Farmington Blanks Pottsville In 2011 Softball Regional Semifinal

SPORTS EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of an ongoing series highlighting top sports stories for the 2010-19 decade at Farmington High School and its alumni.

— Runs were hard to come by for either team, but when the dust settled Farmington had three to Pottsville’s none while winning a 4A North Regional softball semifinal.

Defense and pitching dominated the May 7, 2011, tournament game at Clarksville, but Farmington benefited immensely from a pair of timely-scoring hits by senior Kala Crisp while Madison Barnes pitched the

Lady Cardinals to their 28th victory of the 2011 softball season and into the 4A North Regional championship with a chance to nail down a No. 1 seed going into the state tournament.

Crisp provided the run support Barnes would need on this outing by smashing a double to score Samantha Combs, who earlier singled and then stole second. Crisp added to her season highlight reel by blasting a 2-run homer in the sixth plating Michaela Larabee, who singled to get on base.

Farmington coach Randy Osnes praised Crisp’s vision and mechanics in the batter’s box, saying she’s seeing the ball real well and hitting the ball extremely well.

Pottsville left 6 runners on base including 2 when they threatened in the sixth when the top-of-the-order came up. With one out Vanes singled into center field following Beaton’s walk putting runners at first and second, but Farmington didn’t allow either to advance. Barnes, who struck out 7 Lady Apaches, fanned Hule and induced a pop-up to second base to end the inning.

The junior responded in similar fashion once Pottsville got a runner on during its last at-bat in the bottom of the seventh. She got the nine-hole hitter to send the ball into right field where it was fielded by Combs and thrown to first for the last out, concluding the contest with Farmington ( 28- 4) winning 3-0.

FILE PHOTO ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Ashdown senior Bethany Mulholland slides under the tag from Farmington catcher Kelsie Stewart in the sixth inning during the 4A state championship at Bogle Park in Fayetteville on Friday, May 20, 2011. Mulholland was initially called out on the play but the call was overruled. The 2011 softball championship season is one of the top stories of the decade: 2010-2019 at Farmington.