Prep Softball Report

Berryville

Lady Bobcats much improved

The experience Berryville gained last season is paying off this year for the Lady Bobcats.

Berryville finished 12-13 while starting five freshman a year ago. This season, Berryville is 15-4 entering today's scheduled home game with Gravette.

"That's a big game for us, weather permitting," Berryville coach Josh Hatfield said. "Gravette plays at a high level and they try to force you into mistakes. It'll be our job not to make those mistakes."

Berryville is still a young group with only one senior, Aspen Smith, who was also starter on the Berryville basketball team that was so successful this season. Smith again displayed her leadership ability in by agreeing to move to a position to help her softball team.

"We really needed a catcher and Aspen accepted that role," Hatfield said. "She's done a great job."

Juniors Hayley Rivett and Taylor Kelley are top hitters on the team while Kelley owns a 13-4 record in the pitching circle. Berryville has also added two freshmen this season, Lexi Woods, and Lora Grace Hill, who've made major contributions to the team's success.

"We've been in about every game this year except one, and that was a tournament game against (Springdale) Har-Ber that started at 8 o'clock in the morning," Hatfield said. "We're having a good year. Hopefully, we can keep it up."

Rogers High

Lady Mounties regroup

Rogers is back on track after falling to 7A-West Conference leader Bentonville earlier this month.

Sadie Beenman threw a one-hitter and struck out nine during a 3-0 victory over Springdale Har-Ber on Thursday at Veterans Stadium. Rogers scored all its runs in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie.

The victory was the fourth consecutive for the Lady Mounties (12-7, 6-1), who lost 9-0 to Bentonville on April 3. Bentonville (19-2, 8-0) battered Fayetteville 17-0 on Thursday to remain unbeaten in league play.

"Bentonville played great that day against us, and we didn't," Rogers coach Mike Harper said. "They're a good team. We'll try and build some momentum before we go into that game the last week of the (conference) season."

Rogers began the week with a 3-2 victory over Farmington before posting the league shutout over Har-Ber.

Beeman worked out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the sixth inning after the Lady Mounties used standout defensive plays by third baseman Journalee Zito and right fielder Jadyn Heinle in the fourth inning to turn away a Har-Ber threat.

"Good pitching, good defense, and timely hitting," Harper said of the two victories. "That'll win a lot of games for you."

Rogers was scheduled to play games in central Arkansas this weekend but those games was canceled because of the threat of wet weather moving across the state.

Fayetteville

Lady Bulldogs earn first win

Fayetteville's rebuilding process took a positive step when the Lady Bulldogs rallied to beat Springdale High 12-7. It was the first victory of the season for Fayetteville (1-10, 1-7) and head coach Sue Carpenter.

Fayetteville bunched together eight runs in the final three innings after trailing 6-4 in the fourth. Junior Ella Ford and sophomores Sadie Baxter and Kapriel Bowen each had two hits for the Lady Bulldogs.

"They were fired up and excited to see their hard work pay off," said Sue Carpenter, who is in her first season as coach for the Lady Bulldogs. "They finally put all three phases of the game together -- pitching, hitting, and defense. This team has a lot of heart and they keep battling through adversity."

Fayetteville will have to fight through more adversity following consecutive losses to Van Buren, Greenwood and Bentonville. But Carpenter is confident her young team will continue to take the field each game with a positive mindset.

"I want them to continue to control the controllables," Carpenter said. "That means their work ethic, attitudes, and being a good teammate. I want them to battle and compete every day. I have no doubt they will continue to do so."

Preps Basketball on 04/13/2018

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