Girls fight to end in state playoffs

— Gravette’s Lady Lions fought to the end in the 4A state softball tournament Monday, but Coach Taos Jones' girls, who made it to the semi-finals, dropped a 9-5 heartbreaker to Ashdown.

It took two extra innings for the Lady Panthers to overcome the fighting Lady Lions.

Shyanne Nichols, whose season record is 14-4, struck out nine batters in the nineinning contest which went to nine when Destaney Wishon belted a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game 5-5.

In the opening round in last Friday’s tournament action held in Heber Springs, Gravette toppled the Malvern girls 2-1. That game was a nail-biter with Gravette jumping to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Kate Stidham delivered the two-out double to giveGravette the edge.

Though the Lady Lions were held scoreless the rest of the game, Nichols stymied the Lady Leopards, allowing only two hits while striking out 13. Megan Ward went 2 for 2 for the Lady Lions.

In Saturday’s game Gravette faced the East Region’s topseed, Jonesboro, where Nichols continued her mastery as she allowed just four hits in the seven-inning battle with the Lady Warriors.

Nichols helped her cause going 2 for 3 while teamates Kyndra Meeker and Destaney Wishon each collected two hits in the Lady Lions 3-1 victory.

This propelled Gravette into the semi-final game Monday where the Lady Lions fought valiantly for a chance to meet arch-rival Farmington in the finals this Friday when the Lady Cardinals will tangle with Ashdown at Bogle Field in Fayetteville.

Sports, Pages 11 on 05/18/2011