Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Farmington/Fayetteville Tournament Kitty Wampus
FARMINGTON LOSES TWICE TO CONWAY ON SAME DAY
FARMINGTON — The Conway Wampus Cats lived up to their unusual school mascot nickname by beating the Lady Cardinals twice on one day during the Farmington/Fayetteville tournament.
Farmington played four games on March 21, losing 4-3 to Conway in the quarterfinal of the tournament they co-hosted with Fayetteville, then battling back through the loser-out bracket. The Lady Cardinals defeated Pottsville 7-4, then beat Fayetteville, 13-1, to reach the consolation game before being eliminated by the Wampus Cats.
On Saturday morning, Farmington jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning but couldn’t score after that, losing 4-3. Bethany Doty reached on an error and raced all the way to third when a high throw sailed past first base. Brooke Larkin wasted no time in bringing her home on an RBI single. A walk was issued to Brandy Wallace and Brooklyn Keeling advanced the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
The strategy paid dividends with Courtney Bodine’s single plating both for a 3-run Farmington lead. Conway scored a run in the bottom of the first and second trimming Farmington’s lead to 3-2. Farmington got two of the first three batters out in the bottom of the fifth but couldn’t close the game. With the bases loaded a tying run was walked in and hopes of extending the game were dashed when Rachael Jones came up and a bobble occurred a third allowing a go-ahead run to cross the plate for Conway.
The Wampus Cats won 4-3 to advance while Farmington was sent into the loser’s bracket and had to travel cross-town to Lady Dawg Park in Fayetteville for a rematch which they won against Pottsville. Returning to their home field, Farmington eliminated Fayetteville, 13-1, earning a second shot at Conway with the winner to face Mena for the tournament championship.
After a scoreless first inning Farmington gave up 6 runs on 4 hits in the top of the second to Conway. Callie Harper got Farmington on the scoreboard by smacking an RBI double past second. Brianna Center came up and Courtney Bodine scampered home on a passed ball cutting Conway’s lead to 6-2.
In the top of the third Farmington reliever Lauren Thomas threw 9 strikes on 11 pitches retiring Conway in order. She struck out Kaylee St. John, Mallory Kirkemier and Megan Solberg, all of whom swung and missed for strike three. With two outs in the bottom of the third Larkin kept Farmington hopes alive with a single. Wallace hit a high shot into the outfield which dropped for a double and scored Larkin. Keeling was walked on a wild pitch with Wallace going to third. Bodine hit into a fielder’s choice with pinch-runner Tkeydah McDaniel reaching second safely on an error. The miscue allowed Wallace to cross the plate drawing Farmington to within, 6-4.
Harper went to first on a walk loading the bases and posturing Farmington to overtake Conway but the Wampus Cats dodged the threat on a ground-out to second-base. In the top of the fifth, Thomas fanned Jones and Bryan Schuetter and began 0-2 against Bailey Beckham after a pair of missed swings. Following ball-one and a pair of fouls, Beckham produced a double. Next up was Morgan Felts, who fell behind 0-2, then took ball-one before smashing an RBI double. Lindsey Williams reached on an error which yielded another Conway run. Thomas recorded her third strikeout of the inning to get out of the third but Conway led 8-4.
Conway reliever Kaylee St. John retired Farmington in order to gain the save with the game ending on a called strike three.
Farmington’s 4 runs came off 4 hits. The Lady Cardinals were charged with 2 errors and left 4 runners stranded. Conway pounded out 7 hits for 8 runs with 1 error and 1 runner left on base.