By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Sylvan Hills Lady Bears swept Mills University Studies by a combined 41 runs Tuesday in a 5A-Central doubleheader on Dixon Road in Little Rock. The Lady Bears took advantage of eight base hits and 17 walks to win game one 26-0. They got five base hits and walked just eight times in a 15-0 win in game two.
“You can’t really gauge where you stand with the other good teams, but there’s some positives to come from games like these,” said Sylvan Hills coach Mark Anderson. “You learn you have to stay focused no matter what, and it gives you a chance to work on some of those things that may need a little work. I thought we did alright.”
Callie Cavender went 3 for 3 at the plate and threw a no-hitter on the mound in game one. She also drove in two runs and scored four times. Leadoff hitter Cara Pozza went 2 for 2 with four RBIs and four runs scored.
The Lady Bears did most of the damage early, scoring 19 runs in the top of the first inning, and adding seven more in the second to set the final margin. Except for Cavender on the mound, Anderson played his junior varsity squad the third inning. Cavender threw just 42 pitches, walked two and struck out six.
Anderson shuffled his lineup in game two but it wasn’t much more competitive. Pozza, Cavender, Doma’Nique Hunt and Tristen Goodson each drove in two runs. Lynlee Broadway didn’t get a hit, but walked all three trips to the plate and scored each time she got on base. Goodson’s two RBIs came on a bases-clearing triple in the seven-run first inning.
The Lady Bears added seven more runs in the second and one run in the bottom of the third to end the game on the mercy rule. Taylor Yoeman also hit a triple to lead off the second inning.
Broadway got the win on the mound in game two. She gave up three hits while striking out four and walking no one in three innings of work.
After opening the season with a loss to North Little Rock, Sylvan Hills has won three-straight, improving to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in league play. The Lady Bears are off for spring break until March 31 when they host J.A. Fair in another 5A-Central doubleheader.
