Kev Moyé
News-Times Staff
SMACKOVER – With the season on the line, Mallory Brewer delivered a sterling performance for Smackover.
The pitcher subdued Centerpoint's offense, as she helped the Lady Buckaroos obtain a 5-0 triumph in round one of the 3A Region 4 Tournament Thursday.
"She allowed only one hit, and that came in the last inning," Smackover Coach Dennis Steele said. "She had good command of her locations and spots. I thought she did a good job."
Smackover (20-13) put this contest out of reach in the bottom of the sixth.
At that juncture of the game, Centerpoint – a four seed from the 7-3A – trailed 1-0. However, the culture of this affair would experience a substantial change.
Reagan Richardson began the at-bat with a single to center field. Lexi Gilbert would later get on due to a Centerpoint throwing error to first base. With runners on first and third, the Lady Knights intentionally walked Abby Crawford.
With the bases loaded and Maya Reynolds in the box, a passed ball from Centerpoint pitcher Emmery Boyd allowed a run to score. Eventually, Reynolds was struck out.
Next up was Callie Lee, and she ripped the ball to center field. The ball would deflect hard off the top of the fence for a 3-run homer, increasing the Smackover lead to 5-0.
Heather Haltom followed with a single and Kaitlyn Goodwin got on base after putting down a bunt. But a runner got caught in a rundown between third and home for out two of the inning. Smackover's surge reached a conclusion when Tessa Watson tapped the ball back to the Centerpoint third baseman for out three of the inning.
Steele was pleased with how the Lady Buckaroos, champion of the 8-3A, made regular contact with the ball.
"We started putting the ball in play. We did a good job with that," he stated. "We did a good job of putting it in play, hitting the ball well.
"We finally caught up to (their pitcher), got it timed, and began to hit her pitching."
With the Lady Knights down to a final opportunity to extend the game, Brewer maintained her mastery.
She struck out Mikayla Bright, the leadoff batter of the inning.
However, Brewer – a 5-10 junior – watched her bid for a no-hitter come to an end when Boyd hit a single to shallow right field.
Next up was Kiersten Pittman, and she hit a hard line drive to Crawford at first base. She then scampered to the bag and tagged it before Boyd returned. The result was a game-ending double play.
Smackover grabbed the lead in the second inning of this affair.
Gilbert started the inning with a double to center field. Crawford was the next batter and she hit the ball hard, in close proximity to the Centerpoint center fielder. But she badly mis-played the ball as it flew over the top of her glove. That paved the way for Gilbert to score, giving Smackover a 1-0 advantage.
The Lady Knights would remain close, until the host team had a 4-run sixth to claim control.
"That was a good victory," Steele said. "We had to win this just to get to the state tournament."
Brewer finished with eight strikeouts, she gave up one hit, one walk, and hit one batter.
Smackover had eight hits. Lexi Long and Lee both contributed two hits apiece.
Smackover returns to action today at 2:30 p.m. against Genoa Central.
Genoa Central 12,
Fordyce 0
The two seed from the 7-3A rolled past Fordyce in the opening round of the regional Thursday.
The Lady Dragons went up 2-0 in the first inning. They later scored four times in the second, and amassed six runs in the fourth.
Horatio 13,
McGehee 3
The Horatio Lady Lions dominated McGehee in the opening round of the 3A Region 4 tourney.
Champion of conference 7, Horatio never trailed in this contest.
The Lady Lions scored a run in the first, broke the game open with six in the second. They then tacked on three runs apiece in the third and fifth innings.
McGehee, a four seed from the 8-3A, scored its runs in the fifth.
Horatio amassed 13 hits while McGehee had 10.
The winning pitcher was Dana Simmons.
Cossatot River 2,
Harmony Grove 0
In a game that was decided in extra innings, the Coassatot River Lady Eagles outlasted Harmony Grove in a nine inning affair Thursday.
The Lady Hornets, a two seed from the 8-3A, were limited to four hits. Meanwhile, Cossatot River had six hits en route to the victory.
Lexy Taylor was the winning pitcher.
Cossatot River will now face Horatio today at 11 a.m.