FARMINGTON -- Carley Antwine graduated on Tuesday night from Farmington High School, where she was a standout student-athlete.
She'll start classes in August at the University of Oklahoma, where she plans to study biology and pre-med. Before she leaves for Norman, she has one final goal and that's to bring another state softball championship to Farmington.
Profile
Carley Antwine
SCHOOL Farmington
HEIGHT 5-7
CLASS Senior
POSITION Second base
NOTABLE Graduated earlier this week with a 3.92 grade point average at Farmington. … Enters Saturday’s championship game with a .440 batting average that includes 4 home runs and 17 RBI. … Four-year letterman who has played mostly second base. … A cheerleader who also played volleyball and basketball at Farmington. … Will attend the University of Oklahoma, where she plans to study biology and pre-med.
She'll get that chance Saturday morning when Farmington faces Greenbrier in the Class 5A state championship at the Benton High School Sports Complex. The game was moved from Bogle Park in Fayetteville because the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville softball team is hosting an NCAA regional tournament this weekend for the first time in program history.
So, instead of the short drive to Fayetteville, the Lady Cardinals will play 200 miles away at Benton, beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
"It's not Bogle, but a lot of my family and friends will still be there," Antwine said. "It's still the championship game, so we can't really complain."
Overcoming obstacles or minor inconveniences is a trademark for the Lady Cardinals, who are 27-4 on the season. Farmington lost consecutive games to Bentonville West before beating the Class 7A state finalist 12-4 on April 19. Days later, Farmington beat Class 6A Greenwood 14-9 in 10 innings to avenge an earlier loss to the Lady Bulldogs.
Antwine, who is one of six seniors for Farmington, attributes team unity for much of the Lady Cardinals' success this season. Paige Devecsery, Camryn Journagan, Shyanna Holmes, Chloe Keeling, and Zoe Comstock are the other seniors who'll take the field for the final time for Farmington on Saturday.
"Seniors through freshmen, everyone was a lot closer this year," Antwine said. "We didn't have any drama at all and we didn't let a lot of things bother us. We kind of stuck to ourselves and did our thing."
Antwine is a second baseman who'll carry a .440 batting average into Saturday's championship game against Greenbrier. She has 17 doubles, three triples, four home runs and 26 RBIs on the season. She's also a smart player who's compiled a 3.92 grade point average as a senior.
"Carley has great intelligence on the field and off the field," Farmington coach Randy Osnes said. "Her knowledge of the softball game is phenomenal. Besides that, she's a tremendous leader who leads by example. She's a good player but, above that, she's a good person."
Farmington qualified for the softball finals after beating Magnolia, Paragould, and De Queen in the Class 5A state tournament at Harrison. Antwine hit a home run in the semifinals for the Lady Cardinals, who won state championships in 2000, 2005, and 2011.
On Saturday, she'll attempt to add to her school's trophy case in the final game of her career.
"It's going to be very emotional," Antwine said. "But it's also exciting knowing that I'm going to be playing in the biggest game my last game."
Sports on 05/18/2018