GRAVETTE -- The Lady Lions may have lost to Pea Ridge by a single run in the district tournament at Gravette on April 28, but they came back to defeat Pea Ridge, 3-1, in the regional 4A tournament at Dover on Monday and win the 4A North regional championship.
The Lady Lions scored runs in the first, third and fourth innings for the win. Gabbi Curtis scored in the first after hitting a single to left and then advancing on a Keeley Bulza single and a Hannah Cole fly ball and Pea Ridge error.
Bulza scored in the third inning after being hit by a pitch and later making it home on a passed ball. In the fourth, Cally Kildow tripled to center field, bringing in Sydney King, courtesy runner for Emily Ellis, who singled with a hard ground ball to third.
Pea Ridge scored its only run in the first on a Sara Whatley single, followed by an error which allowed Megan David, courtesy runner for Whatley, to score.
Kildow pitched all seven innings for Gravette and struck out 12 Pea Ridge batters, including two in the final inning. Kildow also led with her bat, getting two of Gravette's six hits and two RBIs.
Lexi Gerner had a double in the game.
The Lady Lions now go on to play in the state playoffs at Lonoke, beginning Thursday, with the semifinals and final on Saturday.
Gravette 1
Pottsville 0
Cally Kildow allowed only two hits as she and the Lady Lions shut out Pottsville, 1-0, on Saturday at the regional tournament in Dover and advanced Gravette to the finals on Monday against Pea Ridge.
The defensive game was scoreless until the sixth inning when Keeley Bulza hit into a fielder's choice and drove in Gravette's only run. Gabbi Curtis opened the inning for Gravette with a triple and made it home on Bulza's bunt. Curtis had Gravette's lone hit in the game.
Kildow threw seven innings, struck out 12 and walked one. She struck out the final Pottsville batter to end the game.
Sports on 05/10/2017