Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Farmington Celebrates Home Run; Results From Tourney Action
FARMINGTON — Greenbrier topped Farmington, 9-3, on Saturday to win the Farmington/Fayetteville girls softball tournament for the second year in a row.
Farmington coach Randy Osnes noted 2013 marked the 16th year Farmington has hosted the softball tournament with co-host Fayetteville celebrating their 10th year of affiliation.
Farmington coaches, Osnes and assistant, Steve Morgan, thanked parents and friends, who devoted hours of volunteer labor to make the tourney a success and a lot of fun for participating teams and fans.
FARMINGTON 1, ROGERS HERITAGE 0
Brooke Larkin started at pitcher and provided the game-winning hit when she singled to drive in the game’s only run in the first inning propelling the Lady Cardinals to a 1-0 win over previously unbeaten Rogers Heritage (6-1) on Friday.
Larkin went 2-of-3 at the plate for the Lady Cardinals with singles in the first and third innings. In spite of not recording a single strikeout, Larkin pitched a shutout, surrendering only two hits in six innings.
FARMINGTON 5, FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE 3
On Saturday morning, the Lady Cardinals rallied in the third and fourth inning to take a comeback win over Fort Smith Southside.
Trailing 3- 0 after 2 ⁄ innings, Farmington began to read the Southside pitching better, forcing the Rebels to extend the pitch count to 31 — doubling the number of pitches thrown in the first two innings.
Christy Moore started the rally with a leadoff double and scored on Oakley Sisemore’s bunt single. With runners at first and third, Jessica Foster brought in a run, trimming the Rebels’ lead to 3-2.
In the fourth, Lindsey Blackburn reached on a fielder’s choice and reached third when Moore belted a hit to deep right field. Sisemore bunted and beat a close call at first to load the bases for Payton Wied- ner, who went the other way, blasting a standup double to score all three runners.
Farmington won 5-3 to advance into a semifinal against Greenbrier.
GREENBRIER 4, FARMINGTON 1
Jordin Smith took the mound and absorbed the loss. Greenbrier scored with a run in the first inning on a two-out double. Despite a Lady Cardinal error allowing runners on first and third, Smith got out of trouble when Farmington catcher, Lauren Blackburn, gunned down an attempted steal at second. Greenbrier coach Brian Butler was frustrated.
“Have I
got anybody that
will slide? If you slide, Butler said.
Lauren Blackburn drove in a run to tie the game in the second but the Lady Cardinals could produce no more scoring.
Mental miscues hurt Farmington in the third. Greenbrier’s Ashley Anderson got safely aboard with a bunt when first was left uncovered, then after a force out at third the next batter was hit by a pitch. Andrea Hardin, who pitched for Greenbrier helped her cause with an RBI sacrifice. Bailey Reynolds stole home and the Panthers went up 3-1. The final run was walked in with the bases loaded.
All of Greenbrier’s scoring in the third came with two outs and
you’re safe,”
In the third place game, Mena scored a run in the second after the umpire ruled first baseman Lindsey Blackburn lifted her foot in making a catch on a play at first. The runner went on to score on a wild pitch.
Sara Beth Jones led off with a bunt single, followed by Larkin, who dug in to reach first on another bunt. Maria McPherson came in as a pinch runner for Larkin and the move by Farmington coach Randy Osnes paid dividends with a double steal executed with Lauren Blackburn batting.
Lauren Blackburn popped up to shortstop for an out but her twin sister, Lindsey, took a wild pitch on an 0-1 count, allowing Jones to score. Three pitches later, Lindsey Blackburn belted an RBI single for a 2-1 Farmington lead.
Mena tied the game in the top of the third inning but the tie didn’t last long. Mena was fortunate Wiedner was caught stealing because Jessica Foster followed with a single setting the stage for Smith.
Smith fell behind in the count 0-2 with a swing and miss, followed by a foul. She then took ball one before blasting a home run over the left center field wall, scoring Foster for a 4-2 Lady Cardinal advantage.
Farmington added a fifth run in the fourth inning with Lindsey Blackburn scoring from second on Sisemore’s single. Time expired with the Lady Cardinals still batting and Farmington secured the 5-2 victory to earn another shot at Greenbrier in the championship.
GREENBRIER 9, FARMINGTON 3
Greenbrier defeated Gravette, 43, in the first round on Friday, then beat Mena and Farmington twice on Saturday to win the tournament.