Smackover softball player enjoys the game
SMACKOVER - Abby Crawford hurled a four-hit shutout and Reagan Richardson homered Monday in Smackover's 8-0 win over Junction City. The Lady Bucks improved to 14-5 on the season and stayed unbeaten in league play.
Crawford struck out nine batters, hit one and walked four. She outdueled the Lady Dragons' Charly Temple, who held Smackover scoreless early, allowing just three baserunners in the first three innings.
The Lady Bucks broke the scoreless drought with two runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and four in the sixth.
"We were a little more selective," said Smackover coach Dennis Steele. "We hit the ball hard but we would hit it right at them. Brooklyn Dees hit a screamer to centerfield with a runner on base and their centerfielder
(Memorie Hall) made a great catch."
In the fourth, Crawford singled and Lexie Gilbert was hit by a pitch. Lydia Pullin laid down a sacrifice bunt to move courtesy runners Maddie Dews and
Karis Robinson to third and second, respectively. Megan Mullins drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Robinson scored on a wild pitch.
In the fifth, Sabrina Estridge singled and stole second before Richardson stroked a two-run homer. The Lady Bucks finished the scoring in the sixth. Pullin doubled, Mullins singled and Vanessa Lofton beat out an infield hit to load the bases. Estridge walked to plate a run before Karli Goocher hit a two-run double. Goocher would score on an errant throw.
Goocher and Crawford had two apiece for Smackover.
"Defensively, we played errorless, which was good," said Steele. "Two of our players (Makayla Burroughs and Lofton) are coming back from injuries. They both did a good job in the outfield."
Julia Rogers, Addyson Yeager, Grace McGoogan and Laura Hogue had hits for the Lady Dragons.
In the circle, Temple allowed 10 hits with four strikeouts, two walks and one hit batter.
Smackover travels to Monticello today to take on McGehee at 4 p.m. and Drew Central at 5:30. The Lady Bucks play at El Dorado Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. and go to Fordyce for a doubleheader on Thursday. hits