GRAVETTE -- A missed play in the bottom of the 10th inning cost the Lady Pioneers the game in the first round of the 4A district tournament at Lion softball field in Gravette April 27. This ended Gentry's 2017 softball season. But the Lady Pioneers played tough throughout the contest, leading by two at several points.
On the mound for the Lady Pioneers was Alyssa Kelton, with Ayden Massey pitching for the Lady Wolves.
Up to bat in the top of the first for Gentry were Brooke Boston, Xitlali Estrada and Alyssa Kelton. Massey was able to retire all three batters and bring Lincoln up to bat. The Lady Wolves managed to get two on base but not across the plate.
Gentry took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on runs by Dali Stevens and April Harris. Three pop-up flies by Lincoln landed in Boston's glove, ending the second inning with Gentry in the lead, 2-0.
In the bottom of the third, an error in the outfield allowed the Lady Wolves to bring three runs home, taking a 3-2 lead. A series of dropped balls and missed opportunities allowed the Lady Wolves to get runners on second and third. A missed catch by the outfielder allowed the runs to cross home plate, giving Lincoln a 5-2 lead going into the top of the fourth.
Two more runs in the top of the fourth and one in the sixth allowed the Lady Pioneers to tie the Lady Wolves going into the seventh. Neither team was able to score in the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.
The game followed International Softball rules, allowing both teams to place a runner on second base in their at bat.
Gentry and Lincoln each scored one, sending the game into its eighth inning. In the top of the ninth, with Estrada on second base, lightning struck when Kelton knocked the ball over the left-field fence for a home run. This put the Lady Pioneers up by two going into the bottom of the inning. But Lincoln was able to bring two runs across home plate and tie the game once again, sending it into its 10th inning.
In the top of the inning, the Lady Pioneers grabbed a two-run advantage. With Lincoln once again tying the game, an error in the bottom of the inning brought home the winning run for the Lady Wolves, ending the Gentry softball season with a heartbreaking 11-10 loss.
Sports on 05/03/2017