Sheridan tops Lady Wildcats

BENTON - Sheridan’s Reagan Martin hurled a five-hit shutout Saturday and the Lady Yellowjackets eliminated El Dorado, 5-0, from the 6A State Softball Tournament. The Lady Wildcats finished the season with a 16-10 record.

“We went toe-to-toe with the best team in (6A) and we gave them a battle today and that’s all you can ask,” said El Dorado coach Chris Ezell. “I’m proud of their effort today.”

Sheridan scored a run in the first against El Dorado starter Payton Scarlett. The Lady Yellowjackets scored again with two in the fourth before adding runs in the fifth and sixth.

Martin scattered the five hits and struck out eight batters for Sheridan.

“I really think we battled with her the best we could, a lot better than the first time we saw them in early March,” said Ezell. “We had base runners on. A couple calls didn’tgo our way but that’s part of the game. They’re tough. Their defense doesn’t make mistakes and they always get good pitching.”

Grace Murry was 2-for3 with a double to lead El Dorado’s offense. Kelsey Howard, Allyson Silmon and Sally Wathall all had one hit for the Lady Wildcats.

Scarlett went five innings in the circle, allowing four runs on seven hits with one strikeout. Grace Hargett pitched the sixth, allowing one run with two walks and three strikeouts.

“We felt like going at them with more offspeed could possibly throw them off, which it worked early,” Ezell said of Scarlett. “They scored their first run in the first on a wild pitch and we held them scoreless the next two innings.”

A close fair-foul ball down the third base line went Sheridan’s way in the fourth and led to two runs.

“It gave a little momentum to them but our kids responded well. They could’ve packed it in,” said Ezell.