JOURNAL SPORTS
Airline scored eight runs in its final two at bats Thursday to take a key District 1-5A softball matchup with Parkway 10-2 at Parkway.
Taylor Anne Smith got the win in the circle, keeping the Panthers scoreless as the Lady Vikings clung to a 2-0 lead through the first five innings. Smith finished the game allowing four hits. She walked two and struck out 14.
Airline (16-6, 6-0) broke things open with three runs in the top of the sixth as Elena Heng’s two-run triple increased the lead to 4-0 and Smith’s sacrifice fly brought home Heng with the fifth run.
Wilson’s two-run double in the bottom of the sixth scored the Lady Panthers’ only runs to cut the lead to 5-2.
The Lady Vikes added five insurance runs in the seventh as Aleena Duran had a two-run single and Smith singled in a run. The final two runs scored on a wild pitch.
Heng had two triples in five at bats with 2 RBI. Ryan Hutchinson and Duran both were 2-for-3.
Hayleah Thornton led Parkway (7-8, 3-3) at the plate with two hits in three at bats.
The win by Airline and Natchitoches Central’s 17-0 romp at Southwood left both tied for first place in 1-5A at 6-0. The Lady Chiefs are now 18-3 overall.
BENTON 16, BYRD 0: At Byrd in a 1-5A game, Northwestern State commit Sophia Livers had three doubles and a triple and drove in four runs as the Lady Tigers defeated the Lady Jackets in three innings. Emersyn Disotell was 3-for-4 with three RBI and Olivia Livers drove in three runs on a two-run double and sacrifice fly for Benton 9-9, 3-3. Byrd is winless (0-15, 0-4).
NORTH DESOTO 15, NORTHWOOD 0: The host Lady Griffins scored 11 first-inning runs in posting the District 1-4A win. Laney Johnson got the decision by allowing two hits in the four-inning game. While at the plate, she added a couple of home runs and drove in four runs. Payton Miller singled, doubled and homered with six RBI and Aly Delafield was 2-for-4 with two RBI for North DeSoto (23-2, 7-0). It was Northwood’s first district defeat (4-1) and dropped the Lady Falcons to 10-5 overall.