MONTICELLO — The state title journey came to an heartbreaking end Friday for the No. 2 seed Malvern Lady Leopards falling short to No.1 seed Pea Ridge Lady Blackhawks, 11-1 in the quarterfinal round at the Class 4A State Softball Tournament in Monticello.
Friday’s second round challenge facing No. 1 seed Pea Ridge was a tough task again for the hometown Lady Leopards at Monticello High School softball stadium.
Malvern’s Watson returned to her elite slugging fashion in the frame and homered number 18 on the year in the top of the third inning. Watson home run masterpiece hit ended up the Lady Leopards’ only run scored and her lone hit of the outing with the RBI. Stewart powered for two key hits while Jenkins ripped her bat for a double to collect a hit.
In the circle, Watson pitched four innings, allowed nine hits, nine runs with five of those earned—and struck out four batters and threw 76 strikes, facing 26 batters. Davis pitched one-thirds of an inning, allowed one hit, two runs with one of those earned and walked one batter, threw 12 strikes—facing four batters.
Read full story details in Saturday’s May 17 MDR newspaper edition.