Lady Leopards ignite winning streak heading into postseason tourney as hometown performers hosting regionals
THE FEARSOME SENIOR LADY LEOPARD PERFORMERS’ CARR, NIX, GOLDEN, CAREY AND SALING LEADING THE SURGE IN A THRILLING SHUTOUT VICTORY AGAINST HOPE 15-0 ON SENIOR NIGHT
MALVERN — With the postseason just around the corner, the hometown Malvern Lady Leopards are performing at a high level on diamond. The Lady Leopards finished out the 4A-7 Conference season third as a top contender going into regionals. Since their tough road loss to Bauxite, the Lady Leopards have refocused their mentality and ignited a three-game winning streak by flaming up their offensive execution and defending productively with efficient defense. The Lady Leopards pulled out an impressive road victory in their trip to the Rock and took down the Little Rock Christian Lady Warriors 24-15. Then, in their final regular season home contest Friday on senior night, the Lady Leopards shut out the Hope Ladycats 15-0 to sweep their league series match-ups to secure the third place spot for regionals. Monday, the Lady Leopards traveled to Lion Country in a rematch duel against the Bismarck Lady Lions. The Lady Leopards sought revenge and topped the Lady Lions 10-2 in an intense rivalry contest on the diamond in non-conference play.
The Lady Leopards’ Ashlyn “AJ” Fike ignited some stout play in the frame and hammered home runs against Little Rock Christian and Bismarck to showcase power hitting for productive offense for Malvern. In the pitcher’s circle, the pitching duo of senior Audrey Carr and Katelyn Minge have taken turns to lead Malvern in their three-game winning surge from their damage in the circle. Minge earned the victory facing Little Rock Christian. Carr picked up the victories against Hope on senior night and Bismarck to fulfill her leadership role as one of the fearsome senior Lady Leopard five with Lauren “LG” Golden, Josie Nix, Aelia Saling, and Hannah Carey.
Carr also recorded the no-hitter in the shutout victory against Hope on senior night from her spectacular performance in the circle.
Now, the Lady Leopards are set to make some noise for the hometown diamond fans with the 2022 4A South Regional Softball Tournament hosted in Malvern.
NON-CONFERENCE ROAD ACTION IN THE ROCK Malvern Lady Leopards 24 LR Christian Lady Warriors 15
The Lady Leopards displayed one of their most stout offensive performances of the season by tallying 24 runs on 24 hits in a road victory against the Little Rock Christian Lady Warriors. Malvern prevailed against the Lady Warriors 2415 in a seven inning high scoring affair. The Lady Warriors racked up 15 runs on 13 hits with four errors. Malvern’s biggest inning was in the top of the second to spark with nine runs scored. The Lady Leopards never trailed in their match-up and held the Lady Warriors scoreless in the third and seventh innings.
Lady Leopards’ Chasney Cooper (triple, double) and Katelyn Minge (two doubles) led the offensive spark and powered four hits apiece in the frame. Emily Minge and Saling (double) both collected three hits apiece, while the core of Fike, Golden, Carr (double), Nix, and Isabella Roseberry each tallied two hits apiece. Katelyn Minge drove in five RBIS, Emily drove in four runs for four RBIS, Fike and Saling each had three RBIS and Cooper
drove in two runs for two RBIS, Golden, Nix and Roseberry all collected an RBI apiece. Leading the scoring attack was Emily Minge and Cooper both soaring around the bases to score four runs apiece. Saling and Elizabeth Briner both scored three runs, Fike, Golden and Carr each scored two runs apiece—nix, Katelyn Minge, Reese Dedman, and Jenna Joynt all sparked to score one run to propel Malvern’s nine-run victory in the Rock.
In the pitcher’s circle, Katelyn Minge earned the victory, allowing four hits, four earned runs, struck out six batters and threw 37 strikes while providing three innings of work. Carr pitched four innings, allowed nine hits, five earned runs, struck out two batters and threw 46 strikes to blaze up the strike zone across the plate.
SENIOR NIGHT SHOWDOWN
Malvern Lady Leopards 15
Hope Ladycats 0
The fearsome senior Lady Leopards of [Audrey] Carr, [Josie] Nix, [Aeling] Saling, [Lauren “LG”] Golden and [Hannah] Carey all went out winners on their night as Malvern dominated Hope 15-0 in shutout winning fashion. In three innings of softball competition, the Lady Leopards tallied 15 runs on 16 hits and went errorless against their visitors Hope at Malvern National Bank Field.
FEARSOME SENIOR LADY LEOPARDS
The Lady Leopard seniors shined on their
night to contribute in key playmaking to secure the shutout victory. “LG”, Carr (double) and Saling each collected two hits apiece with Nix and Carey tallying a hit apiece to spark the offensive execution. Carr drove in two runs for two RBIS, Golden, Nix, Carey, and Saling each had a RBI apiece. Saling and Carey both soared to score two runs, Nix and Golden each routed around the bases to score a run in the 15-run shutout victory.
For the team’s productive execution, Cooper led in the frame and collected three hits. Emily Minge and Katelyn Minge both hammered two hits apiece, while Roseberry sparked for a hit at the plate. Katelyn Minge drove in four runs, Emily Minge brought in three runs for three RBIS, and Roseberry had one RBI to spark the offense. Leading the scoring opportunities were Emily and Katelyn Minge and Cooper all racking up two runs scored while Fike sparked for one run scored. Cooper, Emily Minge and Saling led the base running with a stolen base apiece. In the pitcher’s circle, Carr recorded the victory and struck out five batters and threw 33 strikes that ignited the strike zone from her no-hitter performance in the circle.
UP NEXT
Thursday, the No. 3 seed hometown Lady Leopard performers will aim to qualify for state as they’ll face No. 2 seed Camden-fairview in the opening round of the 2022 4A South Region Tournament hosted in Malvern. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at MNB Field.