Lady Wolves play underdog role perfectly

LINCOLN — Lincoln played its underdog role perfectly, upending defending Class 3A State champion Booneville, 3-2, on Lauren Remington’s walk-off double in Friday’s semifinals.

That was one factor Lincoln sought to work to its advantage going into post season, particularly the regional tournament as more of an underdog than the previous two seasons.

Although the Lady Wolves ran the table for a third straight year in the 3A-1 Conference, finishing 12-0 and garnering the district tournament title, their nonconference record of 11-9 could be deceptive.

Engel purposely worked to get a brutal nonconference schedule that includes losses to Class 4A Huntsville, 4-3, one of the schools from a superior 4A-1 Conference. The Lady Eagles didn’t make it out of district, but four teams from their conference, Pea Ridge (0-14 loss on March 12), Farmington (6-9 loss on March 5), defending 4A State champion Gravette (4-5 loss on March 15, and 0-7 loss on April 16), along with Gentry, which Lincoln didn’t play this season, each qualified for state after finishing 1-2-3-4 in the 4A North Regional.

Lincoln also lost to 3A-4 powerhouse Hackett (2-7) on March 9 and (0-5) on March 16, and dropped a home game to defending Class 3A State champion Booneville (0-2) on April 12, in addition to coming up one run short (2-3) at another 3A-4 school, Mansfield, on March 26.

Overshadowed among the tough nonconference schedule were wins over Class 5A Van Buren (5-3) on April 19, 4A-4 District champion and regional qualifier Morrilton (13-1) on March 9, a pair of rivalry victories over another 4A-1 team Prairie Grove (5-0) on March 16 and (3-0) on April 11, plus another 4A-1 team, Berryville, (10-0) to celebrate senior night on April 18.

Lincoln defeated Elkins, 10-0, in the district semifinal and Valley Springs, 5-0, to win its third straight District 3A-1 Tournament championship. In three years of conference games, the Lady Wolves are 42-0.

The Lady Wolves took a No. 1 seed into the regional tournament, but was still considered an underdog by virtue of its nonconference record and the 0-2 loss to Booneville on April 12. Engel, however, didn’t think Lincoln has yet reached its full potential.

“I’m really excited about what’s coming up in the next few weeks. This is probably I would say one of the most together teams that I’ve had as far as we don’t really have any problems,” Engel said, after winning district. “They’re all just players who support one another and I’m really excited to see how that reflects in how far we go and what all we have to come because every one is just friends and it’s really fun to watch them grow and we’ve just grown throughout the season, and we’ve got better throughout the season and I’m just ready to see what happens.”

Lincoln defeated Paris 6-1 in Thursday’s opening round of the regional to secure a state tournament berth. Engel started Amber Bryant, who threw a complete game with seven strikeouts for the Lady Wolves. Bryant helped her cause with two hits and three runs batted in. Hannah Remington had two hits and an RBI, while Moreton had two hits and two intentional walks. Kristen Rhine added a hit and RBI.

“Kristen is very clutch most of the time. She does a very good job,” Brinkley Moreton said.

On Friday, Lincoln pulled out the tough extra innings victory over Booneville as Moreton recorded 16 strikeouts, and both Lauren Remington and Hannah Remington had three hits each for the Lady Wolves.

Lexi Franklin had 13 strikeouts in the chalked circle and went 2 for 4 with a home run at the plate for the Lady Bearcats. The win pushed Lincoln into the regional championship against Hackett.