By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Sylvan Hills Lady Bears moved into sole possession of first place in the 5A Central standings with a doubleheader sweep of Jacksonville on Monday. Both teams entered the contest with perfect 4-0 marks in league play, but Sylvan Hills got a no hitter from sophomore hurler Tyra Williams in a 7-1 victory in game one, then won game two 4-1 to take the sweep at Sherwood Sports Complex.
Jacksonville played most of the game shorthanded, as both corner infielders were injured and left the game. First baseman Coyja Hood left with an eye injury in the second inning and third baseman Shyrel McKinney suffered an injured wrist when Sylvan Hills centerfielder Brittney Hubbird slid into her during a close play at third.
While Williams was dominant on the mound in game one, giving up no earned runs and striking out 14, she was responsible for Jacksonville’s lone run.
She hit eight-hole hitter Morgan Lloyd to lead off the sixth inning. Zylah Richardson then lined out back to Williams, who alertly threw to first to try to double up Lloyd, but her throw was off line, allowing the base runner to trot safely to second base.
Leadoff hitter Sacha Richardson bunted to move the runner to third, but she was also safe when Williams’ throw to first was in the dirt and rolled past the bag. That allowed Lloyd to score, making it 3-1 in the top of the sixth.
But Sylvan Hills (13-3, 6-0) had yet to have its best inning at the plate. Jacksonville pitcher Kimberly House had not been as dominant as Williams, but she had not given up an earned run through five innings. That changed in the sixth when the Lady Bears finally began to find its timing against the tall freshman.
Taylor Yoeman and Callie Cavender got back-to-back singles to lead things off, but Yoeman overran second base on Cavender’s hit, and was tagged out in a rundown. The Lady Bears’ nine-hole hitter along with leadoff hitter Brittney Hubbird drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Ashley Broadway then grounded to second base where Jacksonville’s Bailey Jones went for the force out at home, but Cavender just beat the throw to make it 4-1 and give the Lady Bears their first earned run of the game.
House fanned Jordie Flippo for the second out, but Williams, Jeana Canady and Jenna Hoogeveen hit three consecutive singles to score three runs and set the final margin.
Jacksonville got two runners on in the top of the seventh, but were unable to get a run across the plate.
Williams threw all seven innings, giving up no hits while striking out 14, walking three and hitting one batter. She was also outstanding at the plate, going 3 for 4 with three runs batted in.
She was almost 4 for 4 with four RBIs. In the first inning, Hubbird walked to lead things off and moved to third on a stolen base and a sacrifice grounder. Williams then hit a soft blooper to third base where McKinney made a good play by stretching to get the ball in her glove, but it bounced out when she hit the ground.
Sylvan Hills’ next two runs were also unearned. With two outs, Flippo hit a deep fly ball to centerfield. Lloyd was underneath it in plenty of time, but dropped what should have been the third out. Williams and Canady then got back-to-back RBI base hits to make it 3-0.
It wasn’t all bad news for Jacksonville. The Lady Red Devils closed the weekend with a victory over a Beebe junior varsity team that entered the Beebe-Cabot tournament after Jonesboro-Westside failed to show up. The Lady Devils lost two close games earlier in the day on Saturday before handling the Lady Badgers 4-0.
