Lincoln Lady Wolves Win Lady Panther Invitational

LADY WOLVES DEFEAT SILOAM SPRINGS TWICE TO CLAIM TOURNEY TITLE

SILOAM SPRINGS — The Lincoln Lady Wolves softball team was already in the midst of a fine softball season heading into last weekend, and it got a little better after a tournament sweep in Siloam Springs.

The Lady Wolves won all four of their games and finished first in the 2016 Lady Panther Invitational at La-Z-Boy Park. Lincoln defeated tournament host Siloam Springs twice on Saturday, including a 9-8 victory in four innings in the tournament championship game.

All games were on a 70-minute time limit.

With Siloam Springs turning to its bench for pitching help late in the day Saturday, Lincoln scored a pair of runs to take the lead in the first inning and then scored six in the second to go up 8-3 in the championship round.

The Lady Panthers rallied with two runs in the third and three in the fourth, but the Lady Wolves were able to hold on for the 9-8 win.

“I’m extremely proud of my girls,” said Lincoln coach Beau Collins. “They found a way to win. A couple of games we played really solid softball, solid defense”

Lincoln opened the tournament with a 3-0 win against Class 2A Hazen on Friday and then clubbed Greenland 9-1 on Saturday morning.

That set up the first matchup with Siloam Springs in the winner’s semifinal, which Lincoln scored a pair of runs in the fourth to rally for a 2-1 victory.

Siloam Springs then beat Fort Smith Northside 8-3 to set up the finals.

Lincoln also overcame an injury scare in the second inning of the championship game when leadoff hitter Hollie Webb was injured diving back into second base.

Webb had to be carted off the field on a stretcher with a neck injury, but all indications after the game were she was going to be OK.

“For my players to bounce back after watching one of their own go down, I’m as happy about that as anything,” Collins said.

Pitcher Ashtyn Rothrock had two hits and scored two runs in the championship game, while Webb, Malorie Pershall, Lexington Dobbs, Madison Reed and Madison Jones all had a hit apiece. Reed had two RBIs, while Jada Corbit scored two runs.

Rothrock (10-4) pitched all four innings, winning her third game of the tournament. Ayden Massey got the win in the Greenland game for Lincoln.

GRAHAM THOMAS HERALD-LEADER The Lincoln Lady Wolves went 4-0 and won the championship of the 2016 Lady Panther Invitational on Friday and Saturday at La-Z-Boy Softball Park. Lincoln defeated Siloam Springs twice on Saturday, including a 9-8 victory in the championship game.

MIKE CAPSHAW ENTERPRISE-LEADER Farmington junior Tyler Gregg eyes the plate while delivering a pitch during the Cardinals’ Game 1 win against Morrilton on April 12. Gregg struck out nine while tossing a one-hit shutout.