went into left field, allowing Norman to score and give Sheridan (23-5) a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Reagan Martin, who was named the game's most outstanding player, made sure it stood as the Sheridan junior scattered six hits for the shutout.
"I was rounding third and ran into the third baseman," Norman said. "She was doing her job, and I thought I was going to be called for interference. They didn't, so I kept on going at the time and found out coach wanted me to come back.
"I saw the ball in the catcher's glove and started heading back. It was very nerve-wrecking and a lonely feeling. Then I saw them miss the ball, and I took off for home."
Sheridan added another run in the third when Maggie Hicks tripled and scored on a Benton throwing error on Kylee Williamson's bunt attempt. The Lady Yellowjackets pulled away in the fourth when they batted around and scored their final four runs RBI from Hicks and Williamson.
Benton (18-8) had two runners on base in three of the seven innings, including the last two, but couldn't get a key hit. The Lady Panthers had runners on first and second with no outs in the seventh, but Kylee McClendon's hit struck baserunner Kinsey Bryant for an out to kill any momentum.
"We have lived off timely hits all season long," Benton Coach Heidi Cox said. "The girls have also played stellar defense the last two or three weeks to get us where we needed to be. Their pitcher did a great job.
"We just didn't back up our pitcher defensively. We had a couple of errors and a couple of bad decisions. That's not us. We probably picked the worst day to play our worst game."
Sports on 05/22/2016