Lady Lions hold off Lincoln, 3-1

May 3, 2017 at 5:00 a.m.

by Mark Humphrey [email protected]

Photo by Mark Humphrey Friday’s District semifinal between Gravette and Lincoln was as close as this play at first. Although Lincoln’s Jada Corbit reached with the throw late to Gravette first baseman Sumer Kaba, the Lady Wolves were defeated, 3-1, by Gravette.
Photo by Mark Humphrey Friday’s District semifinal between Gravette and Lincoln was as close as this play at first. Although Lincoln’s Jada Corbit reached with the throw late to Gravette first baseman Sumer Kaba, the Lady Wolves were defeated, 3-1, by Gravette.

GRAVETTE -- Gravette took an early 2-0 lead in the District 4A-1 softball tournament semifinals against Lincoln Friday, then held on for a 3-1 win.

Sophomore Keeley Bulza and freshman Gabbi Curtis scored runs for Gravette. The Lady Lions got one in the first and another in the third to move in front, 2-0.

The Lady Wolves' only run came in the top of the fourth inning. Tristan Cunningham led off with a single, beating a throw to first. She worked her way to third on a flyball and ground-out, then scored on an illegal pitch, cutting the Lady Lions' lead to 2-1.

In the top of the fifth, Lincoln threatened again. Jada Corbit smacked a 2-2 pitch to lead off the inning with a double. She also wound up a third with two outs and appeared to score a tying run when Kinley Webb made contact, but Gravette made a play, getting the out at first on a close play and denying the tying run.

"I don't think our kids get rattled in those situations, we don't make mistakes," said Gravette coach Taos Jones. "Our pitcher did a good job of making it hard for them to get bunts; that was the biggest thing."

"With the rain, everybody played yesterday except for us. We just kind of sat out here and soaked up the sun and that drains you. That game right there, that should have woke them up."

A Lincoln fielding error allowed Gravette starter Cally Kildow to reach base in the bottom of the fifth. She went to second after tagging up on a flyball, then added an extra base on a throwing error. Sumer Kaba drove in a run with a single to put the Lady Lions ahead, 3-1.

Kildow was the winning pitcher, allowing 1 run on 4 hits with 11 strike-outs in 7 innings, and also drove in a run with her bat.

Sports on 05/03/2017