Unbeaten at 6-0 Lady Leopards rolling big with consecutive conference wins
Lady Leopards celebrate Kendall Watson’s home run against Arkadelphia in 7-4A Conference softball.....
The hometown Malvern Lady Leopards continue their destruction of perfection on the diamond after securing two consecutive victories this week in 7-4A Conference softball competition. The Lady Leopards are staying on the winning trail, unbeaten at 6-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play.
In their victorious outing this week, the Lady Leopards have tallied 23 runs, on 29 hits to propel a stellar offensive execution from league play wins combined, facing Camden-fairview and rival Arkadelphia.
Malvern softball head coach Darryl Baker was pleased how the Lady Leopards put together two key outings of victories in conference play. Baker noted the offensive execution has been productive and Malvern’s defense stood out by two stout pitching performances by freshman Kendall Watson against Camden-fairview and senior Katelyn Minge against Arkadelphia.
“I thought Kendall pitched a good game [vs. Camden-fairview] and Katelyn pitched a heck of a game against Arkadelphia with 12 strikeouts,” Baker said. “We got relaxed defensively, giving up six runs against Camden, but I thought our defense played better—giving up one run against Arkadelphia and hit the ball well,” Baker said. “It is nice to put together some hits and it allowed us to score—hopefully we can keep improving,” Baker added.
LADY LEOPARDS 16 CAMDEN FAIRVIEW 6
The Lady Leopards shined bright Monday by taking down Camden-fairview Lady Cardinals 16-6 and it only took five innings to prevail in the team’s season home-opener on MNB Field at The Leopard Yard sports complex. Freshman pitcher Kendall Watson earned the victory and struck out two batters, giving up 10 hits, six runs and threw 60 strikes from her performance in the pitcher’s circle.
Malvern fired up the offense early with nine runs scored in the first inning, then scored six runs in the fourth and one in the fifth. Malvern tallied 16 runs on 17 hits to break in double-digits for their offensive execution.
Chasney Cooper led at the plate with three hits including a triple, while Katelyn Minge, Emily Minge, Isabella “Bella” Roseberry, Alexis Jenkins, and Elizabeth Briner each collected two hits apiece. Ashlyn “AJ” Fike, Watson, Takayla “TK” Stewart, and Reese Dedman each powered a hit apiece. Emily Minge drove in three runs for three RBIS, Cooper and Dedman each sparked for two RBIS apiece, while the core of Katelyn Minge, Fike, Roseberry, Jenkins, and Briner each had an RBI apiece.
Emily Minge, Cooper, Jenkins, Briner, Dedman, and Kennedy Bailey all scored two runs apiece—katelyn Minge, Fike, Roseberry, and Lainee Burnett each made a trip around the bases for a run apiece.
Key base running was led by the trio of Emily Minge, Dedman and Katelyn Minge each recording one stolen base apiece.
LADY LEOPARDS 7 ARKADELPHIA LADY BADGERS 1
On the road Tuesday in their rivalry showcase against Arkadelphia, the Lady Leopards stepped up the defense to top the A-town Lady Badgers 7-1 in a seven inning battle for the first game of their league season meeting in 7-4A Conference softball competition. Senior Katelyn Minge took care of business in the pitcher’s circle to earn the victory and put the sting on for a 12 strikeout performance—throwing 66 strikes and giving up only four hits and one earned run.
Offensively, Watson led at the plate to collect four hits (two doubles) and smashed a home run to ignite the highlight play of the contest. Watson drove in three runs for three RBIS. Cooper and Katelyn Minge each collected two hits apiece—emily Minge, Fike, Roseberry and Dedman each powered a hit and drove in a run for an RBI apiece. Fike and Watson each scored two runs, Cooper, Burnett and Dedman all turned on the jets to score a run apiece. The trio of Dedman, Burnett and Cooper led the base running with a stolen base apiece.
The Lady Leopards tallied seven runs on 12 hits while defensively held Arkadelphia to one run scored in the bottom of the fourth on four hits.
The Lady Leopards turn their attention to tournament play in Hope, while continuing conference play Friday on the road against De Queen.