Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Reed hoping to end with flourish
FARMINGTON — Alyssa Reed decided before her freshman year to make a change when the first base position she wanted to play was occupied by an all-state player.
She switched to catcher and she’s still there as a fouryear starter for the Farmington Lady Cardinals.
“My dad was friends with the mom of the girl, Callie Harper, who was playing first base at the time,” Reed said. “She was really good and my dad said you better find something else if you want to play your freshman year. So, I started catching and it’s worked out, I guess.” Indeed, it has.
Reed is a senior leader and the top hitter for Farmington, which is the host school for the 4A-North Regional Tournament. The Lady Cardinals (20-2) will take the field against Dardanelle (18-8) today in a firstround game.
Farmington has won three state championships and
finished as state runners-up four times since 2000. The Lady Cardinals fell just short of another state championship last season when they lost 3-2 to Greenbrier. Farmington threatened to overtake Greenbrier in the seventh inning after Reed drove in a second run, but the game ended with the potential tying and winning runs on base.
“That game still bothers me,” Reed said. “To get that close and not win, it just makes you press even harder. We want to go back and get the win.”
Reed has done about all she can to put Farmington in position to make another postseason run. She leads the team with a .592 average that includes six home runs, eight doubles, and 39 RBIs. She’s also a fine defensive catcher and a leader on a team accustomed to winning.
“As far as her ability to hit, she’s always had great handeye coordination,” Farmington coach Randy Osnes said. “Not only does she work at being a catcher, she works from a catcher’s situation at being a hitter. You’re talking four years into it about a kid who is incredibly intelligent and she understands what opposing pitchers are trying to do to her. She’s going on to do great things in college and after that, but what a great coach she would make.”
Reed doesn’t plan on becoming a coach or even continuing her softball career in college. She’ll attend Central Arkansas University in Conway, where she hopes to pursue
a degree in nursing.
“I’ve been playing softball nearly my whole life,” Reed said. “When I get to college I want to focus on my academics.”
Farmington will bring a 12-game winning streak into today’s game against Dardanelle. One of the wins includes an 8-4 victory over Bentonville West, which beat the Lady Cardinals 8-2 to win the Farmington Invitational Tournament earlier this season.
Farmington went 10-0 in 4A-1 Conference play, then rallied to defeat Gravette 10-6 to clinch the conference tournament. Reed had three hits and two RBI to lead the Lady Cardinals in the championship game.