Arkansas softball notebook: Stuttgart executing shutdown innings as part of 10-game win streak; Little Rock Christian accumulates grand slams in conference sweep; McCrory contending in Class 2A
By Buck Ringgold I Photo submitted
Though Stuttgart's softball team hasn't been at full strength for much of the season, it hasn't kept the Lady Ricebirds from winning games.
The Lady Ricebirds have reeled off 10 straight wins, the latest an 18-1 non-conference win Monday against Barton.
During that current streak, Stuttgart has posted six shutouts with junior pitcher Emma Banks - one of those players who has dealt with various ailments - becoming a big reason for the team's success.
"We have battled some injuries, which has kept us from playing with a complete healthy roster so far," Stuttgart assistant coach Logan Prince said.
"Emma has been the workhorse for us, catcher Lauren Spoon, center fielder Madelyn Maynard and left fielder Erin Ludwig has played solid in the field and at the plate."
The Lady Ricebirds have also been bolstered by the return of senior third baseman Hagan Hord, who had missed several games with a dislocated shoulder.
"She is our senior leader that is very solid on the field but missed six games with a dislocated shoulder and is now just batting," Prince said. "She leads the team in batting average and is a crucial piece to the team."
But Banks has helped bolster Stuttgart with her performance in the circle.
In a tournament in March, she threw no-hitters against Obion County, Tenn., and Potosi, Mo. She had 14 strikeouts against Obion County and fanned 10 in the win against Potosi.
Banks also had 14 strikeouts in a 1-0 win against White Hall on March 31, as well as 14 strikeouts last Thursday, when Stuttgart pulled off a 3-2 win at Bauxite in a non-conference match-up between two highly ranked Class 4A squads.
The Lady Ricebirds (12-2, 3-0 4A-5) have also posted three shutouts in each of their conference wins, outscoring their opponents, 37-0.
Stuttgart's lone two defeats were to Greenbrier and to Beebe.
The Lady Ricebirds will have a big conference game on Monday against Lonoke, which will determine sole possession in the conference. Stuttgart will also play Conway Thursday and Fordyce the following day.
Little Rock Christian
The Lady Warriors were hitting the ball at will in a doubleheader on April 6 against Maumelle.
Little Rock Christian scored 36 total runs in sweeping the conference twin bill, winning 19-2 the first game and then outlasting Maumelle in the nightcap, 17-11.
In that doubleheader, the Lady Warriors swatted five home runs, four of those being grand slams. They also hit seven doubles.
Mia Smith had three of those grand slams. A junior who hit .440 last season, Smith had an average of nearly .350 with four homers and driving in 17 runs.
The other grand slam came off the bat of Peyton Whipple, who added three doubles. Gabby Peacock accounted for the Lady Warriors' other homer, which was her first long ball of the season.
Little Rock Christian also was able to keep pace with undefeated Benton for the 5A-Central lead. The Lady Warriors are in second place behind the Lady Panthers, and Little Rock Christian (11-3) is now 7-1 in the conference after taking two from Jacksonville on Tuesday (15-16, 0-1).
Another big conference series awaits the Lady Warriors on April 19 against Beebe.
"We split with them last year, it should be two great games," Little Rock Christian head coach Caitlin Jones said. "If we can continue to hit the ball, I like our chances."
McCrory
Though the Lady Jaguars' hopes for an undefeated season will not materialize, it hasn't stopped the team from going for a more defined goal.
McCrory won its first 14 ballgames before suffering an 8-2 loss on April 4 to Pangburn. But the Lady Jaguars bounced back the following day with a 5-2 win against Palestine-Wheatley.
Then, McCrory (17-1, 4-0 2A-6) followed that up with a pair of conference wins, 11-0 against England on April 8 and then 16-1 against Barton on Tuesday.
"I think the girls still had a bad taste in their mouths from the way the state tournament ended for them last year," McCrory coach Ronnie Massanelli said, referring to the Lady Jaguars' 11-10 loss to Parkers Chapel in last season's 2A quarterfinals. "They were ready to get back into it when the season started.
"Being undefeated is great, but my philosophy is that we want to be better today than we were yesterday and better tomorrow than we were today and if we do that then we feel like everything will take care of itself. At the same time, we know that there are a lot of good teams out there and we just try to take it one game at a time."
Helping lead McCrory's charge is two seniors, third baseman Madi Hankins and Hannah Taylor, who pitches and plays second base.
"They have been with the program the last four years," Massanelli said. "At times, they are not very vocal but lead by example all the time.
"Both of these girls do a good job defensively and at the plate. They don't mind getting dirty."
McCrory's top pitcher, sophomore Morgan Schaefer, won her first nine decisions and had an earned run average of 0.921 while also batting .500 with two homers and 16 RBIs.
The Lady Jaguars also have another solid pitcher in junior Natalie Creasey, who has already thrown a no-hitter and a one-hitter.
"Class 2A is loaded with several quality teams that could win it all," Massanelli said. "We just have to keep focusing on what we do and keep getting better."
McCrory continues its conference schedule Thursday with a game at Carlisle.
