Softball: Paulo's one-hitter sparks Heritage

Rogers Heritage’s Kayla Paulo pitches against Springdale High on Thursday at Veterans Park in Rogers.
Rogers Heritage’s Kayla Paulo pitches against Springdale High on Thursday at Veterans Park in Rogers.

ROGERS -- Before Kayla Paulo stepped into the circle against what would end up being a short list of Springdale High hitters, she wanted to make sure she accomplished two things.

"Do your best and do what you know how to do," Paulo said.

Her best ended up being a gem of a game after she threw a one-hitter in Rogers Heritage's 10-0 run-rule victory over Springdale (1-16, 0-8 7A-West). Paulo had to throw only 47 pitches on the night to quiet the Lady Bulldogs' bats.

"She did great," Heritage coach Tiffany Taylor said. "She didn't throw too many pitches, let (Springdale) put them in play, not try to strike everybody out, and our defense made the plays."

Paulo had her no-hit bid broken up in the top of the fourth inning when Springdale's Breana Hornback smacked one back up the middle, much to the chagrin of Paulo's coaches.

"When they got the hit up the middle, one of our coaches said, 'Well there goes the no-no,'" Taylor said. "It's always in the back of our minds but we try not to talk about."

While Heritage (9-9, 4-3) gave Paulo all the run support she needed, the freshman was her own biggest contributor. She finished with two hits, including a three-run triple in the second inning and a two-run single in the third.

"She's made a lot of progress this season as a freshman," Taylor said. "I see her being a good student of the game and learning things she needs to work on and making adjustments. That's a great athlete, right there."

With the loss, Springdale dropped its seventh straight game, while Heritage has been on a roll recently, winning six of its past seven.

The Lady War Eagles also got added insurance from second baseman Alexa Enos, who finished with two RBIs. Enos was one of eight Heritage batters to record a hit in the game.

"I thought they did great," Taylor said. "We hit well, we played pretty good defense and I thought we had some nice base running today, since we've had some trouble with that."

Bentonville West 4, Van Buren 3

Steele Donahoe's bases-loaded walk drove in Karlie Stafford with what proved to be the winning run as West rallied past Van Buren for a 7A-West Conference victory Thursday in Van Buren.

The Lady Wolverines (16-8, 4-3) trailed 3-0 after Whitney Ellis' three-run home run in the fifth inning before rallying in the sixth. Anna Griffin drove in the first run with a single, then Stafford tied the game with a two-run single. A Sullins reloaded the bases with a single, then Donahoe drew her walk one out later.

Emma Wood (8-2) pitched a complete game and allowed five hits while striking out nine. Stafford and Emily Roberson had tow hits apiece for West, whose victory snapped a five-game losing skid.

Bentonville High 15, Fayetteville 0

Cailey Cochran blanked Fayetteville on one hit and helped her cause with a two-run home run as Bentonville notched its 20th victory of the season.

The Lady Tigers (20-1, 7-1) erupted for seven runs in the first inning, highlighted by Megan Crownover's bases-loaded triple. Haley Cornell hit a solo home run, her ninth of the season, during a three-run second, then Cochran belted her shot in a five-run fourth.

Cochran (6-0) struck out 11 Lady Purple'Dogs over four innings, while A.J. Downey had three hits and drove in four runs to lead Bentonville's 12-hit attack.

Rogers High 16, Springdale Har-Ber 2

The Mounties scored six runs in the fourth and six more in the sixth and rolled to the run-rule win.

Sarah Hulsey and Mikelyn Bush had three hits each, while Faith Edwards and Allyn Hensley drove in three runs each for the Lady Mounties (11-5, 7-1 7A-West).

Hulsey went 3-for-5 with two RBIs , while Bush went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Hensley hit a three-run home run, while Edwards went 2-for-3 with a double.

Sadie Beeman picked up the win, allowing two runs (one earned) over six innings. She struck out six and did not walk a batter. Chloe Wheeler went 2-for-2, drove in a run and score one for Har-Ber.

Sports on 04/14/2017

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