BY JASON KING
Leader staff writer
IN SHORT: The Lady Bears softball team got two wins over Forrest City on Monday in Sherwood.
Sylvan Hills improved its conference record with a sweep over the Lady Mustangs of Forrest City Monday at Sherwood Parks. The Lady Bears took both games by scores of 11-2. There was plenty of hitting during the twin bill, as both teams combined for a total of 116 hits in the two games. Defense proved to be the difference in the game for the Lady Bears, leaving several FC runners on base without scores.
“It took us forever to get going,” Lady Bears coach Laura Allred said. “The past three games we have finally put together some offense. Our defense has been solid all year, but we have struggled offensively.”
Sylvan Hills built its lead slowly in the first game, with a run from Melissa Hobby. Hobby’s run was the first score of the evening for the Lady Bears, giving them the early lead.
Two more runs were added in the third inning for Sylvan Hills, but the third and fourth innings put the game away. The Lady Bears came away with three runs in both innings, putting Forrest City in the difficult spot of making up nine runs in three innings.
The Lady Mustangs couldn’t answer the mid-game streak from Sylvan Hills, as the Lady Bears took game one convincingly.
Pitcher Hannah Scott got the win for Sylvan Hills with three strikeouts. Amanda Harmon was 3 for 4 in the game, along with Megan Uekman, Hobby and Kasey Smith. Sylvan Hills finished the game with 11 runs, 33 hits and two errors. The Lady Mustangs came away with two runs, 26 hits and two errors.
The second game had a similar tone as the opener, with Sylvan Hills building a slow lead in the opening innings before pouring it on late.
Amber Lovell got the Lady Bears’ first run of the game in style in the second inning with an inside-the-park home run. Lovell’s one-run homer gave Sylvan Hills a 1-0 lead, and the Lady Bears never looked back from there.
Another strong offensive performance in the fourth and fifth innings put the game away for Sylvan Hills, with three runs scored in each inning. The Lady Mustangs found themselves forced to climb out of a deep hole once again, and just like the first game, were unable to make it happen.
Starting pitcher Uekman turned in a solid performance for Sylvan Hills with nine strikeouts for the game winner. Stephanie Starks went 2 for 3 for the Lady Bears, with Raven Pickett, Brittany Arnold and Lovell going 2 for 4.
“The pitching was solid in both games,” Allred said. “I was very pleased with the way things went. We had a bunch of junior varsity players that played, they came in and did a great job. Hopefully, this will give us some momentum for the rest of the season.”
The wins improve Sylvan Hills’ record to 6-10 overall and 4-9 in the AAAAA-East conference. The Lady Bears faced league-leading Jacksonville Tuesday after Leader deadlines.Look for details of that game in the Saturday sports section of The Leader.
