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THREE RIVERS EDITION/RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE DIAMOND ROUNDUP
SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2020
CAVE CITY SOFTBALL
APRIL 2 ....................................... NEWPORT* APRIL 6 ......................................@HIGHLAND APRIL 7 ................................... @RIVERVIEW* APRIL 9 .................................. HARRISBURG* APRIL 14 ................................. TUCKERMAN* APRIL 15 ......................................... @SALEM APRIL 16 ....................................... CONCORD APRIL 20 ..............................HEBER SPRINGS APRIL 21 ................................ @BALD KNOB* APRIL 23 ................................ IZARD COUNTY
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
CAVE CITY BASEBALL
APRIL 3 ....................................... NEWPORT* APRIL 7 ................................... @RIVERVIEW* APRIL 9 .................................. HARRISBURG* APRIL 13 ........................................... @VIOLA APRIL 14 ................................. TUCKERMAN* APRIL 16 .................................. @BATESVILLE APRIL 17 .......................... @VALLEY SPRINGS APRIL 20 ......................................... @SALEM APRIL 21 ................................@BALD KNOB* APRIL 23 ................................ IZARD COUNTY APRIL 27 ............................ MOUNTAIN HOME
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE LADY SOUTHERNERS
Lady Southerners eager to play ball
BY SAM PIERCE
STAFF WRITER
Last year, the Southside Batesville softball team scratched its way into the regional tournament, finishing third and losing to the eventual Class 4A state champion,
Pottsville, in the state tournament.
“This year, the girls seem eager to start the
season and are confident in their abilities,” head coach Larry Lawellin said. “We are looking for- ward to what the year has in store for us.”
Senior Shelby Warden, who has signed with Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee to play outfield, led the team in batting averages last year with .481. Lawellin said Lundyn Foree was an excellent lead-off hitter, and newcomer Breanna Rea will add depth to the lineup. He said they hit over .300 as a team last year.
Warden led the team in home runs with 6, while Lexie Dale, Grace Lawellin, and Katie Denison had multiple home runs a year ago.
“Last year, our defense was a strong part of the team,” Coach Lawellin said. “We have a lot of girls returning from last year, but some may have to move positions.”
He said Warden and Foree had excellent years defensively in the outfield, while Blakely Floyd and Lexie Dale had “solid years on the infield.”
“Our catcher Krislynn Duncan is a real game-changer behind the plate,” Lawellin said. “She has an outstanding arm and blocking abilities.
“We like to think our defense will be one of our strengths this year.”
Foree had more than 40 stolen bases last year, which puts a lot of pressure on the other team when she is on the bases, the coach said.
Conference: 4A-3
Coach: Larry Lawellin
Assistant coach: Bo Gould
2019 record: 19-10-1
Returning starters: Seniors Shelby Warden and Blakely Floyd; junior Katie Denison; and sophomores Grace Lawellin, Lexie Dale, Lundyn Foree and Krislynn Duncan
PHOTOS BY STACI VANDAGRIFF/THREE RIVERS EDITION
Southside’s Lexie Dale makes a hit during a home game against rival Batesville on March 10.
“Shelby has a strong arm in the outfield, and Grace has the strongest arm in the infield,” Lawellin said. “Krislynn has a strong arm, and newcomer Chloe McCance will have one of our stronger arms as well.”
Denison returns this year in the circle after a strong season a year ago, the coach said, and Grace Lawellin and McCance will give the team depth.
Southside’s Katie Denison winds up for a pitch.
“Our pitchers all match up equally with each other,” Coach Lawellin said. “They have quality control and let the defense work behind them.”
The coach said the conference standings will come down to Valley View, Westside, Brookland, Southside Batesville and Batesville vying for the top four spots.
“Several games can go either way,” Lawellin said. “This will be the first season that we will be without a district tournament, so we have to finish in the top four to make it to regionals.
“We can’t afford to slip up anywhere along the way.”
SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE SOFTBALL
APRIL 6 ...................................BLYTHEVILLE* APRIL 13 ...................................... @CLINTON APRIL 14 .................................. @HIGHLAND* APRIL 20 ................................... MELBOURNE
APRIL 21 ...............................@BROOKLAND* APRIL 28 ................. JONESBORO WESTSIDE* APRIL 30 ............................ MOUNTAIN HOME
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE BASEBALL
APRIL 3 ............................@LR BAPTIST PREP APRIL 6 ................................... BLYTHEVILLE* APRIL 9 ............................. @MOUNTAIN VIEW APRIL 14 .................................. @HIGHLAND* APRIL 16 ........................... @HEBER SPRINGS
APRIL 21 ...............................@BROOKLAND* APRIL 23 ..........................................LONOKE APRIL 28 ................. JONESBORO WESTSIDE* MAY 1 ..................................... @PARAGOULD
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES