– State Softball Runners-Up ­–

By COSMO COSSEY

Sports Connection Team

CONWAY – In a rematch of last year's Class 2A softball state championship game, Mansfield (24-1) used a three run eighth inning to take a 4-2 win over Riverside (27-2). Riverside beat the Lady Tigers 1-0 last year in winning their first state title.

Carly Jo Womack catches a fly ball for an out in deep right field during the Class 2A state softball finals at Farris Field in Conway. (Photo by Cosmo Cossey)

Mansfield got a lead-off walk only to leave the runner stranded in the top of the first inning as Klaire Womack got two pop outs around a strikeout. Annalee Qualls and Kaylee Cox both struck out for the first two outs before Brooklyn Berry singled. Katie Ridge struck out to end the inning. The Lady Tigers got a one-out walk only to leave the runner on base after a strikeout and ground out in the top of the first inning as Klaire Womack and Ryley Eakins drew back to back walks in the bottom half. A pop out by Carly Jo Womack and back to back to strikeouts by Blakely Biggers and Bennett Durham left the runners on base as the score stayed 0-0.

The Lady Tigers loaded the bases with one out before a pop out and line out left the bases full of runners in the top of the third inning. The Lady Rebels went down in order in the bottom half as Qualls and Cox both flew out and Berry struck out. Mansfield got a two-out walk before Klaire Womack got a strikeout for the third out. Ridge struck out leading off the bottom of the inning as Klaire Womack flew out and Eakins struck out to end the inning as the game remained scoreless.

Mansfield loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth before a two-out walk scored a run to make it 1-0 Lady Tigers. Klaire Womack induced a ground ball out for out three. Riverside went three up and three down in the bottom half as Carly Jo Womack, Biggers and Bennett all struck out. The Lady Tigers loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth only to see Biggers field a ground ball, step on third and throw home with Berry tagging the runner out for a double play to keep the score 1-0 Mansfield. Qualls walked leading off the bottom of the inning before stealing second and third base. Cox followed with a single to plate Qualls tying the game at 1-1. Berry moved Cox to second on a sacrifice bunt as Ridge struck out. Klaire Womack drew a two-out walk only to see Eakins strike out to end the inning.

Lady Rebel Ryley Eakins throws the runner out from second base during championship action this past Saturday. (Photo by Cosmo Cossey)

Mansfield got a runner on via a hit by pitch with one out in the top of the seventh inning before Riverside turned a double play to end the top half of the inning. Carly Jo Womack walked leading off the Lady Rebels in the bottom half and promptly stole second base. Biggers struck out, Durham grounded out before Qualls was called out on a close ground ball out at first base to end the inning. With a runner starting on second base in the top of the eighth inning, The Lady Tigers took advantage of a Riverside error going on to score three runs to take a 4-1 lead. Qualls stared on second base in the bottom of the inning as Cox and Ridge both flew out. Berry was hit by a pitch before Klaire Womack singled to score Qualls to cut the lead to 4-2 Mansfield. Eakins looked at strike three to end the game.

“I know the girls are disappointed right now but they had an outstanding season and we had a chance to win it but were just inches away in the bottom of the seventh. They need to walk out of here with their heads held high. They have represented Riverside very well,” Riverside head coach T.J. Eakins said. “The game was a lot like last year, it came down to a ball bouncing their (Mansfield) way. We battled the whole time, just didn't get any breaks today. I thought we had in there at the end and they got a big hit in extra innings to seal the deal. We got people on base today, just couldn't catch up,” Eakins added. “Klaire (Womack) always battles when she's in the circle, she got us out of trouble a couple times today. She just does what she does,” Eakins said. “We do have a lot of players coming back next year, it wouldn't surprise me if we were doing this again next year. We'll just have to see how it all plays out,” Eakins added.

Klaire Womack and Cox each had a hit and a RBI for Riverside as Qualls scored both runs for the Lady Rebels. Qualls also had two stolen bases as Carly Jo Womack had a stolen base. Klaire Womack took the loss in the circle with eight innings pitched giving up four runs on five hits with 11 walks, four strikeouts and hit by pitch.

Blakely Biggers of Riverside fields a ground ball before stepping on third base for a force out and then throwing home to get the runner trying to score this past Saturday in state finals softball action. (Photo by Cosmo Cossey)