Final

Final

Marion handles Lake Hamilton in Quarters

Sports Editor SHERIDAN — A fast start proved to be crucial for Marion against Lake Hamilton last Friday afternoon.

The Lady Pats jumped on the Lady Wolves for three runs in the first inning to punch its ticket to the Class 6A state semifinals for the third straight season in a 7-1 quarterfinal win.

Marion (18-7 overall) added on two runs apiece in the fifth and sixth innings to give senior starting pitcher Mabry Watson more than enough cushion to notch the win.

Watson hurled a complete game two-hitter at Lake Hamilton, allowing just one run in the game’s sixth inning.

Until the lead-off batter of that inning, Watson had not allowed a hit all day, and just three baserunners in all. Before the lead-off single in the top of the sixth, Watson had retired 13 consecutive hitters.

“We put enough balls in play to get some runners on, get ‘em around and get ‘em in,” said Marion head softball coach David Horton after the game.

“These first state tournament games are always kind of jittery, so for us to get going like that was pretty great.”

After Marion escaped an early bases-loaded jam in the top of the first, the Lady Pats wasted little time getting on the bags in their half of the first inning.

Watson (1-2, run scored) led off with a single and came around on a Hope Phipps (2-4, 2 runs, RBI) base hit for a 1-0 lead.

Following a Micah Tolleson (2-2, 3 runs, stolen base, 2 RBI, 2 walks) walk, sophomore Haley Cook would plate two with a hard-hit ball for a 3-0 advantage.

With Watson having averted some potential damage in the first, her and her defense held the fort beginning in the second inning until the sixth.

Watson struck out the side in the second inning before sophomore Blakeleigh Garrison recorded a pair of flyouts in the third in right field.

Watson again fanned all

Four

three batters she faced in the fifth, on her way to 10 for the game.

With the game resting at 3-0, Marion looked to add on in the fifth when Phipps led off with a single and scored on a Tolleson twobagger for a 4-0 bulge.

Tolleson would come around on a McKenzie Shirley (2-3, RBI) single.

Lake Hamilton would answer back with its only two hits and run of the game in the top of the sixth, but that only got the Lady Wolves within 5-1.

Marion capped the scoring in the bottom of the sixth when Morgan Weaver got hit by a pitch and scored on a Tolleson single, and the Marion catcher would score herself when Cook reached on an error.

It was the fourth state tournament win for Marion since 2014, and it clinched their spot in the final four round of the state for the third straight season, one of only three teams to do that in Class 6A. Benton and Sheridan are the others.

“I think we’ve been to the semifinals seven years and we’ve had fast pitch for 16 years in all, so that’s a pretty good run,” Horton explained. “It’s a testament to our kids, just how hard they work, how serious they take this. How much they want to win. I just can’t say enough about this group. Great attitudes, great work ethic and a love for the game.”

Marion advanced to play Benton in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.

Sports brief

Earle Salutes State Basketball Champs — The Earle Community will have a Historical Celebration Program, Awards Ceremony, and Fish Fry to salute the High School and Middle School award winning Girls and Guys Basketball State Champs, District Champs, and Regional Champs. All Players, Managers, and Coaches will be Recognized. May 21, at Earle High School Gymnasium and Cafeteria from 1-4 p.m. The entire Community is invited to come out and congratulate the players, enjoy a fish dinner, and participate in a great afternoon fellowship. The event is free to the public.

By Chuck Livingston