FARMINGTON -- Junior catcher Alyssa Reed starred with her bat, going 3-for-3 with a home run, double and 6 RBIs as Farmington defeated Siloam Springs, 15-0, in 5A/6A blended conference game March 5.
While Reed was steady at the plate and behind the plate, she was by no means on her own. Lady Cardinal pitchers allowed just one hit and one walk. Sophomore McKenzi Bogan (2-0) took the win for Farmington (2-0, 1-0), allowing no runs on one hit, with no walks and retiring the Lady Panthers (0-4, 0-1) in order in both of the first two innings. Junior Shyanna Holmes pitched the third inning, yielding a base on balls with two out.
When Siloam Springs starting pitcher Tyler King walked, Lady Panther coach Scott Wright tried to make the most of the situation. He inserted a courtesy runner and instructed her to go on contact with two outs with junior Aislyn Burchette batting. Holmes wanted none of that and induced a groundout to shortstop on a 1-1 pitch.
Siloam Springs was hampered by 11 walks. Farmington came up and loaded the bases with one out. Reed stroked an RBI single for a 10-0 lead. Two more runs scored on a passed ball with Paige Anderson batting. She drew a walk to put runners at the corners. Senior Paige Devecsery reached on an error as the 13th run scored. Junior Madison Parrish ended the game blasting a line drive off the pitcher which drove in two more runs.
Parish had 3 RBIs on two doubles. The Lady Cardinals didn't commit any errors. The only mishap was a base-running error with a Lady Cardinal caught coming off second for the third out at the end of the second inning.
"That was a situational play that we misread," said Farmington coach Randy Osnes. "It's the second game of the season, those things are going to happen."
In the season-opener Osnes faced former player Cassy Story's Southside Mavericks with the Lady Cardinals winning 3-1 on Feb. 26. Sophomore McKenzi Bogan, junior Shyanne Holmes, and senior Paige Devecsery rotated in the chalked circle. Bogan started and gave up 2 hits but no runs in 4 innings. Holmes allowed 2 hits, but the Mavericks didn't score in the fifth inning. Devecsery pitched the last two innings. She faced seven batters giving up a solo home run to Southside freshman Madi Conklin.
"We knew we were going to use three pitchers no matter what in that game," Osnes said, explaining he wanted to get all three to see some action. "All three pitched very good and we played sound defense behind them."
Senior Camryn Journagan came out for softball Tuesday, March 6, after checking in her basketball gear on Monday, adding more experience and depth to Farmington's roster. The early season work ethic has impressed Osnes.
"The way they practice, the way they play. Not just the varsity bunch. We've got 30 players this year. They're all working hard on a daily basis."
Sports on 04/04/2018