BENTON — After falling behind late in the game Thursday afternoon, the White Hall softball team rallied for an extra-inning walk-off victory.
The Lady Bulldogs defeated Valley View 7-6 in eight innings in the opening round of the Class 5A State Tournament at Benton High School.
White Hall Coach Mark Akins said the win felt like redemption for a team which missed the state tournament last season.
“It wasn’t pretty, but girls never quit,” Akins said. “The important thing is, we got the (win) at the end of the day over a very good Valley View team.”
Each team began its half of the eighth inning with a runner on second base. Valley View (18-9), the No. 3 seed from the 5A-East Conference, sent its runner home from third on a ground ball, but White Hall second baseman Sophie Stone fielded the ball and threw home, where catcher Emma Ratliff applied the tag to keep the game tied at 6. It was the second out the Lady Bulldogs recorded at home during the game.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
White Hall (21-10), the No. 2 seed from the 5A-South, started the bottom half of the inning with third baseman Lilly Eubanks at second base. Valley View intentionally walked Stone to begin the inning before both runners moved up on a passed ball.
After a second intentional walk, right fielder Lilly Ward hit a fly ball to left field. Eubanks tagged third, then ran home, beating the throw and scoring the game-winning run.
“Just execute, and let the chips fall where they may,” Akins said. “If we get out, we get out. Just focus on the little things and try your best to do all the little things right, and it worked out.”
White Hall took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a double by left fielder Taylor Irvin and remained in front until Valley View scored 4 runs in the top of the sixth to pull in front 6-4.
The Lady Bulldogs responded quickly, scoring 2 runs in the home half of the inning after a leadoff single from Eubanks and back-to-back one-out errors, tying the game at 6. Both teams got a runner aboard in the seventh but failed to score as the game went to extras.
Akins said the Bulldogs didn’t back down from the challenge of having to respond to the Lady Blazers’ 4-run inning.
“That’s something we talk about a lot,” Akins said. “If it’s tough, that’s a challenge to you. Don’t let it defeat you. Beat it, and they did.”
Sheridan 10, Searcy 0 (6 inn.)
BRYANT — The reigning 5A state softball champions cruised past their first-round opponent.
Sheridan (21-6) shortstop Skylar Sterritt hit 3 for 3 with 4 runs and 2 RBIs. Center fielder Sadie Sterritt hit 3 for 3 with 2 runs and 3 RBIs. Skylar scored the run-rule walk-off run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a single by Sadie.
Three other Lady Jackets drove in RBIs, and four others scored.
Sheridan started Chloe Clark at pitcher. In five innings, she struck out eight Searcy hitters without issuing a walk. The Lady Lions (14-13) managed three hits against her. Rayleigh Umholtz pitched the sixth and retired all three hitters she faced.
The Lady Jackets scored at least 2 runs in each of the first four innings.
BASEBALL Sheridan 8, Searcy 3
Sheridan pulled away from Searcy late for an 8-3 win in first round of the 5A state tournament.
Each team scored 1 run in the first inning. Sheridan (23-7) then took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third inning after three straight two-out hits, including RBI doubles by center fielder Zac Carson and left fielder Jax Young.
Searcy (17-12) tied the game for a second time in the bottom of the fourth when second baseman Angel Arman hit a 2-RBI double with two outs.
Sheridan designated hitter Lawson Wallingsford and first baseman John Woodmansee drove in runs in the next half inning to restore the Yellowjackets’ lead. Sheridan added 3 runs in the top of the seventh to pull away.
After Payton Sterritt pitched the first four innings, Carson and Grant Shearer combined for three scoreless innings to close it out.