Tuckerman holds off East Poinsett County to take back-to-back Arkansas 2A softball state championships

By Kyle Sutherland | Photos by Jimmy Jones 

BENTON — In the first game of the 2022 softball state championships at the Benton Athletic Complex, Tuckerman completed a back-to-back title run by defeating East Poinsett County 6-2 on a sunny and windy Thursday afternoon.

“This is an incredible feeling,” Tuckerman head coach Matt Dillon said. “We did not think we would be here because it is hard to get here, but we have played hard every day and these girls-there is no quit and a lot of fight in them. It has been an incredible ride this year and this is just awesome.”

Sophomore pitcher MaKaylie Gist was a major part of the Lady Bulldogs’ state title run last year and battled injuries throughout this season before starting to pitch again around the time of the district tournament. She was in the circle for the majority of the afternoon throwing 6.1 innings allowing just 4 hits and striking out 5.

Down 5-0 in the top of the fourth inning, EPC (32-3) got on the board thanks to a groundout by Natalie Dunman scoring Terrin Powell that was eventually countered in the bottom of the inning by the Lady Bulldogs extending their lead 6-1. The Lady Warriors were able to cut the deficit to four runs at the top of the fifth on Powell’s double to left center that brought home Mercedes Reel.

Gist, who was named the state tournament Most Valuable Player, appeared to have some discomfort in her arm during the top of the fifth, but remained until the top of the seventh when Soden was brought in with a one out and the bases loaded. Soden struck out EPC ace pitcher Keegan McCorkle and moments later the game ended on a flyout to the middle infield.

“I was going to ride MaKaylie because she earned that right to go through the seventh inning, but I knew I had the ace in the hole over at second base with Kenzie,” Dillon said. “When things got rocky there, I just went to my safety net then put her in and she made it happen.

Tuckerman (25-5) put the game’s first run up on a single by Hannah Nicolson through the right side that scored Soden, the 2021 state finals Most Valuable Player. The Lady Bulldogs added another run in the second inning after Gist sat down the EPC batting order for the second time when leadoff hitter Shanley Williams singled up the middle sending Lizzy Walker home.

Despite scoring two runs in as many innings, Tuckerman left the bases loaded in the first and second but were able to add three in the third stretching the lead to a comfortable 5-0 on scores from Reagan Washam, Walker on an error, and Audrey Altom. The Lady Bulldogs’ sixth run in the fifth would be all they would need.

“I looked up and saw we had 13 hits and only 6 runs,” Dillon said. “I felt like we were going to get in trouble for not getting some of these runs in early and it may come back to haunt us, but we did and finished it off.”

The Lady Warriors could have let things get away on more than one occasion but hung tough and gave themselves an opportunity until the final out with bases loaded and the tying run at the plate.

“They had bases loaded it seemed like every inning and our girls just battled,” EPC head coach Brandon Powell said. “They found a way to keep the runs down per inning to 1,1,3, and 1. If you hold them and keep it to that, those are wins. We just needed to find a way to put more runs on the board and keep ourselves in the game.”

Tuckerman brought everyone back from last year's title team, but faced adversity throughout the year between injuries, position changes, and of course having a target on their back. The gratitude and sense of accomplishment from Dillon was evident.

"I can't describe it," Dillon said. "Talking to the girls right there I actually teared up and that's not supposed to happen. I am just so proud of them. To go back-to-back, some people wait their whole life just to get one so to do this is an incredible feeling."

Walker led Tuckerman at the plate going 3-for-4, scored 2 runs, and batted another in. Williams, Ansley Dawson, and Gracie Smith all had multiple hits for Tuckerman.

Terrin Powell was 2-3 with a RBI and also scored one run for EPC.