By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits got 17 runs on 13 base hits in a dominant 17-1 victory over eStem Charter on Thursday at the Lonoke Ballpark. Amanda Sexton was a double away from hitting for the cycle, going 3 for 3 with a home run, a triple, three runs scored and five runs batted in. On the mound, Charley Jo Chesney threw a two-hitter with seven strikeouts and one walk as the Lady Jackrabbits improved to 10-4 overall and finish 6-2 in the 4A-2 Conference.
The Lady Mets grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, thanks to a one-out error and a two-out double. It didn’t take long for that lead to evaporate and become a distant memory in the bottom half of the first.
Sexton drilled a 0-2 pitch over the fence in right field that gave Lonoke a 3-1 lead, and that kicked off a 14-run first inning to effectively end the competition.
With the bases cleared and one out, Maddie Pool re-started the rally by drawing a walk, and Janae Miller reached on an error. Candace James walked and Gracie Cole singled to score Pool and Miller and leave runners on the corners.
Sidney Hallum walked and Chesney hit into a 1-5 fielder’s choice that scored James’ courtesy runner, Madison McFadden, and got Cole thrown out at third. Lindsey McFadden ran for Chesney and advanced to second when Jasalyn Truelove walked to load the bases. Jarrelyn McCall singled to center field to score Hallum and Lindsey McFadden and make the score 8-1.
Sexton then singled to drive in Truelove and McCall for her fourth and fifth RBIs of the inning.
Pool walked again and Miller was hit by a pitch to again load the bases. James then cleared them with a three-RBI triple to center field. Madison McFadden then scored on a single by Cole before Chesney’s ground-out to shortstop finally ended the inning at 14-1.
Lonoke got three more in its second and only other at-bat, starting with a leadoff triple to right field by Truelove. McCall fouled out and Truelove scored on a passed ball before Sexton could make it six RBIs with a triple to right field.
Pool hit an infield single to second base that scored Sexton to make it 16-1. Miller later singled and scored on an error to set the final margin.
Lonoke traveled to DeWitt for a nonconference game on Friday, and will begin play in the district tournament on Thursday at Riverview.
