Page 45 - RVO Diamond Roundup March 2017

RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL REVIEW
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SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2017
45VV
HECTOR LADY WILDCATS
Lady Wildcats have goal of winning state title
DOVER BASEBALL
BY MARK BUFFALO
STAFF WRITER
With eight starters returning this year, the Hector Lady Wildcats hope to return to the state- championship game.
Hector finished 2016 at 20-5, falling to Spring Hill 2-1 in the Class 2A state-championship game at Bogle Park in Fayetteville. Hector was one strike away from winning the state championship when Spring Hill scored two runs with two outs in the top of the seventh inning.
Hector scored its only run of the title game in the bottom of the fifth inning on three walks and an error. Then sophomore Paige Lee drew a bases-loaded walk to force in pinch runner Emily Mathis, who graduated in 2016.
“We have the talent to get there,” Hector
Conference: 2A-4 East
Coach: Kyle Russell
Assistant coach: Trevor Cooper 2016 record: 20-5
Mascot: Lady Wildcats
Returning starters: Darci Fountain,
Evelyn Riley, Cassidy Haley, Baylee Riley, Paige Lee, Sierra Cochran, Samantha Barton and Alyssa Gilliand
coach Kyle Russell said. “It sets up good for us if we come out and take care of business. We’ve got to get better at the plate. I don’t know if the nerves got to us last year. We didn’t hit real well in the finals.”
Russell said his players have worked hard in the
HECTOR SOFTBALL continued on 46VV
DOVER SOFTBALL
MARCH
MARCH 28 .................................POTTSVILLE* MARCH 30 .....................................MAGAZINE MARCH 31 ....................................... ATKINS* APRIL 4 ......................................... @LAMAR* APRIL 7 ..................................@PERRYVILLE* APRIL 11 .................................... @CLINTON* APRIL 13 .................................DARDANELLE*
23-25 ....... @ROBINSON TOURNAMENT
APRIL 17 ..................................TWO RIVERS* APRIL 18 ................................ @POTTSVILLE* APRIL 20 ..........................................OZARK* APRIL 21 .................................... MORRILTON APRIL 24 ...................................@WALDRON* APRIL 25 ..........................................LAMAR*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
MARCH 28 .................................POTTSVILLE* MARCH 30 ....................................... ATKINS* MARCH 31 ............................... WONDERVIEW APRIL 3 .................................... CHARLESTON APRIL 4 ......................................... @LAMAR* APRIL 6 ...........................................HACKETT APRIL 7 ..................................@PERRYVILLE* APRIL 10 ......................................MULBERRY APRIL 11 .................................... @CLINTON*
APRIL 13 .................................DARDANELLE* APRIL 17 ..................................TWO RIVERS* APRIL 18 ................................ @POTTSVILLE* APRIL 20 ............................... SACRED HEART APRIL 21 .......................................@ATKINS* APRIL 24 .................................... @MAGAZINE APRIL 25 ..........................................LAMAR*
APRIL 27
................................... @MULBERRY *DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
DANVILLE LITTLE JOHNS
MARCH 28 ............................... @SCRANTON* MARCH 30 .............................. COUNTY LINE* MARCH 31 .....................................MAGAZINE APRIL 4 ....................................... @DANVILLE APRIL 7 ....................................... @HECTOR* APRIL 10 ............................... @CADDO HILLS
APRIL 11 ....... @WESTSIDE JOHNSON COUNTY APRIL 14 ....................................SCRANTON* APRIL 18 .................................. @MAGAZINE* APRIL 21 ........................................ DANVILLE APRIL 25 ... FAULKNER COUNTY HOMESCHOOL
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
WESTERN YELL COUNTY SOFTBALL
DANVILLE BASEBALL continued from 43VV last year as a freshman, is expected to return
to the mound.
“He was pretty good, and he was in the rota-
tion every week,” McKnight said.
Twins Eli and Evan Lee bring a lot of depth
to the team, thanks to their versatility. McKnight said the sophomores can play anywhere, includ- ing catcher, infield, outfield and pitcher.
“They are going to be real good, and they are going to help out a lot,” McKnight said. “They are just good athletes.”
The coach said sophomore catcher Preston Donnell has really improved, and so has senior Chris Thurman.
“We have a lefty pitcher in Brandon Coleman, and that will help us directly,” McKnight said. “[Junior] Ben Cantrell has worked hard in the weight room this offseason and has really im- proved.”
McKnight said he is also really excited for the three freshmen on the team: Ty Lynch, Caden Tate and Devan Mitchell.
“They might not contribute this year, but if they show up every day, work hard and get better, they could help us tremendously,” McKnight said.
After three games, the biggest thing that has
stood out to McKnight has been the camaraderie and excitement among his team members.
“It doesn’t matter who gets the hit or the strikeout, or who makes the play,” McKnight said. “We are all in it together like a family.
“It is something I really preach a lot. It is a team sport. As long as you show up every day with the right mindset and do your job, that’s good enough.”
McKnight said Danville will need a bigger pitching staff as the season progresses, especially with the new rule the Arkansas Activities Asso- ciation has implemented this season that limits the number of pitches a player can make in one game with rest to 110.
“We are very young,” McKnight said. “I have boys who are just starting to pitch, but I think we are going to be strong on defense.
“We are mostly sophomores, so we basically have to improve everywhere.
“I think we will do a lot of stuff good.”
McKnight said the new rule will really affect the smaller schools.
“We don’t have a big team, and we don’t have a lot of numbers,” McKnight said. “Everybody is going to have to learn how to pitch. ...
“I’m having to develop some kids who wouldn’t normally pitch, but in the long run, it will help us out.”
WESTERN YELL COUNTY BASEBALL
MARCH 28 ............................... @SCRANTON* MARCH 30 ................................ COUNTY LINE MARCH 31 .....................................MAGAZINE APRIL 4 ....................................... @DANVILLE APRIL 7 ......................................... @HECTOR APRIL 10 ............................... @CADDO HILLS
APRIL 11 ....... @WESTSIDE JOHNSON COUNTY APRIL 14 ....................................SCRANTON*
APRIL 18
APRIL 21
APRIL 25 ... FAULKNER COUNTY HOMESCHOOL
.................................... @MAGAZINE ........................................ DANVILLE
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES