WESTSIDE -- The Lady Lions went up against two heavy hitters during the next to last week of the 2021 regular softball season. Unfortunately for the Lady Lions, both the Lady Blackhawks and Lady Panthers prevailed for a pair of wins.
Up first, Gravette traveled to Pea Ridge for a conference contest with the Lady Blackhawks on April 12.
Gravette started the contest with a run in the top of the first for an early lead. But the Lady Blackhawks brought three runs home in the bottom of the inning to lead by two. Two runs in the second inning for both Gravette and Pea Ridge allowed the Lady Blackhawks to retain their two-run lead.
In the bottom of the third, another pair of runs put Pea Ridge up by four runs. Gravette managed to put up three runs in the top of the fifth to cut the lead back to one. Pea Ridge answered with three runs of its own to extend its lead back to four. The Gravette Lady Lions picked up a pair of runs in the top of the seventh but it simply was not enough and the Lady Blackhawk took the conference win, 10-8.
Brooke Handle and Paige Greer led the Lady Lions in the hitting department. Greer had two runs on three hits and one RBI, followed by Brooke Handle with two runs and two hits. Taylor Neustel, Trinity Burnett, Kelsey Pembleton and Brynne Romine had one run each.
On the mound for Gravette was Handle, who completed all six innings, delivering 83 pitches. She allowed 10 runs on 11 hits (nine earned runs), while walking four and striking out two. Handle also allowed three home runs -- Lady Blackhawks' Blakelee Winn, Callie Copper and Ravin Cawthorn.
In the second contest of the week played Thursday night in Clarksville, the Lady Lions managed to stay up with the Lady Panthers until the fourth inning when Clarksville brought home six runs to lead the contest 10-4.
Gravette managed three more runs in the top of the fifth but fell short once again as the Clarksville Lady Panthers defeated the Gravette Lady Lions, 10-7.
Lizzy Ellis and Neustel led the way for Gravette with two runs on two hits each, followed by Romine and Keeley Elsea, who each had one run on two hits. Pembleton was able to pick up one run on three hits, with Burnett and Kaidence Sandival picking up one hit each.
Handle pitched her second game of the week, completing all six innings and delivering 100 pitches. She allowed 10 runs on 14 hits (eight earned) while walking three and striking out 0ne.
The final contest of the week pitted the Lady Lions against the Lady Bulldogs of Springdale in nonconference play Friday night. A constant rain that started around 11 a.m. forced the cancellation of this game in Gravette.
The Lady Lions only have three more games left in the regular season. A conference game with the Prairie Grove Lady Tigers on April 19 in Prairie Grove, the last home game against the Huntsville Lady Eagles on April 22, and the final contest of the regular season against the Ozark Lady Hillbillies in Ozark on April 23.
The home contest is Senior Night, so plan on coming out and supporting the Lady Lion seniors in their last game at home.
