GENTRY — After winning the USSSA 12c Arkansas State Tournament, the Gentry Pride softball team traveled to two USSSA 12c national tournaments last month and won both of them.
On July 14-17, the girls' softball team competed in the Bixby, Okla., national tournament and finished in first place. The girls played a total of seven games in that tournament, including games against the New Mexico state champions and the Iowa state champions. Also present at this tournament were the Kansas state champions, but the Gentry Pride team didn't get the opportunity to play them. The girls finished the Bixby national championship tournament with a 7-0 record and a combined score difference of 67-13.
On July 19-22, the girls traveled to the Kansas City, Mo., national tournament and were undefeated there, as well. The team played a total of eight games in that tournament, including two games against the Missouri state champions. Also present at the tournament were some of the best teams from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota, as well as some of the strongest teams from Arkansas. The Gentry Pride team won the Kansas City tournament with an 8-0 record and a combined score difference of 65-5.
The USSSA organization holds national championship tournaments in five different locations throughout the United States so that teams will not have to travel as far to reach one. Gentry was close enough to two of those locations, allowing the girls to play in both the Bixby and Kansas City tournaments. Other national tournament locations were Columbus, Ind., Sterling, Va., and Gulf Shores, Ala.
In addition to winning the state and national championships, Gentry Pride team members Kyleigh Wheaton, Afton Finnell, Shanie Barbee, Bailey Galloway, Kelsie McCratic and Malea Wilson all won most-valuable-player awards at the games played in the Bixby and Kansas City tournaments. Madison Voyles won a second-place trophy in a home run derby at Bixby. Mattison Hamilton, Mazzi Jones, Bailey Galloway, Madison Voyles and Paige Greer won the first-place trophy in the Around the Horn contest.
Gentry Pride team members include Madison Voyles, Afton Finnell, Malea Wilson, Kyleigh Wheaton, Mazzi Jones, Bailey Galloway, Paige Greer, Kelsie McCratic, Mattison Hamilton and Shanie Barbee. Coaches are Clay Stewart (head coach), Ronnie Barbee and Matt Hamilton.
About Gentry Pride
The Gentry Pride softball team was formed as a 10-under recreational team in the local western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma recreational softball league in the spring of 2015. The team won the league that summer with a 10-0 record, so the coaches decided to take the girls to the 10-under recreational national championship tournament in Gulf Shores, Ala. The girls lost all five games at that tournament and went home with their heads hanging low, but they did not give up. When moving up to the 12-under age division, the decision was made to transition into travel ball full-time. The girls worked hard, practicing three to four days a week and competing in tournaments on the weekends. In its first year and with younger players than many other teams in the division, the team lost a lot of games but won some too. The young team traveled to the state and national tournaments and won a few games, encouraging the girls to strive toward even higher levels.
"The girls knew that the upcoming year would be their year to shine," said Clay Stewart, head coach for the team, "and it has been! We couldn't have asked for a better year for this group of amazing, hard-working young ladies."
According to Stewart, to win the state tournament, as well as two national tournaments in the same year is unheard of, but the girls did it and deserved it, he said.
Stewart said the girls are now getting ready to move up to the 14-under age division and play at a higher classification level in the fall.
"We know it is going to be tough but, hopefully, we will continue to compete with the best teams in the country. This group of girls works very hard to compete at the highest level in the sport they love."
Stewart said the Gentry Pride girls do all this while maintaining straight A and B grades in school.
"Yup. That's right! They've got the three Bs: brains, brawn and beauty," Stewart said. "I could not be any prouder of this outstanding group of young ladies. The future looks good for them; that's for sure!"
Clay Stewart began coaching the girls four years ago when asked by Kyleigh Wheaton, the daughter of his best friend who drowned in the Illinois River in 2012 saving Kyleigh. Stewart has been coaching baseball and softball for 20 years, including being an assistant coach for the Gentry High School girls' softball team.
The Gentry Pride softball team extends its appreciation for all the support the team has received from its local communities.
"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the love you've shown us," Stewart said.
Sports on 08/02/2017