BENTON -- Kaitlyn Howard made an early relief appearance Saturday afternoon, which eventually allowed the Sheridan Lady Jackets to put an early end to the Class 6A state championship game.
Howard permitted only four Marion batters to reach base and Sheridan banged out 21 hits as the Lady Jackets routed the Lady Patriots 17-2 in five innings at the Benton Sports Complex.
Eight Sheridan batters managed at least two hits as the Lady Jackets (30-3) claimed their third consecutive state title.
Junior Kassie Martin started in the circle for Sheridan, but after the first five Marion batters reached base, Lady Jackets Coach Tamara Strawn made the pitching change.
"We started out [with Martin] because Marion had watched our whole game with Howard pitching [in the semifinals]," Strawn said. "I wanted a little bit of a different strategy, but we were confident that Howard could do the job."
Marion took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first on back-to-back singles by senior Shelby Carpenter and sophomore Kyndel Williams. Howard, who started the game in right field, came in with the bases loaded and picked up two strikeouts and a fielder's choice to keep Marion from taking a bigger advantage.
"I was hoping Kass would last a little longer because I love playing in the outfield as well," said Howard, a sophomore left-hander. "But I was ready."
Sheridan's bats were too much for Marion. Senior Maggie Hicks went 4 for 4 with an inside-the-park home run, a double off the wall and two singles. The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville signee also drove in a run and stole two bases.
"You can always count on her to do anything," Strawn said. "She's going to get on base no matter what. She can bunt. She can hit. She got an inside-the-park home run. Who does that?"
Sheridan sent 11 batters to the plate in the second inning to take the lead for good. The Lady Jackets scored six runs on six hits for a 7-2 lead. Sheridan also sent 11 batters to the plate in a six-run fifth inning.
Sheridan batters collected eight extra-base hits, hitting the outfield wall six times. Hicks' home run smashed into the middle of the fence in right-center field and bounced away from center fielder Morgan Whited. Hicks was halfway between second and third before Whited chased down the ball.
"When it came off the bat, I thought it was out," Hicks said. "But that's something you don't question. You sprint. I was just running and hoping for the best."
Howard also had a great day at the plate, producing two doubles, a single and scoring four runs. Sophomore Carley Strawn doubled, singled twice and drove in three runs. Senior Kylee Williams singled three times and drove in a game-high four runs.
Sophomores Savannah Sanford and Bailey Bibb each had two hits and drove in two runs. Senior Nicole Tompkins had two hits, including a run-scoring triple, and senior Sara Moore had a two-run double.
Carpenter and Blakeleigh Garrison each had two hits for Marion.
Howard struck out four, gave up three hits and did not walk a batter in being named the tournament's MVP.
"That was a typical game for us," Howard said. "We've been here before plenty of times. We knew what to expect and how the field will play and how high the fences are. We know how to hit here."
Sports on 05/20/2018