Bauxite’s Buffington picks herself, team up

NASHVILLE — Not even a bum shoulder could keep Bailey Buffington from hurling Bauxite back into the state championship game.

The senior pitched seven innings after suffering a scary fall in the bottom of the first to carry the Lady Miners to a 4-1 victory over Nashville in the semifinals of the Class 4A state softball tournament on a steamy Saturday afternoon at the Parks and Recreation Softball Complex.

Cheyenne Harris had three hits and an RBI, and Taylor Sledd added a tworun home run for Bauxite (34-2), which ran its winning streak to 25 games and will make an appearance in the state final for the first time since 2015. The Lady Miners also knocked off Nashville in the semifinals that year as well, but Bauxite’s chances of making a trip to Fayetteville took a hit early when its ace fell after running out a grounder in the bottom of the first.

POTTSVILLE 9, GRAVETTE 3

Kira Harrel went 3 for 5, Skylar Campbell had 3 RBI and Sadie Saul belted a home run during a six-run fifth inning for Pottsville (28-3), which will get a chance to defend its state championship after blowing past Gravette.

Pottsville will face Bauxite for the championship.

Campbell, Saul, Abbie Cain, Sophia Hampton and Sydney Flippo all had two hits apiece for the Lady Apaches, who jumped out to 9-0 lead and never looked back.