GENTRY — After getting off to a strong start against the Pea Ridge Lady Blackhawks, it became a challenge to hold the lead here on March 15.

Bats were hot for both teams, and a series of Lady Pioneer errors in the fourth inning gave the Lady Blackhawks the chance to narrow the 14-2 lead by adding five runs to the board.

Despite a roaring enthusiasm by Pea Ridge, the team was unable to overcome a grand-slam home run hit by Eryan Beck which was closely followed by another home run by Cloie Sikes.

The game ended in a 17-14 win for the Lady Pioneers.

The junior varsity team lost 6-5.

Gentry 0 Lincoln 3

On March 16, the Lady Pioneers faced the Lincoln Lady Wolves at home.

Strong defenses and good pitching by both teams held that game scoreless until the top of the seventh inning, whenLincoln’s Reed singled and Mayberry was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base. Lincoln pitcher T. Villines hit one over the fence to score three runs.

The Lady Pioneers were unable to answer in the bottom of the seventh and suffered a 3-0 loss to the Lady Wolves.

Weather shortened the annual Fayetteville-Farmington tournament allowing all games to be played Friday night.

Gentry 4 Rogers 7

The Lady Pioneers drew the Rogers Lady Mounties for their first game of the night. Gentry got off to a good start with lead-off batter Marly Pierce getting on base with a single and scoring on a double by Eryan Beck. Cloie Sikes then singled, bringing in Beck.

The Lady Mounties answered with three runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead.

In the top of the third, Sikes took one for the team and was brought in by a nice home-run hit over the centerfield fence by freshman Rindy Hudson, retaking the lead.

In the bottom of the third, the Lady Mounties answered with three runs to regain and keep the lead.

The game was called for time, with the Lady Mounties leading 7-4.

Gentry 3 Greenwood 4

The loss pitted Gentry against Greenwood. Once again, the girls scored early with a walk by Pierce, followed by Whitney Corter’s single. Josie Graves-Long singled to bring in Pierce. Corter and Graves-Long scored to give the Lady Pioneers a 3-0 lead.

A nice double play by Sikes and Kelcey Jech helped hold the Lady Bulldogs scoreless until the third inning when a Lady Pioneer error allowed a runner on base to score on a triple by Nelms.

Two hits and a walk in the fourth gave the Greenwood Lady Bulldogs the lead for a final score of 4-3 Greenwood.

The Lady Pioneer’s are scheduled to play their first conference game at home against Farmington at 5 p.m. March 30.

Sports, Pages 7 on 03/24/2010