Gentry girls defeat Springdale, Ft. Smith

Photo by Randy Moll Alyssa Kelton prepares to throw a pitch for Gentry during the Feb. 28 home game against Springdale.
Photo by Randy Moll Alyssa Kelton prepares to throw a pitch for Gentry during the Feb. 28 home game against Springdale.

GENTRY -- The Lady Pioneers "matched or outscored" the visiting Lady Bulldogs of Springdale every inning on Feb. 28 to take a 13-3 win in the nonconference game, and that's exactly what head coach Paul Ernest told his girls to do.

Gentry shut out Springdale in the top of the first with two Alyssa Kelton strikeouts and a pop out to second base and then put four runs on the board in its first at bat. Taylor Hull walked, April Harris singled on a bunt to the third baseman and Brooke Boston advanced Avani Edwards (pinch runner for Hull) and Harris on a sacrifice. Kelton then singled on a ground ball to left, scoring Edwards and Harris. Alexis Droddy pounded a line drive single out into center field, scoring Meledy Owens (pinch runner for Kelton). Billi Taylor (courtesy runner for Droddy) then scored on a Lynzey Sikes grounder.

The Gentry girls added two more in the fourth when Boston doubled to center, bringing in Harris, who got on with a fielder's choice ground ball. Boston then scored following a line drive out to center field hit by Kelton.

Springdale answered with a two-run home run over the left-field fence by Whitnee Patterson in the top of the fifth; and that's when Ernest reminded his players they needed to "tie or outscore" their opponents each inning.

Boston helped her teammates achieve that goal when she pounded another double to left field, scoring Harley Stanfield (who walked) and Sikes (who singled on a grounder to left field). Harris, who also walked, scored on a catcher error. Boston then came home on a Droddy line drive to right field.

Springdale scored its third run in the top of the sixth, but the Gentry girls again responded with three more runs in the bottom of the inning, when Sikes scored on a Taylor Hull single to center field, Carissa Goosens (running for Hull) scored on another Boston hit, and Harris came home when Makensi Sweeten was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Springdale failed to respond in the top of the seventh, ending the game with Gentry up, 13-3.

Boston led the Lady Pioneers with three hits in four at bats. Two of those were doubles. She also led in runs batted in with four. Kelton had three RBIs and Droddy had two. Harris scored four times in the game.

Kelton threw 77 pitches for Gentry, allowed nine hits and two earned runs (including one home run), walked none and struck out eight.

Gentry 5

Ft. Smith 4

Gentry's Lady Pioneers traveled south and defeated Ft. Smith Southside on Feb. 27 when Ft. Smith was unable to catch up after a strong Gentry start. The Lady Pioneers scored two runs in the first inning and three in the second and allowed Ft. Smith two in the first and two in the seventh.

Brooke Boston and Taylor Hull led the Lady Pioneers in hitting with two each. Boston and April Harris each had doubles in the game. RBIs were credited to Hull, Boston, Harris and Makensi Sweeten. Alyssa Kelton pitched for Gentry in the non-conference game.

Sports on 03/08/2017