By COSMO COSSEY
Sports Connection Team
FORREST CITY – EPC (17-10), the third seed from the 2A North Regional, were held to no runs and four hits in their opening round loss to Central Arkansas Christian (CAC), the first seed from the 2A Central Regional, Thursday in the Class 2A state tournament hosted by Palestine-Wheatley.
Kelly Ann Lucas popped out leading off the game for EPC as Kylee Henderson followed with a single. Riley Ashcraft and Cedes Reel both struck out to leave Henderson stranded on first. A lead-off singe and a two-out double put CAC on the board in the bottom of the inning to take an early 1-0 lead. Kelly Ashcraft, Brinley Brewer and Madilyn Strop all singled in the top of the second for the Lady Warriors only to see Caroline Miller pop out, Karmen Jones strikeout and Lucas ground out to leave the bases loaded. Two EPC errors led to four runs in the bottom half of the inning as the Lady Mustangs plated four runs to push their lead to 5-0.
EPC went three up and three down in the top of the third inning as Henderson lined out, Riley Ashcraft grounded out and Reel flew out. CAC also went three up and three down in the bottom half. The Lady Warriors were retired in order in the top of the fourth as Riley Ashcraft, Brewer and Strop all grounded out. The Lady Mustangs got their lead-off hitter on via an EPC error only to see Henderson get a ground ball out and two pop outs to end the fourth inning.
Brewer and Jones both drew walks in the top of the fifth inning before Lucas popped out as Jones was caught two far off first base for a CAC double play. Henderson followed with a pop out for the third out. The Lady Mustangs got a lead-off double before Henderson got a ground out, strikeout and another ground out to leave the runner on base with CAC still leading 5-0. Riley Ashcraft grounded out and Reel flew out in the top of the sixth before Kelly Ashcraft and Brewer drew back to back walks. Strop flew out to leave the runners on base. The Lady Mustangs got two runners on base with two outs in the bottom half before a ground ball out EPC out of the inning.
Miller flew out and Jones grounded out for two quick outs in the top of the seventh inning as Lucas coaxed a walk. Henderson then struck out swinging to end the game with CAC winning 5-0.
“I thought we competed well in the game, CAC had a solid team and we just made a couple mistakes in the third inning which was followed up by some good hitting and got in a hole down 5-0 after giving up four runs in the inning. We left runners on base in three innings, one of those was bases loaded, so timely hitting really didn’t work out in our favor today. But the kids battled until the end, and we will return eight starters from this game next season,” Powell said. “I’m very proud of this years seniors, it's tough when your most successful seasons come as an underclassman and the girls you grow up playing graduate a year sooner than you. I thought both Terrin (Powell) and Brinley (Brewer) showed great leadership and helped keep the ship steady through a tough season. We played our best ball late in the season, because of the leadership of those two seniors. They will leave the softball program as the first group to finish with 100+ career wins!,” Powell added.
Henderson, Kelly Ashcraft, Miller and Strop all had a hit for the Lady Warriors. Henderson took the loss in the circle giving up five runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in six innings of work.