Lady Panthers End Season In Regionals

The Clarksville Lady Panthers’ season came to an end in the first round of the 1-4A Regional Softball Tournament on Thursday, May 7, in Gentry as they fell 16-6 to the number two seeded Gravette Lady Lions.

Brylyn Kremers got the start in the circle, going the distance and giving up 16 runs (11 earned), eight walks, and 12 hits in her six innings of work.

Clarksville was able to strike first in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs. Addison Phillips got it started with a lead-off double to center field. Allie Willis moved Phillips to third on a single to center field, and Briley Howard drove in both runs with two outs on a single to left field. In the bottom of the inning, Gravette would retake the lead by scoring five runs.

The Lady Panthers did not give up. They scored four runs in the top of the second inning to regain the lead from Gravette, 6-5.

Lillian Brott singled on a pop fly to shallow left field. Destiny DeForest reached by error, Kremers walked to load the bases, and Bella Auterson came in to courtesy run. Phillips showed patience at the plate, drawing a walk to score Brott.

Shelby Taylor grounded out to first base to score DeForest. Willis got her second hit of the game with a single that scored Auterson. Tosca Rodgerson singled on a line drive to left field to score Willis.

Gravette tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the second inning, and neither team would score in the third inning. The Lady Lions took a one-run lead in the bottom of the fifth inning by scoring a run, then opened their lead by scoring three more runs in the fifth to make the score 10-6 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. Gravette earned the run-rule win in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Willis led all hitters with three hits. Phillips earned two hits, including one double, while Howard had two singles, and Rodgerson and Brott each had one.

“I am incredibly proud of how the girls played today,” Coach Nicole Possage said. “The score is not a great indicator of how well we competed. Gravette is a great team that swings the bats extremely well. Throughout the season, these young ladies have continued to improve and compete, and that showed today.”

The Lady Panthers ended the season with an overall record of 9-12. They will graduate one senior in the starting lineup, Phillips, and will return all eight other starters, including two juniors, five sophomores, and one freshman.

Magazine

Clarksville picked up an 8-6 win over Magazine on Tuesday night, May 5, at the University of the Ozarks with a walk-off triple by Phillips.

Both teams were using the game to prepare for respective trips to regional tournaments later in the week.

Freshman Kremers earned her fifth win of the season in the circle, giving up six runs (three earned), eight hits, nine walks, and recorded four strikeouts.

Magazine opened the game by taking a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Clarksville responded by scoring one run of their own in the bottom of the frame. Phillips led off for the Lady Panthers by reaching on an error and later stealing second base. Rodgerson drove in Phillips on a line drive single to center field.

The defense for both teams was outstanding as neither team was able to score for the next three innings.

Clarksville tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring three runs. Rodgerson got it started with a line drive single to left field. Howard bunted for a single. Rodgerson stole third, and Howard advanced to second. Morgan Shook drove in Rodgerson on a line drive single to left field, and Howard advanced to third. Brott grounded into a fielder’s choice, and DeForest came up big with two outs. She doubled on a line drive to center field, scoring Shook and Brott.

Magazine would not go down quietly, scoring a run in the top of the sixth inning to take a 5-4 lead. The Lady Panthers responded to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. Phillips led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a passed ball. Willis scored Phillips on a single to right field.

Magazine retook the lead in the top of the seventh inning, scoring a run to make the score 6-5. Howard led off the bottom of the seventh by earning a walk, with Hayden Clark coming in to pinch run for Howard. Shook grounded into a fielder’s choice, and Brott bunted for a single to move Shook to second. With two outs, Kremers earned a walk to load the bases. Phillips sealed the deal on the first pitch of her at-bat, hitting a triple on a line drive to right center to score Shook, Brott, and Auterson, who was pinch running for Kremers.

Phillips led the Lady Panthers with two hits, a double and a triple. Rodgerson earned two singles, while DeForest had a double. Brott, Willis, Shook, and Howard each had one single.

Read this story and others in the May 13 issue of The Graphic, available online and at businesses throughout Franklin and Johnson counties. Subscribe or donate here to support more hometown journalism.

Clarksville senior Addison Phillips hits in a game against Magazine on May 5. Phillips hit a walk-off triple to lead the Lady Panthers to an 8-6 win.

–Photo courtesy Amber Canada