Top stars, best performances from Arkansas softball state championship games

By Kyle Sutherland | Photo by Tommy Land 

The 2022 softball season was completed at the Benton Athletic Complex during the Weekend of Champions on Sunday following a Saturday weather postponement. We compiled a list of some of the top performers from each of the six games played. 

Akayla Barnard, Cabot

The junior pitcher struck out 8 batters and went 1-for-3 at the plate with a solo home run in a 3-1 loss to Bentonville in the 6A state championship.

Lydia Bethards, Benton

The freshman outfielder went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and an RBI in a 3-2 win over Greene County Tech in the 5A state championship game.

Ayla Buford, Taylor

The freshman struck out 8 and walked 3 while allowing 1 run on 5 hits and was named MVP of the state finals in a 9-1 victory over West Side Greers Ferry for the Class 1A state championship. The victory was Taylor’s fifth consecutive state title.

Grace Butler, Valley View

The senior outfielder went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI in Valley View’s 2-1 win over Nashville in the 4A state championship.

Jaela Coleman, Ashdown

The freshman went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and scored a run in Ashdown’s 6-0 win over Atkins in the 3A state championship.

Carly Downs, Taylor

The senior shortstop went 3-for-4 with 3 doubles, an RBI, and scored a run in Taylor’s 9-1 win over West Side Greers Ferry in the 1A state championship.

Makayla Downs, Taylor

The sophomore outfielder went 2-for-4 with a double, 3 RBI, and scored a run in a 9-1 win over West Side Greers Ferry in the 1A state championship.

Karielle Forbes, Ashdown

The sophomore went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI and scored 1 run in the Lady Panthers’ 6-0 victory over Atkins in the Class 3A state championship.

MaKaylie Gist, Tuckerman

The sophomore pitcher threw 6.1 innings allowing four hits, walked 4 batters, and struck out 5 while also hitting a double at the plate in the Lady Bulldogs’ 6-2 win in the state championship over East Poinsett County where she won MVP honors.

Alyssa Houston, Benton

The junior pitcher struck out 10 batters and walked 3 in 4 innings of relief to lead the Lady Panthers to a second-consecutive Class 5A state softball championship with a 3-2 victory over Greene County Tech while winning MVP honors. She was also 2-for-2 at the plate.

Lauran Lenard, Taylor

The senior outfielder went 2-for-3 with 2 doubles, an RBI, and scored a run in Taylor’s 9-1 win over West Side Greers Ferry in the 1A state championship.

Maggie McHenry, Taylor

The junior first baseman went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI, and scored three runs in Taylor’s 9-1 win over West Side Greers Ferry in the 1A state championship.

Terrin Powell, East Poinsett County

The sophomore shortstop went 2-for-3 from her leadoff spot with a double, RBI, and scored a run in a 6-2 loss to Tuckerman in the 2A state championship game.

Gracie Redmon, Benton

The senior catcher went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI in Benton’s 3-2 win over Greene County Tech in the 5A state championship.

Ryann Sanders, Bentonville

The sophomore struck out 14 batters while allowing 1 run on 2 hits in a 2-1 victory over Cabot in the Class 6A state championship and was named the state finals Most Valuable Player.

Riley Smith, Valley View

The sophomore was named MVP of the state finals by retiring 19 of the final 20 batters she faced. She allowed 1 run on 2 hits and struck out 3 in helping the Lady Blazers beat Nashville 2-1 for the Class 4A state championship. Out of Smith’s 86 pitches, 70 were strikes.

Lizzy Walker, Tuckerman

The junior DH went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and scored two runs in a 6-2 win over East Poinsett County in the 2A state championship game.

Shanley Williams, Tuckerman

The senior went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI in a 6-2 win over East Poinsett County in the 2A state championship.