SCRANTON
Brad Harrison credits senior leadership for helping him make a smooth transition from coaching softball instead of baseball this year at Scranton.
Harrison made the move to softball after former coach Dustin Peters accepted a job at Ozark.
"I thought it might be a lot different, but it's really not," Harrison said. "I have to credit our five seniors, who made it easy for me. They wanted to be coached and they came every day ready to work."
The five seniors -- Amber Fox, Kristy Kohler, Kristen Stehl, Alicia Gilliland, and Rachel Siebenmorgen -- will attempt to lead Scranton into the Class 1A state championship game for the third time in four years. Scranton lost 3-0 to Taylor last year at Bogle Park in Fayetteville after beating Concord 6-1 to win the state championship in 2015.
The Lady Rockets (15-7) are hosting the district tournament, where they opened with an 18-0 victory over Hartford on Thursday. They've already qualified for the regional tournament after winning the 1A-West Conference title.
"Our record doesn't jump out at you, but we've played a really tough schedule," Harrison said. "Our bats have picked up and we've played good defense all year long."
LINCOLN
Lincoln hopes its strong finish in the 4A-1 Conference continues in postseason play when the Lady Wolves attempt to qualify for the state tournament for the third consecutive year.
Lincoln (15-7, 9-3) earned second place in the league by winning six of its final seven games during the regular season. The Lady Wolves made it seven of eight by beating Huntsville 3-0 Thursday in the first round of the district tournament.
"I'm pretty happy with how we're playing, although there's always room to improve," Lincoln coach Beau Collins said. "We have two really good pitchers in senior Ayden Massey and freshman Paige Umberson and we've been playing really good defense that's kept us in some games."
Lincoln has played well at home, highlighted by a 6-5 victory in eight innings against Gravette on April 9. Senior Malorie Pershall won the game with a run-scoring single in the eighth inning after Lincoln tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
The win came after losses of 11-0 to Gravette and 11-6 to Pea Ridge.
"Gravette's a good team and it really boosted our confidence to get that win," Collins said.
The Lady Wolves will face Gravette again tonight in the district tournament at Lincoln, which will be the site of the regional tournament for softball and baseball.
"It'll be a busy two weeks around here, for sure," Collins said.
BENTONVILLE
Bentonville coach Kent Early shook his head as a reporter approached and explained his team had not played well during a 4-1 victory over Rogers on Thursday.
It's true Bentonville made a mental error at the outset that left a base uncovered and a baseruning mistake Early blamed on himself. But the Lady Tigers overcame a one-run deficit and defeated Rogers to clinch a share of the 7A-West Conference championship.
Bentonville (24-2, 12-0) will earn the title outright with a win next week over Rogers Heritage or Bentonville West.
"It wasn't a pretty game by the standards of what we've been doing," said Early, whose team is the defending state champions in Class 7A. "But it's a credit to our kids, who bowed their necks and got it done. Rogers balled out and made plays, diving on the field, so you have to tip your hat to them. They battled."
McKenzie Vaughan hit a two-out, two-run double to put Bentonville ahead and Haley Cornell finished off the victory with a home run in the fifth inning. Rogers (17-9, 10-2) received a triple by Journee Zito that led to the Lady Mounties' only run.
Cailey Cochran struck out 11 in seven innings to improve to 18-1 on the season.
Preps Basketball on 04/26/2018