Sheridan’s dynasty continues to add up

FAYETTEVILLE — Sheridan can add the number four to its “Dynasty” shirts.

Kassie Martin hit a twoout, two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Sheridan held on for a 4-3 victory over Greenwood on Friday in the Class 5A state championship game at Bogle Park. It is the fourth consecutive state championship for Sheridan, whose fans showed up wearing “Dynasty” shirts in support of their team.

“We’re a dynasty. We are,” Sheridan Coach Tamara Strawn said. “We put a 4 instead of an A [on the shirts], but we took it out at the last minute. We’re not going to jinx ourselves.”

Sheridan trailed 3-2 in the sixth inning when Martin stepped to the plate with two on and two out. Martin then dumped a two-run single into right field to give Sheridan (27-4) the lead for good.

“For me, it was like, ‘We need this, we have to get this,’ ” Martin said of her mental approach at the plate in the sixth. “I just went up there with some confidence.”

Greenwood appeared close to getting out of the inning with its lead intact after a popup and groundout for the first two outs, but Martin came through with her first hit of the game.

“Kassie’s done that several times this year,” Strawn said. “Her mental status is just amazing. When she stepped up I was thinking, ‘I wouldn’t want anyone else up there.’ ”

Greenwood threatened to tie the game in the seventh inning after Angela Price led off with a single and advanced to third after two outs on a wild pitch. But just as the Greenwood fans rose to their feet in anticipation of a comeback, Sheridan reliever Bailee Bibb got Mariah Hamilton out on a sharp grounder to shortstop to end the game.

Hamilton had two doubles before coming to the plate in the seventh.

Greenwood scored three consecutive runs after Sheridan took the lead in the first on a two-run double by Jordan Flora. Hamilton and Rheding Wagoner hit doubles in the sixth inning to put Greenwood ahead, but Sheridan regained the lead with the clutch, two-out hit by Martin.

Sheridan’s win Friday followed the Class 6A state championship game, where Cabot denied Bentonville a fourth consecutive championship by beating the Lady Tigers 5-3.

“It’s amazing,” said Martin, who is one of four seniors to win four consecutive state championships at Sheridan. “It’s humbling. I’m just blessed.”

NWA Democrat-Gazette/BEN GOFF Kenli Bolin (front left), Bailey Hall and Lauren McGinley of Sheridan celebrate at home plate Friday after Bolin and McGinley scored on Kassie Martin’s two-out single in the sixth inning of a 4-3 victory over Greenwood for the Class 5A softball state championship at Bogle Park in Fayetteville.