Lady Rabbits get second in Harrison tourney

The Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits finished as runner-up in the Ozark Softball Classic in Harrison on Saturday. (Photo by Courtney Swiney)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

HARRISON — The Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits softball team had a good weekend as they finished as runner-up in the Ozark Softball Classic on Saturday. 

Lonoke went 2-1, losing to 4A-2 conference opponent Southside Batesville in the championship game. The Lady Southerners won 4-2.

Lonoke beat West Fork 4-3 in the first round and Calico Rock 4-3 in the second game. 

Against Southside, Lonoke jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Lindsey McFadden and Jasalyn Truelove scored on a single by Maddie Pool.

The score remained the same until the bottom of the fifth when Southside scored tied it at 2-2. The Lady Southerners scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to take a 4-2 lead. Lonoke was then retired in order to end the game in the top of the seventh.

Pool led Lonoke with two hits and two RBIs. Also getting hits were Truelove, Jarrelyn McCall and Gracie Cole.

Despite getting the loss, Lonoke's Charley Jo Chesney pitched well. She gave up nine hits while striking out three. 

In the win over Calico Rock, Lonoke took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. McFadden and Truelove both scored runs.

Calico Rock scored a run in the top of the second to make the score 2-1. The Lady Pirates tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the top of the third. 

Lonoke reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the third. McCall scored on a double by Amanda Sexton. The Lady Jackrabbits pushed the lead to 4-2 with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Chesney scored on a single by Truelove. 

The Lady Pirates cut the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the sixth. 

Chesney, Truelove and McCall had two hits each. Also getting hits were Sexton and Janae Miller.

Chesney allowed only three hits in seven innings of work. 

In the win over West Fork, Lonoke fell behind 2-0 in the top of the third inning. 

Lonoke cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the third. Sexton scored on an error. 

The Lady Jackrabbits scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to lead 4-2. Madison McFadden and Cole both scored on an error. Sidney Hallum scored on a single by Chesney.

West Fork scored a run in the top of the seventh but that would be the end of the scoring. 

Chesney, Truelove and Hallum led Lonoke with two hits each. McCall, Sexton, Pool, Candace James  and Cole each had a base hit. 

Chesney got the win. She gave up eight hits in seven innings of work. She struck out six in the win.

Lonoke's Charley Jo Chesney won two games in the Harrison tournament. (Photo by Mary Elisabeth Buffalo)