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SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2020 THREE RIVERS EDITION/RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE DIAMOND ROUNDUP
47SS
MORRILTON LADY DEVIL DOGS
STACI VANDAGRIFF/RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION
Junior Graci Thomas of Morrilton watches Dardanelle’s pitcher while up to bat during a game against Dardanelle on March 5 at Dardanelle City Park.
Conference: 4A-4
Coach: Jennifer Binnie-Poteete Assistant coaches: Tyler Briscoe and Todd Sparks
2019 record: 25-7 overall, 11-1 in conference
Returning starters: Seniors Shelby Tindall, Abbie Jo Bane and Gracie Bane; juniors Loren Reynolds, Graci Thomas, Makenna Keeton and Madison Mourot; and sophomore Grace Brown
MORRILTON SOFTBALL
APRIL 2 .......................................... CONWAY APRIL 3 ........................................... OZARK* APRIL 6 ....................................... @QUITMAN APRIL 7 ............................... @DARDANELLE* APRIL 9 ............................................ DOVER* APRIL 14 ............................... @POTTSVILLE* APRIL 16 ............................... CLARKSVILLE* APRIL 17 ........................... LR BAPTIST PREP APRIL 20 ...................................... @BAUXITE APRIL 21 ........................... HEBER SPRINGS* APRIL 23 .......................................... ATKINS APRIL 24 .................................. GREENBRIER
Experience, speed are strengths for Morrilton
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
BY SAM PIERCE
STAFF WRITER
The Morrilton Lady Devil Dogs return a ton of experience this season, featuring a lot of speed and power with a pretty solid infield, and the gamesmanship is there, head coach Jennifer Binnie-Poteete said.
As of March 11, Morrilton is 4-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play. Junior Makenna Keeton has thrown 26 innings with about 56 strikeouts. Binnie-Poteete said Keeton is overpowering hit- ters on the mound.
“And when our offense strikes, we strike big,” said Binnie-Poteete, who is in her second year at the school. “We have had 7 home runs so far in four games with 19 stolen bases.”
Last year, Keeton had an ERA of 1.72.
“She is one of the best pitchers in the state,” Binnie-Poteete said. “She has speed, but her spe- cialty is her spin. She has an amazing spin and throws a curve and a rise. Her best pitch is the rise ball, and it makes batters look silly.”
The coach said Keeton has really worked on her speed this offseason and has received a lot of offers and attention from various colleges.
“She has always had the spin, but most coaches
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