Fourteen Straight District Titles For Lady Cardinals

SPORTS EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of an ongoing series highlighting top sports stories for the 2010-19 decade at Farmington High School and its alumni.

FARMINGTON — During their most recent championship season, the Lady Cardinals claimed their 14th straight district title by taking down Gravette 7-2 in the 4A-1 District Tournament finals on May 3, 2011.

The victory earned Farmington (26-4) a No. 1 seed in the Class 4A North Regional Tournament against the host team at Clarksville.

In the district finals Farmington overcame a disappointing start, leaving 6 base runners stranded in the first two innings when the Lady Cardinals couldn’t push more than one run across with the bases loaded.

The Lady Cardinals managed one run in the second inning. Kylee Lewis beat a play to first with an infield single. She scored on Michaela Larabee’s RBI double to center field.

In the third inning, Farmington scored 4 runs on 3 hits aided by a pair of Gravette errors. Samantha Combs knocked an RBI single into center field and Kala Crisp sent a double into left field.

Gravette erased the goose egg in the fourth when Shyanne Nichols singled into right field and later scored on Melanie Bunch’s infield single.

Kendra Center singled to lead off the fifth for Farmington. Jayme (Doss) Kutter drove in courtesy- runner Oakley Sisemore with a single.

Farmington produced another run in the sixth. Andi Daniel led off the inning with a single, then stole a base. Payton Wiedner plated her with a single.

The Lady Lions added another run in the seventh when Destoney Wishon scored on a passed ball with one out. Nichols followed that with a walk, but Barnes retired the next two batters to seal the victory.

Gravette left 10 runners on base including 2 in the fourth and a bases-loaded threat in the fifth. Farmington had 11 runners left behind.

Both teams advanced to the 4A North Regional with Farmington taking on 4A-4 No. 4 Clarksville and Gravette ( 17-7) matched up against Waldron on the opposite side of the bracket.

Farmington pitcher Madison Barnes (23-3) struck out 8 while allowing 2 runs on 7 hits with 5 walks and hit one batter while earning the win.

FILE PHOTO ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Farmington sophomore Payton Wiedner is tagged out at home by Ashdown sophomore catcher Danielle Winters in the third inning during the 4A state championship at Bogle Park in Fayetteville on Friday, May 20, 2011.