JOURNAL SPORTS
Benton’s softball team entered the final week of the regular season with a power rating of 24, just two spots above the cutoff of the top 26 that make the Non-Select Division I playoffs.
According to Geauxpreps.com the Lady Tigers moved up a spot before its Tuesday game with Calvary and with its 11-6 victory over the Lady Cavaliers, who are the top-rated team in Select Division III, Benton should be in good position to make the playoffs.
Sophia Livers continued to terrorize pitchers by going 3-for-4 with a double and home run and drove in four runs from her leadoff spot for Benton. Her home run was one of four as Meaux Carroll, Ashley Promes and Lainey Lafitte also went deep.
The Lady Tigers (15-15) broke a 4-4 deadlock with Livers’ three-run HR and Carroll’s solo shot in the fourth inning making it 8-4.
Lafitte finished with a 2-for-4 day with a double to go with her home run and drove in three runs. Emersyn Disotell also had a 2-for-4 day and scored twice.
Ava Defee picked up the win in the circle allowing six hits, although she walked nine, and she struck out two.
The Lady Cavaliers had six doubles by DJ Lynch, Elana Franks, Carlie Guile, Mallory Carver, Tavia Leadon and Ramsey Walker. Calvary will take a 22-10 record to Many, also a defending state champion, for its final regular-season game today.
WEST OUACHITA 3, AIRLINE 2: The 10th-rated Lady Vikings fell on the road to the No. 6 Lady Chiefs in a regular-season finale. Paige Marshall and Elena Heng had doubles for Airline (21-10). Taylor Anne Smith didn’t allow a run after West Ouachita (22-8) scored all three it needed — only one was earned — in the first inning. Smith gave up six hits, walked one and struck out six in her six innings of work.
NORTHWOOD 20, CASTOR 2: The Lady Falcons claimed a three-inning run-rule win with 11 hits and 12 walks. Salena Nunnery was 4-for-4 with a double and triple and three RBI. Mackenzie Jagers was the only other Lady Falcon with multiple hits with a 2-for-4 day at the plate. Emily Balentine drove in three runs and Jagers, Makayla Nunnery and Isabelle Wright all had two RBI for Northwood (14-8). Cameron Clark recorded the win in the circle.
