GENTRY -- Though the Lady Lions held a big lead early in Friday's Highway 59 rivalry game at Gentry High School, the Lady Pioneers closed the gap, one run per inning, until it was 7-6 Gravette at the top of an explosive seventh inning. Gravette scored four runs in the top of the inning, but the Pioneers scored six in the second half to take the win, 12-11.
The Lady Pioneers scored 12 runs on 10 hits, and the Lady Lions scored 11 runs on 13 hits in the contest.
Presley Ward hit a home run in the game for Gentry. Favy Najar and Olivia Nations tripled, and Cindy Barger, Kailie Kreger and Iris Still added doubles. Najar had four RBIs, Nations had three and Barger had two, including the winning run in the bottom of the seventh when she brought in Najar on a sacrifice fly to center field for the second out in the inning.
Laney Chilton led the Lady Lions with her bat, with two hits and four RBIs in the game. She hit a home run in the seventh and a double in the second.
Callie Jordan pitched all seven innings for Gentry, walking seven and striking out two. Sydney Kildow and Brooke Handle shared pitching duties for Gravette, walking 12 and striking out four.
Gravette scored three runs in both the first and second innings and one in the fourth before the explosive final at-bat. Gentry scored solo runs in the first through sixth innings before adding another six runs in the final inning.
BOYS
Gravette 16, Gentry 3
The Lions mauled the Pioneers in Gentry, 16-3, on Friday,
JD Beem hit a home run in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs, to take an early lead, but Riggs Harper, Gentry's lead-off batter, answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning, and Briar Mayberry singled on a ground ball into center field to drive in Bennett Roberts and tie up the game by 2-2 at inning's end.
But the Lions gained the upper hand in the second inning, scoring five more runs, and they built on that lead in the fourth and seventh innings for the big win. Gravette scored seven runs in its final at-bat.
Leading the Lions with his bat was Gunnar Woolard, with three hits in the game, two walks, two RBIs, and scoring three times. Logan Renfro had two hits, including a double and three RBIs. Kash May also picked up a double in the contest.
In all, the Lions' 16 runs came on 13 hits and five Gentry errors. Gentry's three runs came on three hits and no Gravette errors.
Holden Betz was the winning pitcher, throwing 3.2 innings for the Lions and striking out six. He was relieved by Brody Bohannon and Gunner Woolard.
Riggs Harper started on the mound for Gentry. He pitched for four innings, walked six and struck out four. Briar Mayberry and Bennett Roberts each pitched an inning of relief, walking five and striking out three.
Harper led the Pioneers with three hits and two RBIs in the game. Mayberry had two hits and an RBI.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Gravette's Sydney Kildow watches the trajectory of the ball at Friday's game between Gravette and Gentry at Gentry High School.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Gravette senior Brooke Handle throws a pitch during Friday's game between Gravette and Gentry at Gentry High School.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Gentry's Favy Najar takes a high pitch during Friday's game between Gravette and Gentry at Gentry High School.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Coach Shawn Teters talks to his players between innings at Friday's game between Gravette and Gentry at Gentry High School.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Gentry senior Riggs Harper throws a pitch during Friday's game between Gravette and Gentry at Gentry High School.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Gentry first baseman Houston Nance waits for the throw to check a Gravette runner during Friday's game between Gravette and Gentry at Gentry High School.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Gravette's Gunnar Woolard waits at third base after getting a hit and advancing around the bases at Friday's game between Gravette and Gentry at Gentry High School.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Gentry's Drew Nash tags out Gravette's Logan Renfro in an attempt to steal second during Friday's game between Gravette and Gentry at Gentry High School.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Gentry freshman Callie Jordan throws a pitch during Friday's game between Gravette and Gentry at Gentry High School.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Gravette's Brynn Romine slides safely into second while Gentry shortstop Presley Ward tries to get a handle on the ball during Friday's game between Gravette and Gentry at Gentry High School.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Gravette's Gunnar Woolard watches an incoming pitch at Friday's game between Gravette and Gentry at Gentry High School.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Gravette pitcher Holden Betz throws a pitch during Friday's game between Gravette and Gentry at Gentry High School.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer
Evey Tomlinson connects with a pitch at Friday's game between Gravette and Gentry at Gentry High School.