Lady Bulldogs want to reclaim state championship crown
For the first time in three seasons, the Bald Knob Lady Bulldogs are not the defending state softball champions. Bald Knob is coming off a 30-5 season but fell to Rose Bud 6-4 in the Class 3A state-title game at Bogle Park in Fayetteville on May 19. The Lady Bulldogs won the previous three state titles. Bald Knob had beaten Rose Bud two previous times last season, including in the Class 3A Region 2 championship game by a score of 4-0 at Haskell Harmony Grove. “We have renewed energy and set our season goals very high,” said third-year coach Todd Finley, who is 66-5 in his first two seasons. “There are 26 girls on the roaster and a large group of returning players who know what it takes to be successful.” Bald Knob returns eight starters from a year ago. They include seniors Hanna Smith, Janna Smith and Kynlee Brimer; and juniors Madi Pierce, Kinlee Varnell, Grace Pickens, Anna Bradley and Rylee Curd. Finley said that Pierce is his team’s best hitter for average. She hit .495, with 50 hits, 40 runs batted in and 18 doubles. She scored 37 runs. The best power hitter is Hanna Smith, who had a .941 slugging percentage. She also hit .490 with 12 doubles, 8 triples and 6 home runs. She scored a team-high 50 runs and drove in a team-high 46 runs. Pierce is also the best fielder with a .944 fielding percentage. She committed only one error in 154 total chances from her catching position. Finley said Pickens has the best team speed, as she stole 23 bases a year ago. She was only thrown out four times. Hanna Smith also has the best arm on the team, Finley said. She plays shortstop for the Lady Bulldogs and had a team-high 60 assists. Varnell returns to the pitching circle with a 17-2 record and a 1.0 earned run average. She struck out 87 batters in 105 innings pitched. She also hit .439 for the Lady Bulldogs. “Our returning starters have all played in at least one state-championship game and know what it takes to get there again,” Finley said. “I expect our pitching staff to be much deeper this year and our offensive output to be improved.” In 2017, Bald Knob had a 1.17 team ERA and hit .411 as a team. The Lady Bulldogs also had 97 doubles, 33 triples and 29 home runs. “Defensively, we should be better, and the lineup will be dictated by who is pitching that day,” Finley said. “Every person associated with this program expects to be competing for the state championship every year. “We have several newcomers to the team who will provide quality depth and give us a chance to be better than the 2017 campaign.” Bald Knob’s region is packed with tough teams. Three of them, Haskell Harmony Grove, Rose Bud and Glen Rose all advanced to the Class 3A state semifinals a year ago. “We expect to compete for the conference and district titles,” Finley said. “Additionally, we should make another deep run into the state tournament. Rose Bud, the defending state champions; Harmony Grove; and Glen Rose should all be in the semifinals.” Games to watch, Finley said, are March 26 against Rose Bud, April 13 against Stuttgart, April 19 at Harding Academy and April 23 at Pangburn. Several players have already committed to play at the next level. They are Hanna Smith, Janna Smith and Brimer to Arkansas Tech in Russellville; Sharidan Watson to Williams Baptist in Walnut Ridge; and Pierce, Varnell, Pickens, Bradley, Curd and Erin Thompson to Lyon College in Batesville.