Arkansas high school softball state finals preview

By Kyle Sutherland | Photo by Jimmy Jones 

The final chapter to the 2023 softball season will end in Conway after concluding state tournaments last Sunday. All six matchups are set for the Weekend of Champions from Thursday through Saturday at Farris Field on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.

Three games feature conference foes who have already seen each other multiple times this year, while Class 5A is a rematch of last season’s state finals. One squad is looking for an incredible sixth consecutive state title and another is hoping to win its third straight.

You can purchase your tickets on the Arkansas Activities Association website or if you are not able to make it Arkansas PBS will carry each game statewide.

Also, tune in to this week’s episode of the Arkansas Prep X-Tra podcast for even more in-depth analysis.

1A

When: Thursday 7 p.m.

Teams: Bradley (26-7) vs. Taylor (23-4-1)

Bradley

Head Coach: Kyle Foster

It has been a long time coming, but the Lady Bears finally got over the hump to earn their way to the state finals. With one more task left to complete, they hope to keep it rolling against rival Taylor whom they have an even 2-2 record against this season while competing in two 1A-8 conference showdowns, as well as the semifinals of March’s DMAC Tournament and the 1A-4 Regional finals.

“It is very special because around this time you do not get two teams to go head-to-head with numbers nearly the same,” Bradley assistant coach Clifford Moore said. “For us to be neck to neck in hits, errors, runs, and the series to be tied, it lets you know that both teams have left it all on the field.”

The Lady Bears struggled to a 3-9 start last year before winning nine of their final 12 games. This season, they started 3-3 and also had a two game losing skid in late March, but are on a hot streak winning 16 of the past 17 contests - the only loss coming to Taylor in that span.

“They realized all it was was that Taylor has a ‘T’ in front of their name and Bradley has ‘B’ in front of their name,” Moore said. “It has just been about having fun, come together and play. We just go into every game as the underdog and they took that as motivation to come together as a team.

“They are ready to finish it.”

Statistical Leaders

JR Ainslee Moore

.368 BA/ .431 OBP/ .674 SLG, 16 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 34 RBI

130.1 IP, 210 K, 1.61 ERA

SR Jackie Kelner

.584 BA/ .596 OBP/ .941 SLG, 20 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 50 RBI

SR Maddie McDonald

.393 BA/ .495 OBP/ .494 SLG, 5 2B, 2 3B, 32 RBI

Taylor

Head Coach: Courtney McHenry

The most decorated program in Arkansas high school softball history makes its sixth consecutive trip to the finals and hopes to become the second program ever to win six in a row. If they are to complete the task, the Lady Tigers will be the first team to win six straight since Foreman did it from 2006-11. Taylor’s eight total championships are the most of any team in state history regardless of classification. 

This year’s path to the finals has been a little different. For the first time since 2017, the Lady Tigers lost to Class 1A competition - twice - both defeats coming to Bradley.

“We lost fewer games than anyone in our conference but losing those two to Bradley got us a little,” McHenry said. “That second conference game just the way our team walked out on the field and I thought ‘this is not good.’ We just were not in it. Bradley put the bat on the ball and we just were not mentally there.

“Those two losses got us more than any because of the rivalry there, but I think that helped us figure out some things mentality wise. They have shown up in the games since then with a different mentality.”

Taylor’s second loss to Bradley on April 11 preceded three consecutive conference wins, but then the Lady Tigers lost back-to-back games during a weekend round-robin to Junction City and Woodlawn. Since then, the Lady Tigers have won eight straight, five of which were shutouts and one being a 3-2 win over Bradley in the 1A-4 regional finals.

Having worked at Taylor in some capacity for the past seven seasons, McHenry in her second season as softball coach has a full grasp on the loyalty and pride both sides possess as well as what this means to the area.

“For our district it is a really cool thing,” McHenry said. “But we have seen each other so much that you have to prepare a little differently than if it were a first time opponent. Taylor fans are full force, Bradley fans are full force so I think there will be a loud crowd there.”

Statistical Leaders

SO Ayla Buford

.481 BA/ .588 OBP, 4 HR

135 IP, 140 K, 1.09 ERA, .145 BAA

SR Maggie McHenry

.436 BA/ .527 OBP, 9 HR

JR Madison Lindsey

.397 BA/ .534 OBP, 10 HR

2A

When: Friday 1 p.m.

Teams: Mansfield (28-3) vs. Riverside (24-4)

Mansfield

Head Coach: Donnie Eveld

Some of the current players contributing for Mansfield remember the feeling of falling short in the 2021 finals to Tuckerman via a walk-off.

“I think they are using that as personal motivation.” Eveld said. “The girls that were on that team - Brooklyn Adams, Sky Harris, Natalie Allison - have said all year that we want to get to Conway and to finish because we know what it is like on the other side.”

Last year’s Lady Tigers coincidentally defeated Riverside 5-2 before being shutmout by Melbourne in the quarterfinals. After starting 4-3 this season that included losses to 3A state finalist Atkins and 2A semifinalist Quitman, the Lady Tigers have reeled off 24 consecutive wins including the most recent 14-4 rout of defending 2A runner-up East Poinsett County.

“They just hit,” Eveld said. “They want to play, they are focused, and their mentality is that ‘we are not going to lose and do whatever it takes’ even when they are playing bad they just do what they need to.”

Statistical Leaders

JR Alyson Edwards

.632 BA/ .704 OBP/ 1.130 SLG, 12 2B, 1 3B, 15 HR, 54 RBI

150.1 IP, 271 K, 1.30 ERA, .170 BAA

SR Brooklyn Adams

.500 BA/ .550 OBP/ .700 SLG, 10 2B, 5 3B, 32 RBI

JR Kynslee Ward

.449 BA/ .530 OBP/ .694 SLG, 2 2B, 5 3B, 4 HR, 30 RBI

SR Skylynn Harris

.438 BA/ .476 OBP/ .552 SLG, 8 2B, 1 HR, 38 RBI

Riverside

Head Coach: T.J. Eakins

When Riverside fell to Mansfield in the first round of last year’s state tournament, it was a team featuring mostly underclassmen contributors with no seniors. This time around, the much more experienced, but still youthful, Lady Rebels hope to get their redemption and be the last one standing.

Eakins knew that 2023 could be a special year and so far his squad has checked most of the boxes: 24 wins, 2A-3 district championship, along with 2A-North Regional championship and they plan on leaving Conway with the ultimate trophy in their first ever trip to the state finals.

“We felt pretty confident coming in that we were going to be competitive and had high expectations,” Eakins said. “You had to put the pieces together. Klaire (Womack) had the injury last year and Katie (Ridge) does a good job pitching for us too, so we just had to figure out who was going to give us the best chance at the end of the year.

While Eakins’ squad is on a nice run of their own winning 18 of their past 19 games, he understands what the Lady Rebels are up against in a Mansfield team that has popped up 24 consecutive wins.

“I got a chance to watch them play EPC the other day (in the 2A semifinals), and they are really good,” Eakins said. “I think at this point in the year you just keep doing what you are doing. We are going to go into it and play our game, see how it turns out.

I know they are good hitters. We will go after and hopefully if they hit the ball they will just hit it right at us.”

Statistical Leaders

SO Klaire Womack

.384 BA/ .439 OBP/ .603 SLG, 5 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 22 RBI

120.2 IP, 241 K, 1.28 ERA, .109

SO Katie Ridge

.457 BA/ .516 OBP/ .704 SLG, 2 2B, 6 HR, 32 RBI

29.1 IP, 39 K, 1.43 ERA, .178 BAA

SR Mackenzie Thomas

.456 BA/ .543 OBP/ .722 SLG, 9 2B, 4 HR, 30 RBI

SO Annalee Qualls

.415 BA/ .495 OBP/ .732 SLG, 11 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 26 RBI

3A

When: Saturday 10 a.m

Teams: Atkins (24-7) vs. Booneville (18-13)

Atkins

Head Coach: Matt Porter

Prior to the season, Porter mentioned how his squad is not making it a goal to just get back to the finals after being shut out by Ashdown last season - they are focused on going there and taking it.

The grind of a brutal schedule that not only included playing in the rugged 3A-5, along with Class 6A semifinalist Rogers, Class 4A finalist Pea Ridge, and Class 2A finalist Mansfield, they also were hit hard with the injury bug. Overcoming that adversity has made the journey even more special.

“To be completely honest, it has been a tough year,” Porter said. “We had a tough schedule almost to the point that it was too tough and it was like trying to overcome a hurdle every single game.

“But I think without that we would not be here. When your expectations are that high and the target on your back is that big it took so much emotion for us to get there.”

There were multiple occasions the Lady Red Devils had to find a way to close out games - against Hackett on March 13, Pea Ridge on April 1, Mayflower on April 14, and most recently conference foe Lamar in last weekend's semifinals winning 4-3 in extra innings, to name a few.

“We have been there,” Porter said about the Lamar win. “We knew exactly how to handle it. When we shut them down then we are going to find a way to come in and move runners. We ended up coming in with a sacrifice fly and the rest is history.”

Statistical Leaders

JR Libby May

167 IP, 124 K, 2.46 ERA

SR Lexxie Gooden

.398 BA/ .514 OBP, 13 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 26 RBI

SO Makinley Coffman

.388 BA/ .450 OBP, 6 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 22 RBI

SR Christin Flory

.386 BA/ .469 OBP, 4 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 19 RBI

Booneville

Head Coach: Chad Simpson

Despite taking some lumps, the potential has flashed throughout the season of what this Lady Bearcats squad could be. They struggled at times to put it all together against a tough schedule, but found a way to put the pieces together in the postseason when it mattered most and will play for their first state title since 2004, the season the program’s only state title was claimed.

After the conclusion of the regular season, there was a noticeable change that caught the attention of the coaching staff.

“I could see right around regionals that they really came together,” Simpson said. “Me and my assistant challenged them a couple of weeks ago to be more vocal and they really have. Leigh Swint and Layla Byrum, along with Karmen Kent, have really stepped up to be leaders for us and really got the girls going.”

That progression was evident in the state tournament. The Lady Bearcats found themselves down 2-0 to Genoa Central through five innings, but made a triumphant rally to win 9-2 before surviving Baptist Prep 2-0 in the quarterfinals.

Then came Hackett in the semifinals. The 3A-4 foe had defeated Booneville twice, 2-1 on March 14 and 12-2 on April 28. However, nothing would stop the Lady Bearcats as they blanked the Lady Hornets 5-0.

“Our girls were so motivated to win Saturday that you could have put anybody out there in front of us,” Simpson said. “They believe in themselves and the things that we have done this year. They are reaping what they sowed.”

Statistical Leaders

Lexi Franklin

.441 BA/ .509 OBP/ .839 SLG, 10 2B, 6 3B, 5 HR, 39 RBI

156.1 IP, 226 K, 1.84 ERA, .195 BAA

Layla Byrum

.447 BA/ .505 OBP/ .606 SLG, 6 2B, 3 3B,1 HR,27 RBI

Leigh Swint

.400 BA/ .440 OBP/ .620 SLG, 13 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 24 RBI

4A

When: Friday 4 p.m.

Teams: Gravette (22-2) vs. Pea Ridge (20-10)

Gravette

Head Coach: Samantha Luther

An extra inning 1-0 loss to Stuttgart in last year’s quarterfinals left a bitter taste in the Lady Lions’ mouth, but with eight of those starters back this year the goal has been to make up for that while also focusing on the present.

“We addressed before the season where we ended last year since I had pretty much the same team,” Luther said. “This year we wanted to be focused on getting one percent better every day. We knew if we did that pitch-by-pitch and bat-by-bat our goals would be attainable.”

Up to this point, the Lady Lions have without question been the top team in Class 4A on their way to the first state finals appearance in school history.

Gravette has yet to lose against competition within the class, including three victories against state finals opponent and 4A-1 foe Pea Ridge winning 5-4, 8-5, and 3-0. The Lady Lions' only losses have been to Class 6A's Bentonville and Bentonville West.

“This week I am going to focus a little more on our mindset and energy,” Luther said. “Just make sure we prepare ourselves the best way possible that we can. Pea Ridge is a great team and we can not go into it lightly no matter what we have done before.

“Physically we know what to do, we just have to make sure mentally that we are ready for it.”

Statistical Leaders

JR Brooke Handle

.417 BA/ .517 OBP/ .542 SLG. 1 2B, 1 3B, 4 RBI

106 IP, 99 K, 2.77 ERA, .244 BAA

FR Laney Chilton

.481 BA/ .533 OBP/ .951 SLG, 10 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 43 RBI

SR Paige Greer

.474 BA/ .565 OBP/ .614 SLG, 4 2B, 2 3B, 9 RBI

JR Keeley Elsea

.453 BA/ .593 OBP/ .797 SLG, 8 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 24 RBI

Pea Ridge

Head Coach: Josh Reynolds

Pea Ridge made it to the 2021 4A state finals and fell to Morrilton 4-2. Last season, the Lady Blackhawks did not qualify for the state tournament and Reynolds mentioned that the focus was to earn a spot back there before anything else.

“It was a goal to get to the state tournament and just see what happens once we got there,” Reynolds said. “We kind of knew who we would have the opportunity to match up with if we played well."

Consistency on offense has been a key piece to the success batting .333 as a team, but the continued emergence of Emory Bowlin as one of the state’s best pitchers has been crucial. Bowlin has three perfect games on the year and thrived against some of the state’s top competition including three other state finalists (Atkins, Booneville, Benton), along with Class 6A’s Bentonville and Bentonville West, and of course Gravette three times.

“It is no secret Emory has had a great year,” Reynolds said. “What you may not see in the headlines is just how great of a kid she is and our kids love playing with her.”

However, it will take everyone not only because they are competing on the biggest stage, but also against a team that has conquered them three times.

“Coach Luther does a great job with her kids, they are very talented and fundamentally sound,” Reynolds said. “Our kids have competed very well and we have actually had to define the word ‘compete’ with this younger group in practice.

“As long as we show up and attack the strike zone in the circle, make the routine fundamental plays then our offense should be able to take over with Zaylee Warden at the leadoff spot.”

Statistical Leaders

SO Emory Bowlin

.402 BA/ .471 OBP/ .543 SLG, 7 2B, 2 HR, 29 RBI

163 IP, 269 K, .82 ERA, .161 BAA

FR Zaylee Warden

.495 BA/ .518 OBP/ .729 SLG, 17 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 34 RBI

JR Callie Cooper

.404 BA/ .500 OBP/ .472 SLG, 6 2B, 25 RBI

5A

When: Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Teams: Benton (28-4) vs Greene County Tech (25-6)

Benton

Head Coach: Heidi Cox

Excluding Taylor, none of the other 11 teams mentioned are as familiar with being in the state championship game more than Benton, though this season was a new path. The previous two state titles were undefeated runs and the Lady Panthers found their way back in the mix despite some bumps in the road after graduating six seniors.

Since suffering their last defeat against Bentonville on April 14 in the Benton Tournament, the Lady Panthers are on a 13-game win streak.

“We are just excited to play for another one, and I am just so proud of how the girls have handled the adversity,” Cox said. “We have had several new faces in that lineup, but it has been awesome. The seniors have done a phenomenal job to carry on the traditions and the expectations that we expect.”

Just when it seemed Stanford signee Alyssa Houston - the reigning unanimous statewide Player of the Year and Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year - could not get any better, she continues to accomplish essentially unbelievable tasks.

In the past six contests, Houston has thrown 35 innings, walked just three batters, and struck out an eye-popping 82 while allowing zero hits. She also threw a perfect game against Sheridan on May 5.

“She is just phenomenal and doing an outstanding job,” Cox said. “Some of these games it just seems like she has gotten into a zone and the ball is moving so well. We do not ask her to throw a no-hitter or a perfect game, those are things that just as a player you work and may get lucky to have those.

“The kids want to play for her.”

Statistical Leaders

SR Alyssa Houston

.691 BA/ .737 OBP/ 1.370 SLG, 12 2B, 2 3B, 13 HR, 52 RBI

103.2 IP, 241 K, .54 ERA, .063 BAA

FR Cam Culclager

.582 BA/ .637 OBP/ .620 SLG, 1 2B, 1 3B, 14 RBI, 16 SB

SO Lydia Bethards

.474 BA/ .527 OBP/ .600 SLG, 8 2B, 2 3B, 25 RBI

SR Addison Davis

.404 BA/ .500 OBP/.438 SLG, 2 2B, 19 RBI

Greene County Tech

Head coach: David Reynolds

When GCT faced Benton in the state finals last year, they got out to a lead before a weather delay forced the game to be moved to the next day and Benton rallied to win by a run. The Lady Eagles could have complained and made excuses, but they didn’t. They put their heads down and went back to work which has led them back in the finals with a shot at redemption.

“This season was a grind,” Reynolds said. “I felt like our kids knew what was expected of them and anytime you make it to the finals, the next year everybody expects you to make it back, especially when you return what we did.

“Our mantra all year has been eyes forward. It is so easy in today’s culture to think about what you did yesterday and feel sorry for yourself or satisfied. Whatever happens is going to happen and we can not change it, but we have done a good job of staying in the present and doing whatever our job is that day.”

GCT has seen Houston before on more than one occasion, including when she pitched in relief during last year’s finals and struck out 10 of 17 batters she faced. Reynolds cut straight to the chase on how to game plan for what Houston has been putting on display.

“Honestly, you don’t,” he quickly responded. “Alyssa is special. I am not sure we have seen anything like her in a long time, maybe ever. I thought she was at the highest level and she has taken it to another.

“We are going to do some things and are going to try and prepare the best that we can, but this week we are just going to preach one at-bat at a time. With her that is what you have to do and try to hit mistakes.”

Statistical Leaders

SR Karley Burrow

.261 BA/ .358 OBP/ .500 SLG, 6 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 28 RBI

137 IP, 110 K, 2.91 ERA, .249 BAA

JR Ava Carter

.578 BA/ .653 OBP/ 1.039 SLG, 9 2B, 10 3B, 6 HR, 33 RBI

SO Marley Speer

.418 BA/ .535 OBP/ .912 SLG, 12 2B, 11 HR, 30 RBI

FR Emmy Thomason

.413 BA/ .438 OBP/ .750 SLG, 13 2B, 6 HR, 36 RBI

6A

When: Thursday 4 p.m.

Teams: Bryant (22-7) vs. Cabot (23-2)

Bryant

Head Coach: Lisa Dreher

After conquering nationally ranked and two-time defending 6A champion Bentonville, the Lady Hornets have one more obstacle in 6A-Central foe Cabot to earn their first state championship since 2012. 

This will be the third meeting between the two teams as Cabot handed Bryant its first in-state loss of the season 6-4 on April 4, which began a three-game skid for the Lady Hornets. Bryant rebounded to win six straight before falling again to Cabot 9-8 on April 28 in a contest that had a combined seven home runs.

The Lady Panthers have not lost since that game and Dreher feels the familiarity between the two programs is a positive.

“Going back and looking at stats from when we played Cabot I think that is going to be an advantage not just this year but from seeing games in the past,” Dreher said. “We know what we are looking at and I feel like I can make a good plan going into that game.”

Bryant boasts a dangerous batting lineup that has smashed 45 total home runs, led by South Dakota State signee Abby Gentry who has a school record 14 dingers. In the circle, the Lady Hornets have a trio of arms in their arsenal starting with ace Aly White as well as Emily Miller and Kadence Armstrong.

They hope to break the losing streak to Cabot, but Dreher plans on doing most of the same preparations as they have done all season with maybe a tweak or two.

“We are going to try and get on some turf, but as far as changing things up I really want to keep it the same as we have been doing,” Dreher said. “We are going to try and keep a normal routine and keep rolling with what we have now."

Statistical Leaders

JR Aly White

.506 BA/.527 OBP/.851 SLG, 5 2B, 2 3B. 7 HR, 37 RBI

101 IP, 104 K, 2.08 ERA, .196 BAA

SR Abby Gentry 

.600 BA/.700 OBP/1.333 SLG, 13 2B, 14 HR, 35 RBI

SR Macy Hoskins 

.425 BA/ .462 OBP/.808 SLG, 6 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 27 RBI

JR Leah Hicks 

.407 BA/ .444 OBP/ .746 SLG, 3 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 25 RBI

JR Kallee Nichols 

.352 BA/.446 OBP/.775 SLG, 3 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 21 RBI

Cabot

Head Coach: Chris Cope

Cabot won the state title in 2019 and returned last season when crucial mistakes in the first inning overshadowed an overall good performance falling 3-1 to Bentonville. Cope feels his team is prepared to finish the job this time around.

“We are excited now especially that we get to go against a Central team,” Cope said. “They finished the goal to get back here and now we have one more game.”

The Lady Panthers completed an undefeated run through the 6A-Central that includes the aforementioned victories over Bryant, while falling only twice in out of conference contests against both 5A state finalists Benton and Greene County Tech.

Like Bryant, Cabot has been highly successful at the plate with 34 combined home runs and is batting .382 as a unit. While that will need to continue, it is no secret that the team will go as Akayla Barnard goes. Barnard is coming off an exceptional performance in the Lady Panthers' 1-0 semifinal victory over Rogers in which she retired the Lady Mounties' final 18 batters, including 15 strikeouts.

“When she is throwing good it makes the team better and they want to do good for her,” Cope said. “In the last two games I think she realized she was going to get focused and finish what she started last year to try and get that first inning out of the way.”

Statistical Leaders

SR Akayla Barnard

.514 BA/ .544 OBP/ 1.181 SLG, 4 2B, 1 3B, 14 HR, 42 RBI

101.1 IP, 173 K, 1.17 ERA

SR Emma Scales

.389 BA/ .574 OBP/ .694 SLG, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 15 RBI

JR Emily Titus

.481 BA/ .494 OBP/ .961 SLG, 11 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 32 RBI

JR Emily Whitman

.351 BA/ .500 OBP/ .754 SLG, 8 2B, 5 HR, 17 RBI 

SR Graci Hock 

.403 BA/ .444 OBP/ .493 SLG, 4 2B, 1 3B, 15 RBI

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