Off rival.

It is the second game on this championship.

Thursday, as we get ready to crown another high school softball state champion.

Welcome in to the campus of the University of Central Arkansas Shock Stadium.

The place and location for tonight's five.

A powerhouse matchup between Benton and Sheridan.

Alyssa Orange alongside Kyle Sutherland and Kyle.

These are two teams who have claimed the last eight state titles.

And when you look at Benton, they're back in the state title game after falling in the first round a season ago for Sheridan.

They're looking to be back to back state champions.

That's right.

You nailed it.

Just the two standard programs in class five AA in Arkansas because you look other than the 2020 season, this is your last eight state champion score Sheridan won in 2016 to 2019, Benton 2321 to 23 and then Sheridan last year.

So Benton has been the most consistent team in class five all year.

Sheridan has been consistent but had a little bit of a slump there late April around early May.

So we'll see if Benton will continue to do what they've done all season.

Or Sheridan construct the state and win a second straight state title.

Let's look at the schedule as we continue to crown champions these next three days coming up.

We've got this game between Sheridan and Benton at 4 p.m. tonight, baseball Valley View versus Marion.

But you mentioned Sheridan and that win a season ago right here on this field against Beebe.

And it was a shutout win for the Yellowjackets.

That's right a shutout win over.

As you look at Scholar Sterrett, she got the game started with a leadoff triple.

And really that just kind of set the tone.

And these bats kept going.

And then of course, Kaylee Kilbourne was able to shut them down.

And now they're going to have Chloe Clark.

That's going to be in the circle.

That has really kind of become that ace for the lady Yellowjackets really since the end of April, early May and had a great state tournament really throwing well right now when you're looking at Benton and what they bring to the table, who are you highlighting in this lineup to pay attention to?

I think it all starts with the senior Lydia batters there at the leadoff spot.

She's a four year starter.

She's going to be their shortstops as a Mississippi College signee, and she really has made this team go just starting off, leading off each game.

And really that batting line up behind her has been exceptional.

She's the shortstop for the Panthers.

How about the shortstop for the Yellowjackets?

Someone to keep an eye on as well?

That's right scholars.

They're really again, kind of like with Lydia and Benton.

It all starts with Skyler at Sterrett as that leadoff batter, and then also at the shortstop position going to the University of Arkansas.

Of course, Hirsch and her sister Sadie is right behind her in that lineup.

And that's another really powerful one that that Benton is going to have to deal with.

With Lexi Crane right there in the circle.

Well, you see both these teams standing outside their dugouts getting ready for this one to get going.

We're ready for this one to get going.

But here's the deal guys.

It's hot right now.

But it's overcast and we've checked the radar.

And it looks like there might be some rain coming into the area.

We've got our fingers crossed here in the booth to see if we can get a full softball game out with any interruptions.

We don't want that for Mother Nature.

She's a softball fan too, I heard, so hopefully fingers crossed we can get this without some rain.

But it's going to be a fun one as we get going here in just a little bit.

From Conway, Arkansas on the other side of the break, it's time for some five softball.

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Welcome back.

We are ready to get going here as Sheridan and Benton get going for a five state championship.

Let's look at the lineup here for the Benton Tigers Lydia better we've talked about her.

She's leading it off.

K.B.

Moore, Peyton Stewart, Audrey.

Deodeok.

GUI.

Giovanna.

Excuse me.

Azzi Monroe, Cameron, Cole Gallagher, Laken Griffin, Acey Lackey, and Aubrey Jackson round out your lineup for the Benton Tigers, and there's a lot of talent here, Kyle.

It's going to be a fun one to watch them.

Yeah, that's exactly right.

And as we talked about with Lydia, Bethany's really all starts with her.

You go down this lineup and what's the thing Tyus one thing you notice is not just the crazy statistics and how successful they've all been, but they're all freshmen through juniors.

Once you get past Lydia, she's the only sophomore to decidedly contributed to the Panthers this year.

She's got A11 count on her now here trying to get things going here for the Panthers.

Oh.

They pop that one out to left for out number one.

And I'm sorry she gets it down I apologize.

And so she's standing on first base.

We've now got Kirby Marks.

And when you look at Moyes's numbers they really stand out as some of the best on this team this year.

They definitely are.

And she's one of the best freshmen in the state.

You look across all classifications just with what she's done.

543 slashing.

543 576 652 also swiped ten bags.

Behind in the count, one zero.

And the one thing we've seen an increase in over the years, especially with these left handed batters, Kyle, is is that drag bunt slap.

But to try to just get some momentum, it was in the game a long time ago.

But I think you're seeing more skilled players have this approach to kind of help move bases.

Yeah move bases.

And there's also two you're going to see for both teams that we've got some power Slappers I mean, I think you look at a scholar stare at she's got eight home runs and I think you believe Sadie might be I can't remember if she is or not as well.

But you look at just basically both of these teams that, that's kind of becoming more of a theme as well as we see a lot of slapping, but there's some that hit home runs to, well, there's so much I think you can do now with the control.

She lays that down to the shortstop, and that ball gets past the first baseman into the dugout.

So that is a ground rule double.

She'll stop at second and Bethel will stop at third.

And just like that no outs.

And Benton threatening here with runners in scoring position.

That's just another way that the Lady Panthers can beat you as they take advantage of mistakes.

You got to play dang near a perfect game to beat them as they have proven all season.

Now here, batting third for the Panthers.

Audrey.

Deji of the.

Giovanna.

Am I saying that correct to Giovanna?

I apologize for mispronouncing at the top of the broadcast.

Didn't interest.

She's a sophomore and, getting some interest from some of the in-state schools, batting 450 on the year, 28 RBI.

Look at clean up spot score, run for her team, get the first run aboard here and we knew this one was going to be exciting.

We knew this one was probably going to be a game where runs were going to be a premium offense was going to be a premium.

And right off the bat, you could tell Benton wasn't hold anything back, just going to attack as much as they can to try to get some runs early.

And that's a swing and a miss, a pass ball.

And there it is.

Your run right there to give Benton one.

Nothing lead.

There's two mistakes in the field right there that Benton has taken advantage of.

And then it gets them their first run of the game.

And Lydia Bedford's.

And not too shocking that she does lead the team in runs scored because being the leadoff batter.

But that's her 58th of the year and plays like that just as good as a base hit.

Because now you've got Kirby Marks right there on third base and just a quick little group there in the circle to tell everyone, relax, it's early.

It's just the top of the first.

Game back the Panthers still looking for their first out though.

Popped this one deep into center off the wall.

That's going to score another run.

And she comes sliding into second base.

And right now Benton having no problems on the offensive side of the ball here against Chloe Clark in the circle for Benton.

And just like that it's a two nothing ballgame.

Still no out scale.

Yeah.

And that's you know Benton obviously both of these teams are used to being here with Sheridan winning a state championship on this field last year, Benton the year before.

But that's one thing you got to question really in the first inning especially how are the nerves going to be.

And Benton just another game right now for them.

This is Audrey.

Giovanna I apologize.

That was Peyton Stewart there in that number three spot.

But here she is now at the plate.

Oh, Peyton Stewart was actually the transfer from Bryan actually when she was a freshman.

Was on that Bryant team that upset Bentonville and then beat Cabot in the state championship.

So a little.

Stand off a little bit of that change up there.

A little high one and one for Audrey.

Two and one.

And we mentioned Chloe Clark in the circle for Sheridan.

This is where you just got to rely on your pitches, rely on your skill set to try to get it out here.

Some ground balls.

Easy plays for your defense.

And there's outnumber one.

But that's still going to push Payton over to third base.

Yeah this is Chloe.

She'll work.

She works about high 50s, low 60.

Curveball change up.

Here's a look at what's around Chloe Mason.

Wilson.

Skyler.

Sterrett.

Cooper.

Terry.

Maddie.

Ballantine Jayden ashcraft Sadie.

Right there in center field and Emma Harrell in left field.

That is the crew around her.

She's got Marley Lancaster.

That is the battery today for Sheridan and Lancaster and Clark.

I know see right fielder number 23 Jamie.

And full player coming up the she'll be playing her college softball on this field.

She's just a junior but committed to UCA I'd say along with the Sterrett sisters.

Along with cam, they're the fast.

Some of the fastest in Arkansas.

Talking about that slap, she was able here to punch it into center left field.

That was deep.

She makes the catch and that is out.

Number three Sheridan gets out of the inning here.

But Benton striking first two runs in the top of the first will be back is Sheridan.

It's ready to bat.

You know I think sports are really big to a lot of people.

And because it's an important part of our fabric and our community.

And the one good thing about what I've seen is it's high quality production.

You know, you think of a small communities all over Arkansas.

It's a big deal that they can turn on the TV or DVR or whatever and know they're going to get a quality product.

And so I think it just expands the, the focus of what PBS is doing.

You know, Arkansas PBS is doing a great job.

And and I think it's part of education.

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I see Sharon Sheridan now looking to see what they can do offensively here in the bottom of the first.

Here's a look at your win.

Rock automotive batting order for the Yellowjackets.

Skyler stare at Sadie's stare at following her sister Mason Wilson Marley Lancaster Jaden Ashcraft Chloe Clark Cooper, Terry Avery Reed and Emma Harrell.

That is your lineup for the Yellowjackets.

In the circle for the Benton Panthers is Rexy Crane.

Kyle.

Yeah, great.

Great pitcher.

That's really made a lot of strides from her freshman sophomore year.

She was primarily a curveball pitcher last year, but has really began to work on her drops.

She'll work about 6162 on that and also throw a change up in well, we've talked about her enough.

And here she is, Skyler Sterrett to lead off the senior shortstop who is committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks.

She's one of the top 25 infielders of her class.

And that's according to On three sports.

Just a talent here for Sheridan.

And she'll get to be a Razorback next season.

But she would like to finish her year off as a state champion and get another ring.

And as I mentioned at the opening, I mean, she was she really set the tone with the lead off the game with that triple.

You know, her a triple for her is maybe a double for most people who rounded those bases.

And that really just got him going.

So let's see if she can do that for them.

Again, I love that you mentioned her speed by the way.

State championships.

She's won in the 60 meter, 100 meter and 200m.

So I think what we're trying to say is she's fast.

Yes.

Very fast.

I think that was maybe that drop ball right there that we saw from Rexy.

That's generally kind of the main one that she is starting to use this year.

Made some adjustments from, from mostly a curveball as a freshman, the note said she also won titles in the long in the high jump in five.

So a well-rounded athlete, Courtney Dye, is going to get on the hill to add to her freshman class a season ago.

But again, here in the state championship game, got A22 count in the bottom of the first.

And that is a fair ball off the third baseman's foot.

That is going to be like a she just I believe that's going to be a hit there for Skyler regardless.

She's standing on first they were debating on sending her to second.

You wouldn't debate that with just anybody.

But when you guys she kind of turned and looked there.

Yeah.

When you got the one I did not do, I actually asked her.

I talked to her right when she, when she had committed to Arkansas.

And I asked her, I said, you know, you're going to get there right around the time that Reagan Johnson will be leaving.

And I could see her as a center fielder if she's not, in short, as Coach Dive, we'll talk to you about that.

And she said that she's kind of keeping her options open, possibly playing infield or outfield.

But that's good to know.

They are going to have some holes there as she then steals second base safely.

And good attempt there by Payton Stewart behind the plate to try to gun her down.

But that's not an easy task to do.

At all.

It seems like she just feel like she takes 6 or 7 steps in the blink, maybe even faster than the blink of an eye.

In the box now, Sadie stare at the freshman, her sister.

And that's got to be really cool as a senior to play one year of high school ball with your sister.

They have acts, they played together, and Sadie has always played up, according to scholar.

So they've played together their whole lives.

That's how good I mean, just a very athletic family, their brothers going to play college baseball, I like it.

Who runs in the family?

None of my sisters play.

I played, but none of my sisters wanted to play.

They tried and they didn't really didn't really love it like I did.

So I know I never played on a team with my sister, but that's got to be really special.

I was talking with Coach Hoffman, I guess their dad is actually talking about.

I guess we're digging into their family history here, but their dad is a pilot, and Scott Coach Hoffman told him, well, you know, Skyler can still probably beat you in a race, even in a plane.

That's how fast she is.

That is quite a compliment from dad, for sure.

It's A21 count on Sadie, her sister, standing in scoring position at second.

But Sadie, getting that bunt down.

Well, there is third baseman on.

And she's what?

I love the base running here very aware of kind of what's going on on the field.

I love the aggressive nature of that.

And right now, very similar to what Ben had at the top of the inning.

You've got runners in scoring position and no outs.

I think they knew the bounce coming there.

It looks like, as immoral, just wasn't quite able to gobble it up.

And when you do that against the snot, not to just continue harping on the speed, but when you do that against someone like a Sadie Starrett or scholar Sterrett, it's typically going to be maybe an extra base.

Well, we talked about this with Benton just loving again, coming out here, attacking right off the bat, trying to be as aggressive as you can offensively and Sheridan having no problem answering now as Mason Wilson steps into the batter's box.

A great head back up the middle that is going to land.

Bounce off the wall in center field and that will score this stare at sisters.

And just like that Kyle we have got a tie ball game.

And that is the kind of talent.

That's the kind of ball game we expected this one to be.

We're an inning into this.

You said it and we two teams and you look back really especially over the past decade in particular, just all the success, all the championships that these teams have had.

So it's not shocking that we're pretty much at A00 ball game again, tied up and, a great hit.

You know Mason Wilson, she's she's going to miss happy college as well.

She's a commit.

And and she's got a big bat that Coach Hoffman has talked about since her freshman year.

The Sheridan catcher Marlie Lancaster now at the plate.

And that was a bases clearing double for Mason Wilson.

And just like that, this game is back to two squares around to bombs.

That one goes foul for the first strike.

Yeah Marley G she had a lot of shoes to fill with of course now she's catching.

But they lost their third baseman, Mary Lim, to a, to a torn ACL in basketball.

And so, that was another thing that Coach Hoffman had told me is that they really needed another big bat in that lineup.

And she's been the one that really stepped in here at that cleanup spot.

Lays down the bunt cleanly.

Well done.

Executed well there by the Benton defense for out number one.

But now you've still got a runner sitting there at third base.

A potential of the 20 game leading runner there.

Here's a look at the defensive line up behind Rexy Crane, Azzi Morrow Lydia Bethel, Aubrey Jackson, Laken Griffin, Cameron Cole Klinger, KB Moore, and Audrey De Giovanna in center field.

There.

Peyton Stewart behind the plate.

Lexi, Peyton Stewart and Rexy have really formed a bond here this year.

Just a really solid battery that has given a lot of opposing batters fits.

Swing and a miss for.

Strike number one there.

And the one thing too outside of that ball by Skylar Starrett bouncing off of the third baseman's foot.

They've just had base hits.

They're putting the ball right where they need to.

Oh, it looks like we're going to get a little bit of a pickle here.

They tag her.

The attempt is no good and she is out at home.

That is a big time play to clear the bases with no damage there by Benton.

And I love the aggressiveness on the base pass.

But.

I feel like that was supposed to be maybe a little bit of a hit and run action.

That's it.

Looks like Coach Hoffman was is pleading his case there at home plate.

He stepped right out of the batter's, out of the, third base box and was play there and still played in this case.

Sheridan coach head coach Scott Hoffman there.

And do you think he's arguing interference?

I think that's blocking the play.

That's what it initially looked like.

The motions that he was making when he first ran up to the home plate umpire.

Here's a replay.

Now obstruct it.

Maybe obstruction arguing obstruction because yeah that's it's that's a little dicey though as the catcher when you're trying to make a play and the ball is coming from that left side of the of the field, you're just standing where you're about to make the catch.

It just unfortunately standing in front of the plate.

They get together and talk about it and still say it was a clean play.

So here we are now, looking.

Here we go.

Now that.

Morris.

Has two outs now for Sheridan and.

This is Jaden Ashcraft at the at the plate.

Their senior center fielder.

She had a really big postseason last year.

And I know that that's one thing that they were really wanting to see a little bit more of that in this game.

You might.

Swing and a miss.

And that is strike number three.

And that is going to do it for the bottom of the first.

But we've got a tie two two ballgame as we head to the second.

And if this is any indication of what this game is going to look like for us, we are in for a treat.

The second inning after this.

I have some glad tidings to impart.

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I'm still surprised at how good I am.

Jane Austen was my sister.

I didn't think I would ever study medicine, but here I am.

Absolutely delicious, especially straight out of the oven.

I have never seen anything like this.

I think we have sufficient cause for celebration.

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I do too.

I'm a big fan, especially the French fries.

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I think I heard West say he's a Baconator guy.

When I was watching you on the one day game and I don't know, I like them all.

I like the mushroom burger too.

Here we are now in the top of the second.

This is Lincoln making Griffin.

Yeah, one one count for her.

Seven hole hitter I mean, you look at their even the bottom of their lineup.

Everybody's hitting over 350.

And it's just just a loaded one through nine.

Yeah.

Very very impressive stats.

Just 365 is what Lincoln is batting right now.

And.

Tries to push that one through.

Well done.

That's the speed down the base pass that you love to see.

And putting it just there for the second baseman where they're going to have to have a little trouble trying to make that play cleanly.

So and now you got the A-hole AC Lackey, the designated player.

And I mean, they they're just getting her bat in the lineup because she's one of the better hitters in in the eight hole.

Right.

There's Benton Panthers head coach Heidi Cox and for them, you know bouncing back after what happened in 2024.

And they've gone through a lot.

Yeah.

To be able to kind of see.

But they they had won three straight up until that early exit a season ago.

And that was a big thing I think Alyssa was they had you lose a Alyssa Houston and especially that 2022 classic.

Alyssa was 2023 of course, but they had a lot.

This was a team that went undefeated in 2021 and 22.

That just doesn't happen in this game.

Very, very, very like just extremely rare.

And then they graduated all of those.

And so now you got let's we talked about at the top of the game Lydia Betters is your only senior now.

So they could be very well on their way to another run.

But there's also a lot of youngsters on the Sheridan team that want to have something to say about that.

You got to love when you have that talent that's young, that's got experience.

And she lays down the bunt beautifully.

They're safe at first.

Well, exec you did.

And now you've got runners on first and second no outs.

And Benton picking up right where they left off an inning ago.

Bang bang there.

And Cooper Terry is at second base.

She, she was there a starting off this year.

Been battling some injuries.

So they put her in the field and yeah, really close.

That's all I'll tell you.

That was really a little bang bang there.

Yeah.

Like that's okay.

All right Kyle, you said it, not me.

I'll go back and watch the.

That was the replay though.

We play on.

Come back now.

Back to the top of the lineup here.

And Lydia Bedford.

And this is what she likes.

She's got runners now on third and second and an opportunity to knock in some more runs here for the Panthers.

Yeah, I mean as a leadoff hitter she's got 41 RBI.

That's that's pretty high fastball that's going to score another run.

And it is now A32 lead for Benton.

And that's about as easy as you can make it for a team to score a run there.

Yeah that's right.

And getting another plate in another one there.

You know this is kind of one that I thought coming into this that we might actually have a little bit more of a pitcher's duel.

But, I mean, you know, both pitchers are doing a good job.

It's just, you know, we've had a couple of things here in the field that have happened.

And, you know, both teams are still trying to settle in, I think.

But Lady Panthers, they're just really coming out and doing what they've done all year.

Marley Lancaster working hard back there behind the plate.

That one I think it just slipped through her legs that past ball that scored that run for Benton.

But still now it's a.

Three two game.

And we're asking for Sheridan Benton the they played a regular season non-conference match up back on April 21st.

And Benton won 5 to 3.

Let's go back.

Up!

At third draws the wall.

So she makes her way down to the first base line once again.

Benton, now with runners at third and first.

What do you think the probability here that it's going to try to steal?

It wouldn't shock me because she's got.

She leads the team with 15 stolen bags on the year.

So yeah you know but two runners in scoring position gave him walks.

He was trying to get some more runs for her team.

Tries to lay down the drag bunt there to no avail.

So she'll come back.

Try it again.

Cbd's got 51 hits on the year.

She's just had an incredible freshman season.

Well executed there.

Right back to the pitcher.

And what a great heads up play there.

She knew exactly where she wanted to go with the ball the minute that it was hit.

That's quick thinking in this game.

There's no time to react or think about what you were doing.

Able to go straight home there.

And I don't necessarily know if the runner anticipated them going home with that play, but that prevents another run from scoring.

Yeah, it was really just a great presence of mind there by Clark.

And get the lead runner there.

You still got one on.

But you know the one that was 60ft away.

You've already taken care of that one.

Very well executed by that Sheridan defense.

Payton Stewart now up to bat.

Let's go to the plate.

And I said in the first inning she's got a really blood rocket squeezes that one down the line I don't think you get a place that any better that is going to score a run KB Moore extending up safely at third.

You've got Stewart sitting at second one literally as I'm saying big fat.

That's when it made connection.

I think.

Squeezes that one down the left.

And even just from her swing in general, the power that she creates through that middle part of her body, that is where you're getting so much of your power from.

And.

A very, very impressive at-bat there for Payne Stewart.

You've still got runner two runners in scoring position here.

So head start off to a really good start to Obama.

This is Audrey de Giovanna at the plate now grounded out in her first At-Bat today.

Hops this one over to the left side that is caught and that is out.

Number three.

But more damage is done by the Benton Panthers.

It is A42 lead for them as they now take the field and share it and see if they can answer once again as we roll on here from Conway.

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Welcome back.

Good to be with you from Central Arkansas.

As we get going here in the top, bottom of the second.

Excuse me, between Sheridan and Benton, Benton just put up two runs in the top of the inning.

Sheridan now trying to answer like they did in the bottom of the first Kyle.

That's right.

And we start off the bottom of the second with pitcher versus pitcher Wesley Clark in the box against Rexy Green.

Good hit there by Chloe.

That one looks like it's going to drop down.

And it does bounces off the wall.

And she stretches it for two no problem for her.

And just like that picking up where her teammates left off at the bottom of the first.

And she is standing on second base in scoring position with Cooper Terry coming to the plate, you said.

And Alyssa me just response that you got to really credit.

I know that they still have some work to do as far as putting runs on the board, but that's his lady jackets.

They're coming out and they're trying to punch right back, just like they did in the bottom of the first.

Well, you have to in this game if you're going to keep up, if you're going to compete for a title, you got to make sure that you're going blow to blow with the other team.

It's not a boxing match, but it kind of feels like one.

This is interesting because Cooper Terry is up, up to bat and I, from what I've been told by Coach Hoffman, she's a she's batted less than a handful of times this year because of injuries to her shoulder.

So, that was one thing that he mentioned to me was that he was going to make sure and get her and that bad at because she wanted to do it in her last game as a senior.

You make a really good point.

She's only played in five games, had seven at bats.

And so that's why maybe some of these numbers, when we tell you that she's only had three hits and she doesn't have any home runs just to RBI, but battling that shoulder injury, but it means a lot to her to be a part of this Sheridan team and try to help win a, state title with them.

Was down the block.

Well executed routine out there for Benton, but now you've got a runner standing up on third.

I will have to say I love has made it clear how the teams we've watched earlier today and the teams we're watching today really use the small ball.

Really methodical offensive approaches.

It's not just, hey, try to hit home runs or base hits.

We're we're manufacturing some offense and I like it.

Yeah.

And they're going to use their strengths.

You know Coach Hoffman has done that since he's this is his fourth year at Sheridan.

Tamara Howard had done it.

You right before him.

That's when she won those four state championships.

And so and and so she had done that when, you know, during her time there with those four straight and.

Yeah, that's why they do what they do.

They just play to their strengths.

This is Avery Reed here, designated player for the Yellowjackets.

Right back up the middle.

Easy catch there.

Safe.

Sometimes those plays are so tough right.

And that's just a reflex reaction play to be honest with you.

Right back to the pitcher.

That's why sometimes you just catch it before you even realize you catch it.

You don't even know what's out.

You just stick it up in self-defense, basically.

And that was perfectly executed.

There.

Sheridan lucky not to get picked off there at third.

Emma Harrow, the left fielder for the Yellowjackets.

Now going to round up the lineup before we get back to the top.

And as we mentioned, a runner on third base here for the Yellowjackets trying to see if they can cut into this Benton lead, she's one of those power slappers of the day.

She's been anywhere from the five who kind of bounced around from about the middle of the lineup to the back half, and they describe her as a table setter, just a sophomore, and she can bite.

And when when she, gets in front of Skyler, stare at a lot of good things can happen.

Lays off of that one for ball number one.

Now, the nine hole has a reputation from some as being the worst hitter on the team.

Whereas watch out watch out now.

Well well I know I know you're going.

No no.

They look at it as they look at it as being another leader.

Yeah.

That's kind of the way that they describe her.

That is another strike out there.

As we in the second inning right now.

Benton, with A42 lead over Sheridan, will be back in the bottom.

Top of the third here.

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Welcome back.

Okay.

We like to play trivia around here.

I'm a big fan.

Hope you are too.

Kyle.

Here's our question.

Who won the first fast pitch softball championship in Arkansas State history?

Don't give the answer away.

If you know we're going to split to see if our audience knows it too.

So to see if, you know, we're going to give you the answer here in just a little bit.

I have it on a spreadsheet that I'm not going to look at.

I think I know the answer, but I'll I'll keep it to myself for the audience.

They appreciate that.

Yes.

Yeah.

I want to make sure and make it fun for everybody.

Let's go throw.

I won't give any way any hints.

We promise you.

Here we are in the top of the third.

It's been an exciting one so far here in Conway.

AC Morrow up to bat here for the Panthers.

Trying to get things going here offensively.

Once again, she's got A21 count on her.

Now.

Pops this one up.

Her routine catch there for the second baseman for out number one here in the third Cameron Cole Klinger coming up now for the Panthers speedy Cameron Cole clay I think that's actually the first time that Panthers did not get the leadoff hitter on the board.

You talked about Cameron Cole Klinger here, earlier in the game, and just how dynamic of a slap hitter she is as she uses her speed.

She'll be playing on this field as a college player down the road at UCA.

That's right.

She's really a true utility.

I mean, I've seen her play, I've seen her catch.

I've seen her play first.

Outfield.

She is a true utility.

Seeing what she can do here now with A11 count.

And that's the kind of hitter you want right here in the middle of that lineup to kind of keep things going there, have that kind of strength and speed and ability right here in the middle of that lineup.

And sometimes that's where the magic happens.

If you're able to get things going here to cycle back to the top of the lineup where you usually put your strength.

But I think you were talking.

And I agree with you too.

Sometimes that number nine hitter is like a second leadoff hitter and, keeps that momentum going, cycling through from the top to the bottom of the lineup.

Right.

And then, I mean, just two batters past cam that with AC Lackey.

Her dad's a hitting coach and she's got a great back and end of that eight hole.

So I mean when you got hitters like that in the bat, especially seven, eight, nine, that's usually a sign of a really, really good team.

And you can look at the batting averages and tell that for sure coming into this game.

Cole Klinger batting 459.

An impressive batting average there for her.

And her ability to get on base as well.

512 her on base percentage tell you let's you look at the outfield there and we got a really good crowd.

And I pulled in a little after three.

The stands were already full.

So these towns are showing out.

Cole Klinger takes her walk right.

Fans knew what they were getting into today, Kyle.

They knew her.

They were going to be in for a showdown.

And it's been that pretty much so far here in this game between these two powerhouses is trying to find that next state title.

Someone will get it by the end of the night.

And hey, if I didn't have anything to do on a Thursday night, and even if I didn't have an affiliation for one of these teams, I'd come out and watch some good softball.

Yeah, this is one of the better.

You look at this one and then Harbor and Bentonville.

That's going to be a rematch of conference foes.

And there's a lot of heavy hitters.

I mean, just this game just continues to grow every single year.

Laken Griffin scoring one of the four runs for Benton on the scoreboard.

Now back up the course.

A lot of these girls here playing against each other all these years, they know each other playing with and against each other on the travel scene.

These coaches know each other extremely well and a lot of mutual respect.

But on days like this, they obviously that's when the friendliness gets put aside for a little bit, at least for two and a half, three hours.

Quick meeting there in the circle from head coach Scott Hoffman there for Sheridan and Heidi Cox giving her batter a little bit of encouragement there.

Word of advice as we get back going here, I think for Time state champion 2014 and then that 21 through 23 run with the Lady Panthers.

Yeah.

It's another strike on Lincoln.

Her first strike to two and one.

The count here.

Oh.

Swinging at that low drop ball.

That one.

She kind of didn't like it.

Sometimes it's hard to hold back when it looks good out of the hand.

And then all of a sudden it just drops right to.

It is hard to hit.

Stayed off of that one.

Felt a little bit better about that one.

As you see in the background, Cameron Cole Klinger making her way to second base, picking that up.

Well, Alyssa, I touched on it earlier.

I'm not going to stamp it with approval, but I would say between cam, Sadie, and Scholar stare at I mean, you arguably got the three fastest girls in the state.

Well, I'm not going to say V because I haven't seen everybody.

But if you're a betting man or woman, you you're it's a pretty safe bet that we've got the three fast as possibly Griffin takes her walk because now they've got two on one out here for Benton.

And yeah we were talking about that two speed so important in this game, especially with the way that teams are playing right now and being aggressive with the way that they approach their offense.

And it looks like we're making a pitching change here for Sheridan.

Yeah.

Cooper Terry Cooper Terry warming up in the circle.

We'll take a break and we'll tell you all about her after this.

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All right.

Sheridan.

Yellowjackets.

Making the pitching change.

Bringing in Cooper.

Terry now into the circle.

Moving her over from second base.

Now pitching.

And Kyle, she is a unique pitcher who brings a lot to the table, hoping to see if they can kind of throw off these Benton Panthers hitters.

Drive.

She started off the season as the ace and kind of some injuries have, put her playing in the field and just.

She's got a Bluebird pitch.

Alyssa.

That's her fastball.

It's about 6162.

And Coach Hoffman kind of compares it to a two seam fastball that goes up and, also at a screwball that's around low 60s as well that she'll use on lefties.

Typically.

All right.

Well, very early move.

Not necessarily sure he wanted to make that move so early, but he does hear Coach Hoffman bringing her into the circle to face AC Lackey her first batter.

And that is ball two for Lackey.

Cooper.

She's definitely, she's been through with the injuries but stuck with it.

Loves this game.

Just a real tough kid.

And playing her last softball game of her career, trying to get one more state championship.

Well, injuries has really been a story for Sheridan this entire season.

I'm sure you've talked to coach, but she said six seniors have had major illnesses or injuries torn ACLs, lupus, a broken jaw, wrist and shoulder surgeries, juvenile arthritis.

It's almost like if it could have happened, it did happen for this Sheridan team, and they've had to battle through it with Chloe Clark.

That started off pitch and they weren't sure that she was going to be able to.

She had had some a surgery and and they weren't sure that she was going to play, let alone pitch, you know, or so they've, they've really had to fight a lot, but they just they haven't lost trust in each other and they certainly haven't lost fight.

That's that next man up mentality.

But also really battling team mentality.

I think the big thing there's AC Lackey.

Oh that would have been a wonderful catch but just bounces out of the glove.

I think the ground might have impacted that a little bit, but that is going to score another run for Benton as Cole Gallagher comes around to the score and looking at that replay, she almost had it, but it almost looked like it bounced off her chest.

Guys, that was a great as Jayden Ashcraft.

It right in was great effort.

But yeah, it looked like the computer bounced.

It bounced off something.

I know that.

And that's really what affected.

Of course it was really hard as it is because she had to really sprint to get under it there.

But also too, when you got Cam Kellogg, Cole Gallagher running the braces and heading for home, that's that's usually going to end up in Benton's favor.

Lackey.

Now, at first.

Griffin at second.

Still one out here for Sheridan.

That's a hard catch to make.

And sometimes I remember as an outfielder.

Do I want to dive forward?

Do I want to slide with my feet?

You know, exactly how do I want to approach this ball.

And sometimes when you're in the middle of it, you don't really have much time to think.

And those are hard plays to make, especially when your momentum is going forward like that.

Which direction you want to take it.

And the big thing is she stopped that ball in front of her.

It could have been worse if that ball would have gotten past her.

Kyle, I think you might have had another run score, or at least you know Lackey standing on second base.

Yeah.

That's right.

And they're already just going to need to regroup.

And Coach Hoffman is in the circle.

And he's very passionate guy.

And he's telling his kids look we've got to make sure.

And we did.

We got to dig deep and respond like they did in that second inning.

But just, you know, things right now are certainly in the momentum of Benton with a three run lead.

Well, that's exactly I think what you're what you're telling your team right now.

If you're Coach Hoffman to take a deep breath, relax.

It's early in this game and is the top of the third.

And we still have opportunities here.

You've got an out at any base.

You've got time.

You've got the offense.

You know you can come back into the dugout and do, do some damage with your offense if you get it going, but you just kind of have to settle down and not let Benton take advantage of what maybe feels like a big momentum, shift in their direction right now.

See us to calm down as defense over Jackson and his pitcher, Aubrey Jackson.

Stepping into the batter's box.

There.

Albert Jackson, just a sophomore.

You just again, you look past Bethel at the leadoff spot.

Freshman, junior.

Sophomore.

Junior.

Junior.

Sophomore.

Junior, sophomore.

And it's it's a bright future.

Yeah.

Very bright.

And right now not too shabby of a president either.

So got a lot to look forward to.

If you are a Benton softball fan right now, you're just hoping for another title.

Well, that was the main question.

After winning three straight, there's naturally people what's going on with Benton.

They lost in the first round.

Well I mean when you play 1516 sophomore and freshman, sometimes that's just going to happen.

You got to learn.

And they certainly have.

Bunt nicely laid down collected there by Terry.

But she is safe at first.

So everyone is safe.

And the bases are loaded for the top of the lineup.

And Lydia Beth, third and every time she's come to the plate, except for, of course, outside of being the leadoff batter here with no one on, she has had a lot of opportunities to do some damage offensively with runners in scoring position.

That's right.

And for how she's been seeing the ball lately, you know that she is just licking her chops because like you said in the second straight inning, that she's had someone in scoring position and she's got a chance to bat them in here.

That one kind of painting the outside corner there for strike one.

Out.

You can tell now the way that they're setting up behind the plate.

They're trying to see if she'll get her to chase that outside strike.

Set her up nicely with that first strike on that outside corner.

See if she chased this second one.

That's good discipline there by Lydia.

Not two for ball one, then ball two.

I think Lydia's a little more disciplined than that.

Yeah.

Just go chasing pitches.

Yeah, but one way high and outside like that one.

Is three straight balls.

And so we'll see here what Terry is going to do with this pitch.

You don't want to give her anything that she can do damage with.

But you also don't want to walk her because you don't have anywhere to put her.

They don't have a choice.

They walk Terry that is going to bring in Griffin.

And that is another run for Benton.

Their six today as we've still got bases loaded.

One out and KB Moore Snell to the plate.

She she's reached base at every At-Bat.

And she's feeling pretty good in the box right now.

Ball one.

Left fielder number 19 Katie Lloyd's.

The top of the lineup between Bedford's more sinister.

That's four hits right there with Stewart having two.

And right now Terry's just trying to find the strike zone.

And take a deep breath.

This is where you kind of go back to relying on your fundamentals and your mechanics.

Again, you don't want to get anything that they can get Ahold of, right.

But the bases are still loaded.

Give your defense maybe an opportunity to turn a double play here.

There it is.

Strike one on Moyes.

It's kind of like basketball.

You just want to see the ball go through the hoop once and you're feeling well there's that.

There's unless unless you hit a grand slam you know there's no four run play.

You got to just chip away, chip away.

And first off it starts getting out of this inning.

And there you go.

The ground ball.

They go home well executed right on time and again a great heads up play there by this Sheridan defense gets the lead runner out at third to prevent another run from scoring.

That is the second out of the inning.

And now as a defense you can relax.

You can take a step back.

Just get that routine out here and get out of this inning.

Yeah that's definitely relaxing.

You know for Terry, just to be able to know that, you know, maybe just get like some weak contact that can produce a fly out and then you're out of the inning and then your offense can get back to work and try to get this thing back to what it was.

But you still got bases loaded there with that fielder's choice.

They got the runner out at home and Payton Stewart another opportunity for her.

And.

And of course she's the she's got that.

She had that really impressive hit back up through center field earlier today.

Really impressed by the power she brings into the box.

She's got two balls on her early.

Yes.

Oh there's a strike for Terry.

I don't know if Cooper, even if she can just get the out that's going to obviously have a lot of confidence.

But she's able to strike out, especially someone that's two for two and Stewart that's going to bring even more weight on that rise now three and one.

And as I look at my scoresheet here Kyle just overall in this game two strikeouts.

It's how hard it is to get these batters out.

Ben doesn't have one right now.

And they've been able to to execute at a high level their offense here.

And that's a pass ball for ball four.

That brings home Jackson.

And she's really Cooper's been trying to really attack that outside corner.

You've seen a lot of those that are kind of high in a way.

So she's come in and she's trying to get that.

Courtney I noticed and you know the one day game they were getting the corner a lot.

And I don't I mean I don't think that has anything to do with this, but that maybe one thing where she's just trying to figure out exactly the ones that she's going to get and not.

Center field, they're going to go to order.

This is definitely going to.

Audrey, did you Ivana here up to bat, take strike one.

Oh, she's been on a they're not a bit of a tear, particularly in the second half of the season.

But looking for her first hit today.

Since this one what a catch there.

Well done there by Skylar Sterrett because of course she did that shortstop coming up clutch there saves a base hit and some more runs.

But Sheridan's offense got some work to do as Benton continues to extend their lead in the third.

We head to the bottom of the inning.

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All right.

Here we are in the bottom of the third.

Top of the order here for Skyler, Sterrett, and Sheridan.

Let's answer our trivia question, though real fast.

Kyle, who was the first fastpitch softball champion in Arkansas State history, I'm going to say Bryant, if not Bryant, have been, oh, Sheridan in 1999.

How about that is that was the Yellowjackets are trying to see if they can get some more runs on the board.

And Skyler ended the top of the third with that great catch for short.

And I have to apologize to the audience.

I am so sorry that I had it written down that she is a senior.

She is actually a junior who will attend the University of Arkansas here in a few years.

So my apologies, which means we're not quite done seeing her in a yellow jacket uniform.

I just got too excited.

Okay, wait a second.

That's a former softball player.

I was just ready for her to get to the hill so Courtney Dye can continue that dynasty she's got going up on there.

So I apologize.

What to say.

He needs that.

He needs his shortstop, at least for one more season.

Maybe I wanted her to graduate early.

Maybe if I just put it into the universe, it was going to happen.

But again, my apologies.

She is a junior, but she is something to watch for sure as she is now up in the count three and one.

Yeah, and that was we saw really just her all around game with that play that she made defensively.

That was really what I heard first when she was a freshman that oh there she takes the walk draws the free pass.

And that was really what all I kept hearing about is speed speed speed.

And obviously that was pretty evident from the beginning.

But then I watched her bat in my okay, she's got a pretty powerful bat to, and then you watch her in the field, like with the place you just made to get that third out.

So just a complete player and the Razorbacks are going to be really lucky to have her when they have her in two years.

Her younger sister Sadie stepping in, and I'm still trying to see more of the speed there.

It is on display and I don't even think the ball was caught by the time she touched second base.

That is how fast she is.

That is how impressive she is on the base pass, and she is now standing safely at second base, which is usually a pretty good guarantee if you let her get on.

Talk with the coaching staff.

You just listen to them talk about Sadie, and she's just not your typical freshman.

Kind of the same things that they were saying about Skyler two years ago.

That's a bond.

And I think to to give Skyler, I'm sure some credit as the older sister, when you see the way your older sister goes about her business, the success she's having, it's a really great example where you aren't a freshman when you walk in here, despite how old you are and what grade you're in because of who you followed in those footsteps under for so long.

And, players like that, athletes like that kind of just go with their own pace.

Sure.

And when you and of course, when you're when you have God given ability as well.

And I mean, I'm sure that just shooting hoops in, in the driveway that was a competitive thing between them, but also tic tac toe.

Yeah.

I mean, anything, whether it's, you know, who's going to take the trash out faster or whatever the case may be, but also to play an up like Sadie has for two years, she's played on the same teams that Skyler has.

So when you're playing a year or two up, that just helps you advance even faster.

Yeah, there is strike three painting that outside corner.

That is a very, very excited.

Me very excited in the circle there for that out.

That's big time again if you're Benton you're just trying to keep the Yellowjackets off the base pass as much as possible, especially the Sterrett sisters.

And so Mason Wilson now approaches the plate with one out.

And she just froze her up right there.

And really good frame to there by Stewart behind the dish.

Oh that one was close.

That one was a little closer than I thought.

Is that a replay we could look at.

Because I want to see exactly where she was.

Yeah.

She's safe really.

Heads up.

Slide there by Skyler to slide in the back of the base instead of coming straight at it.

And that's just another thing right there.

There's knowing what to do as a base runner.

Just another implement of her game.

That's right.

Making that third baseman easy.

Morrow have to reach around in behind her body to make that tag, as opposed to in front or right, right where that ball was thrown.

And she's doing everything she can to try to help get some offense in some runs here for the Yellowjackets.

Yes, that.

Mason Wilson fouls that one back for strike one.

Yes.

Erickson.

As you were talking about the only, I think two strikeouts in the top half of this inning.

And that's kind of with both Clark and Rexy.

They're not necessarily going to.

That one was a really good pitch.

I think they wanted that one.

That one looked pretty.

I don't know, she I think she's telling herself.

Yeah, she's kind of at least she knows where to go now.

At least not necessarily in that spot.

But you know Rexy, she's she's not necessarily going be one of those.

It's going to get 1415 strike.

I'm not saying she can't.

This one popped up left field.

Skyler tagging up here the throw.

Not in time though.

Close but hard to throw out.

Skyler Sterrett as we have noticed.

And that is the third run of the night for the Yellowjackets as they try to continue to chip into this Benton lead.

But you're right, with Lexi Crain, what we've seen so far is a lot of consistency.

She's got three strikeouts on the day right now, but she's making hitters battle.

Yeah, that's it.

Just makes them battle and gets a lot of weight contact.

And that's some of the conversations that I've had.

As you look at a lot of you know, there's a lot of pitchers around the state that they tend to get, you know, 1215 a game, not just kind of dominate there, but she dominates in her own other way, getting a lot of weak contact and of course, having a great defense behind Marley Lancaster.

They're able to run out that for a single.

It brings up Jane Ashcraft here once again, that speed on the base pass.

Is what you're looking for.

But both of these teams have that kind of speed throughout the lineup.

This one punch through the middle there past the second baseman.

Oh, she thought about it.

She thought about rounding that second base and going to third.

But she stays still.

And so now, runners on first and second for the Yellowjackets.

So yeah.

So you think about how this inning started right there at the top of the batting order.

And the stare at sisters really got it going.

Mason Wilson on the sacrifice fly scored Skyler Sterrett and now Marley Lancaster's on first Chloe Clark here with two owls trying to help this team rally out a few more runs.

By the time this inning is over and.

They go grab it.

Just continuing to chip away again.

The Yellowjackets aren't going anywhere.

They've got a really good offense, Kyle, that can generate runs in a hurry.

But already behind the count.

Oh, and two.

One upstairs.

And that one fouls that one off.

But I was talking about this in the first game, where I felt like the strike zone was a little bit wider than maybe some of the batters were used to in these instances, it's close enough to just foul it off.

If you don't like it, just foul it off.

Try to find one you like that one on the outside for a ball.

I think.

That was one of the first things that I think I noticed.

You and you in West, of course, have pointed out in the first game, but you got to of course, give them credit for the consistency they were.

They were consistent pops this one up as well, over the fence.

Uncatchable.

So she stays alive.

There.

They're all foul balls for the first base dugout.

Thank you.

Those poor kids, they want to keep it.

Yeah but they're not going to most of the time if you take a foul ball back I don't know.

I don't know if you could take a foul ball from that sweet little girl.

She's so cute.

Look at her.

Well, I don't know.

Not a skilled answer.

And what that ball back.

Oh look, she's.

Oh, poor thing.

I give it to her.

She's got that cute little bow.

You can't have kids getting fussy over there.

No.

Yeah, but if you give one.

Let's.

Your friend is over there pulling her away.

She's like, no, wait a second.

I think that's mine.

She's determined.

Look, her little friend is going to say, no, no, come on now look.

She's like, look, can I have it?

I don't blame you, girl.

I keep convince and maybe we'll see if they'll give it to her.

Three year old pops this one up.

No problem.

They're in right field.

That's going to end the inning.

But the Yellowjackets add one more to the board.

It is 7 to 3 here.

We've played three and we're back for more after this one.

Run on two hits.

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Association.

Earth.

Jones.

Browns graduate.

Welcome back to Shock Stadium here on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.

It is a 7 to 3 lead right now over for Benton.

And this is our Arkansas PBS student all star Kyle.

Arkansas PBS student.

All star is Green County Tech senior first baseman Marlee Spears got a 4.2 GPA, plans to attend the University of Arkansas to major in biology.

The Arkansas PBS student honors all star for five A's.

Congratulations to Marlee.

And again it is a 7 to 3 ballgame here between Benton and Sheridan.

The Panthers are on top.

Looking to add some more here in the top of the fourth and it was a really productive lineup.

We almost went all the way through last inning, in the third inning to see if they can try to do it again, but we were talking during the break.

You mentioned 30 team hits.

Yeah, between these two teams, and we're just now starting the four minutes.

Right.

Benton's got eight and Sheridan five.

It's not incredibly shocking just just watching how these innings have turned out.

But then when that's when that score popped up, I'm like, oh man, we're already that three three innings.

But then again, when when these two teams play each other, you just never know.

So Maisie Morrow here at bat last time up popped up to second base.

I just like.

Cooper Terry still in the circle.

They made that change in the third.

Sticking with her in the circle.

Two one count for more.

And for the most part, it's been typically Cooper Terry and then Chloe Clark.

They've also got Riley Helmholtz, a freshman that they'll throw some as well.

That's kind of their name.

But Clark and Terry have been their name too.

If you're Sheridan right now, you want to try to get a clean inning.

They've been out on the defensive side for long periods of time.

You'd love to see a one, two, three inning for them to get that offense going again as they pop this one up.

Foul in territory, but not enough room there.

So close.

But Morrow is going to have another chance.

Some might have had a little bit to do with that with Lancaster, but you look at here's our player, I'll go with the umpires here.

Want to give a, some quick notice to our umpire staff, Eric Wallace behind home plate first baseman.

The first base umpire is Jean Bowser.

And then at third base, Nathan McGowan.

Let's work hard back there.

Yes they do, yes they do.

And I was noticing before we went to break, there was a little bit of a glare there from the sun that's hitting that turf, and that's going to be something interesting to watch here.

As you know, you get a pop fly out there.

The sun is an issue.

Yeah, that's really hard specifically for those outfielders as that sun is starting to set here in Conway.

Not much you can do about it.

Use your glove to kind of shield it.

But other than that, especially with turf.

Yeah.

Where that glare comes off of the field like that is Monroe punches that one into right center field to leadoff for the base, hit.

That's now three of four top halves of the inning that Benton has got the leadoff runner on right.

So again Sheridan looking for just an easy inning defensively.

And Benton's got other plans as we now have Cameron Cole Klinger back up the speedster slapper trying to get on base and move people around.

It's it's that's just kind of the thing.

It's hard to get momentum in these games when you feel like you're just out in the field for long periods of time, but listen, I think I told you before the game, and I've used this many times with both Cole Gallagher and scholars.

Stare at it.

I can't tell you how many games I've been covering, and I've had my scorecard down and I'll look down like, oh, that's a ground ball.

And then you look up and it's like both of them, they'll be standing on first base.

It's just so common, so fast.

I wish I had that kind of speed.

I wasn't slow by any means, but I was man.

I was just not to have that kind of section and like, I could, I was not.

I've never been one of those people that can bend over and touch my toes without bending my knees.

And so I'm not going to tell you I can do the whole poem, but that's okay.

Yeah, I was speed was definitely not my thing.

Watch as a ball.

And you can tell that sun starting to set it.

It's not the best angle.

You get a chance.

And there you go.

You're talking about speed right there.

Not many people can run out that ball.

They're down the first base line.

But perfect position there by Cole Gallagher.

And that's what you want to do.

If you're running out of that left side of the plate, you put it right down there where you're making them have to feel it and then turn their body to make that play.

That's right.

And that's a perfect example of what I was just saying, and kind of what you were just describing.

It's in most cases that's an out.

But when you're welcome, Cole Gallagher, it's a it's a singer.

So Lake and Griffin see what she can do here with two of her teammates on.

Thomas Brown out there on the try the ball.

Did she pull that back or did she go oh she attempted it I'm going to see I didn't see it.

Oh God.

She was it.

You know what I. I focused.

Blake.

And again we talked about her.

She is responsible for two runs.

Lays that bunt down beautifully down the third base line out at first but extends her teammates into scoring position there.

That's just the first out of the inning.

But again Benton just doing it any way they can to move runners around.

Manufactures some offense here.

And we've seen them hit some really solid off base hits.

And we've seen them lay down a three feet.

But yeah, that was a really good because third baseman playing up really, really close as you would expect.

They knew what was coming.

But she did her job nonetheless.

And advance the runner 60ft.

Morrow getting a little hug there from head coach Heidi Cox.

Hey coach sitting on third, Lackey, how's it going?

I'll tell you, Heidi Cox's, one of the nicest human beings I know.

They can also scare you to death.

I mean, she I know a lot of coaches like that.

She is as good as gold and, you know, hot.

Coach Hoffman's the same way, but, they got some intensity to do.

But that's probably why they're so successful.

AC Lackey now at bat facing Cooper Terry.

And we've talked a lot about Cooper Terry.

And I know you know her coach real well.

You you mentioned some shoulder issues and that is so hard especially as a pitcher to bounce back from.

And you have to commend her for putting in the work to get back and be able to be a part of this team this year.

That's right.

She she's just a great teammate.

She loves this game.

And her dedication to the game has been evident.

Just what she has overcome injury wise.

But you know last year when she did pitch she was dominant.

But she just wasn't able to just because of like as much because of injuries came in to this year as their ace.

But the labrum shoulder injury was kind of an issue throughout the year.

And it's kind of done.

It's messed with her a little bit throughout this season, but you know, still just gutted it out and stuck with it.

Doing the best she can here against AC Lackey.

It is A31 count.

And the one thing I'm noticing Kyle is a lot of her pitches are drifting to that outside corner.

And now I'm starting to wonder, and maybe you can kind of give me some insight on if she's just missing her placement a little bit.

I know you sometimes want to get them to, to chase, but maybe just from again, as you've mentioned, what you're going through sometimes just kind of missing that placement on that outside corner, I think that maybe she goes, I, I know, I don't know this for sure.

I would imagine, you know, maybe that injury has taken a little bit off of her, off of actually, because I think it is on her glove side.

So that does kind of help with the, you know, of course, the throwing and everything.

But I think that maybe more so just kind of figuring out what spots she can hit and what she's going to get right.

Lackey selling that one off.

Got a full count now would be great.

I know Terry sitting here said, man, I'd like to strike her out right about now.

Help this Sheridan defense.

Ground out to second base.

That's going to score one more run to.

That is the second out of the inning.

And that's going to score Morrow from third.

And now it is 8 to 3 in favor of the Panthers as we now have Aubrey Jackson, the nine hole hitter here for the Panthers coming up to the plate with two outs.

And now you've got one runner there sitting on third base.

And another opportunity to extend this lead back to your point.

They're just very effective at playing small ball right now.

You look at the very first that the game there.

And they were barreling some into the gaps and all that.

Now they're just advancing runners and doing it effectively.

And as we've mentioned, the bottom of the lineup doesn't mean much.

As she lays down that bunt doesn't beat out the throw there.

But again Benton adds one more to their count.

Their lead now 8 to 3 and Sheridan still trying to chip away here at this lead as we head to the bottom of the inning in Conway.

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Welcome back.

Great to be with you Alyssa Orange alongside Kyle Sutherland and Kyle.

It has been a fun one.

And Sheridan here trying to get that offense going.

Not for lack of being on the base pass, but trying to just cross one over the plate a couple times and seeing if maybe here in the bottom of the fourth they can get it done with Cooper Terry leading them off.

That's right.

So another the start leading off the inning.

Pitcher on pitcher.

There you go.

Right up the middle asking who shall receive Terry hits it right back up to middle of a lever.

Lead off with a base hit.

That brings up Avery Reed here.

The designated player for the Yellowjackets, and she popped up to the pitcher her first time at bat.

But seeing what she can do now here to see if the Yellowjackets can get something going offensively.

Just the reminder from earlier.

She told coach that she hasn't batted a lot this year.

I mean, like not much at all.

And she told Coach Hoffman, look, I need to be in this lineup.

I want to get a hit for my team before I graduate.

And that was essentially what she told him.

Like, I really want to try to do this.

I'll worry about the pain later.

And we just want to win a state championship today and I'll do whatever I can to do it.

Okay.

Reed with just 11 hits on the season, one home run to her name and ten RBI, but like you mentioned, it's just this point.

It's a kind of a do or die mentality.

When you head into this state championship game, it's bigger than you.

It's bigger than just the team.

I mean, there's so much they're representing there with that Yellowjackets name across their chest.

I think the thing right now is, is yes, we keep going back to the point of chipping away, chipping away.

And that's what you want to keep doing.

You don't want to overthink it too much.

But the thing is, is Benton seems to be getting at least one or 2 or 3 runs here over just about every single inning.

So that's where it's got to kind of, oh, double double play.

No, I think she was pulled off the back.

But you're right.

That's not what you wanted there at Reed.

To the second baseman.

They get the out at second unable to turn the double play.

But that's one out for Benton Sheridan still with a runner on base as we now go to Emma Harrell.

She struck out her first time at bat.

But Benton has played at least one run here.

Like last inning was just the one.

And they had done 2 to 3 before that got up.

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No cameras, no witnesses.

That was convenient from the beginning.

That welcome my cats.

And I'm pretty sure three of them were against the lefties on that outside corner.

I know two of them.

More for sure.

Swing and a miss there by Skyler.

You could tell she kind of wanted that one.

One for one today a single, a walk.

Also scoring a run.

Doing what she can on the base passes is Skyler today nobody.

Nobody throw down to first.

Not in time.

But you want to keep Avery Reed honest down there at first.

And then.

Swing and a miss for strike number two.

And she's got nervous.

Rex.

As I say, Rexy kind of cramping.

Stared a little bit there in the box.

It's almost like her swing is maybe a little off balance with those pitches.

Yeah, because she went inside on her both times.

And I mean scholars.

He was trying to hit that thing to to Mayflower.

I mean, or I guess that would have been technically to the Worcester, but yeah, that was two in a row that Roxy went inside and got her.

Don't let her swing swinging on those.

On a pitch, she pulls that one ahead of that one.

That's another pitch where she was like, I don't like this, but I'm going to foul it off.

I'm not going to let you strike me out.

Here in the bottom of the fourth.

Two outs.

One on for Sheridan.

Good patience there.

Now she's got a full count.

Now she's going to battle here.

In the.

Beautifully placed.

Right to, unfortunately, where the left fielder is standing.

But if you're Benton.

Not unfortunate because now you're out of the inning.

No damage in the fourth.

And then just trying to keep their offense going.

Pretty comfortable right now with their 8 to 3 lead here as we've played for from Conway.

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And this is where we stand through four innings of the five a state championship game.

Benton getting things done offensively, taking advantage of some errors.

Stringing some hits together as they were able to plate run after a run in the first two runs in the first in the second inning.

Able to plate two as well in the third.

Kyle they plated three.

I mean, this is how effective that offense has been, despite the fact that Sheridan trying to stay within it.

Yeah that's right.

And you look at just all the things that you combined with base running, with the speed, with the bats, I mean everything that really Benton has done to get them to this point, they have done just about perfectly across the board.

You know, I know that Sheridan has gotten a few hints just as far as against their defense.

Sheridan has gotten a few hits on him, but really, offensively, you couldn't have asked for a much better performance.

It's been a really good showing for both teams so far, as you mentioned.

But again, it's the Benton offense that has taken advantage of some opportunities, gotten base hits when they needed it, playing a little bit of small ball.

And that's why they find themselves up right now 8 to 3 as we start the fifth inning.

And we're at the top of the order here.

Lydia better we've talked about her, but I have to.

You've mentioned it.

Lydia is their star on this team.

But every one has contributed and it's been a lot as a team effort here for this Benton team.

Lydia was around when they won.

They were that don't I mean you're still a dynasty.

But when they were winning those two three in a row.

So she got a chance to see how things were done.

And I mean, she already knew how the culture was when she came in as a freshman.

But just getting to see all that talent play with those.

And now she has been able to be that leader for this group and it's turned out really well.

And as we talked about, you looked at her lineup.

A lot of youngsters in that to for a long time.

It's great to have players like Lydia Bedford, on your team to shine.

But this is a team sport and to have the cast around her that she has for almost, you know, she shines, but not too brightly because there's a lot of really good talent on this team as she takes this walk and one of the things I think that she probably enjoys is, hey, you guys take some of this pressure off me, right?

A lot of people want to look at me.

A lot of people want to talk about me, but let's see what it you look at the 2021 and especially that 22 team.

I mean, to me, that 22 team may have been a top five, top ten best we've ever seen in the state.

And you know, Allison Houston got a lot of credit due and very much deserved.

Don't get me wrong.

But you look at the samples, you look at Scott, there's so many that you could point down the line that I know Alyssa looked at too.

And we're like, okay, you know, yes, I've done some good things, but look at what my defense has done behind me.

Look what this lineup has done.

I'm like, well, here we are now, KB Morgan.

She has been on base every single one of her at bats.

This is her fourth time.

But she sees strike two.

You see that a lot.

There might be a lot of extreme young talent, but then you got that one.

Two seniors.

That kind of is the leader of the group.

And they slot there.

They look to try to go to second.

But I think Lydia had a little bit more of a jump than they anticipated.

So Terry choosing to go to first for the out gets it done.

And now you have Bedford standing on second and that fielder's choice there.

Yeah that was by KP.

Yeah I think that was a smart play to go there.

I mean it was probably a little bit more sure.

I mean he obviously you got to think really, really quick in that scenario as we have a circle.

Yeah.

I'm very curious to see what, Coach Cox wants to talk about here.

Now, here's something fun that we haven't talked about yet.

And it's new, Kyle.

And it's the replay.

She can't ask for that replay.

You can do that in the state title game.

But I think she wanted to talk about it.

Maybe have a second opinion there.

Whether or not she was out at first and the umpires got together, agreed that she was out.

So nothing you can do about that.

Just ask Peyton Stewart to step up and have a base hit.

Yeah, like, oh, Knox had his glove off.

You don't want to be on the other end.

And you know, you saw that earlier with with Brexit where she was able to it was just positioned perfectly right off the bat to where she was able to stick or glove up.

But Cooper was trying to do that too.

And it knocked hers completely off.

And she's all right girl, you got to check it out right now.

This I think it looks like it.

Maybe.

I guess it bounced right.

It looked at what looked like the ball almost.

She tried to catch it, obviously catch defend herself.

And then it just kind of fell out of the glove.

But I think she's okay giving her teammates in high five and shaking her chalk back here.

Alice I've talked about her toughness, but you'd have to drag her off, especially being her last game.

And you're getting down close to the end here.

I mean, you would have had to drag that kid off the street if you were.

Not to be lost in all of that.

Kyle.

Lydia is now standing on third base, open two in scoring position in scoring position.

Once again and even closer now to poking their ninth run across.

They do have two out.

And we mentioned this Sheridan looking for an easy defensive inning.

And I'm not trying to jinx anything.

But this could have the potential of being as close to an easy inning as they've had defensively from the start of the game.

You know, against the righties, I've noticed a little bit high and just a little bit to outside on that opposite batter's box.

It's just that's kind of where I think she's trying to position it.

And that's where most of the the, the ones that have been called balls have gone.

Audrey, did Giovanna here.

Oh, it looks like we actually have a pinch hitter.

I apologize.

Coach Cox is known to do that.

She.

This is Chloe Bradley, the sophomore in to hit.

Oh she got a hold of that one.

And that is the kind of call you make.

That is why Heidi Cox is the head coach.

Brings in Chloe Bradley from the bench.

And she knocks a two run home run.

And just like that it is now a ten of three ball game.

How about that Kyle coming off the bench I mean she didn't even I think swing hard won.

That one was over the left field fence into the it looks like into and into the bullpen.

Well coaching matters and and you see the tall gentlemen with the shades at first base, that's Chris Murphy, their their assistant coach and also handles a lot of the hitting.

And he's very analytical.

He knows all the matchups and I guess he must.

There he is right there.

He must have seen like smiling.

He yeah he knew.

He knows because he's Chris could probably be a head coach if he wanted to.

He is he's very well respected around the state.

But I would imagine he and Coach Cox probably saw something right there where they really like that match up.

And it certainly paid off again.

That was Chloe Bradley with the home run, a two run home run to give Benton a 2 to 3 lead.

Now.

And that one caught in right center field.

That one ends the inning.

But I am pretty sure I jinxed it Kyle.

And I said this could maybe be an easy inning for Sheridan because Chloe Bradley had other ideas.

That makes it a 10 to 3 ball game.

And we are headed to the bottom of the fifth after this.

This month on Arkansas PBS.

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Dot net and Kyle, I think there might be a lot of Benton fans going to get themselves a copy of this state game today.

I think so too.

Yeah, the way it's looking right now, you know, it's I'll tell you what, I actually I'm just glad that they still do tape, because the way that things have evolved, you know, when we were growing up, it was all DVDs and tapes and stuff like that.

Now you can stream stuff.

So, you know, I, I'm actually surprised that that's still going around, but you can definitely get that once this is over.

Oh my goodness.

I believe that is Skyler Sterritt leading off here for Sheridan with a base hit.

It is indeed.

And so her speed is on the base pass as we are in the bottom of the fifth right now.

And the top of the order here for Sheridan in the in the Yellowjackets.

Just want to get something going, get some mojo going.

Sadie Mason Marley.

Those are your next three batters.

And yeah.

And the third inning was that was when they flipped the batting order.

And so that was really the last time that some really good things that happened offensively for the Yellowjackets.

So Sadie getting a hold of this one right into the glove of Cameron Cole.

Klinger for out number one Jackson get.

But you're right I mean it's been one of those things we're shared.

And it's not for lack of making contact with the ball.

They're just hitting it right at people.

And it feels like on the other side of things with Benton, they're finding the holes.

Mason Wilson up to bat now.

And.

And that's really just the reality of is I mean, Benton is just they've just kind of been doing this stuff all year.

I mean, they they have been the most complete team in class five a and I mean, beaten six AA schools.

And now gets a hold of that one but pulls that a little bit foul.

A little ahead of that one was Mason I think you're right to the one thing that I've noticed as this game is played out is it just feels like Benton just kind of.

Piles things on top of each.

Not in an overwhelming way, but in a now you look up and they just have ten runs and it feels like it's just like, you know, they they just keep adding a little bit here and there, a little bit here and there.

And then you get the two run home run from Chloe Bradley and and it doesn't feel overwhelming.

Well and that's the thing we've talked at length about there one through nine.

And you've got seven, eight and nine hitting over 360.

And then you bring in Chloe Bradley just you know she's been cheering in the dugout.

And then she hits a three run ball.

And again Wilson getting a good hold of this one.

But right to the center fielder Audrey.

Digivolve did you know you knew I was you know great.

Well I have to correct it was actually he was watching the gears in my brain.

It was working on that one.

Well, it was actually I got to correct myself.

It was a two run homer, but nonetheless, two.

Chloe Bradley had been cheering on her team, comes off the bench right.

And then smokes it two right.

And again for Mason just hitting it right to her.

Yeah not for lack of making contact and hard contact, but sometimes it just doesn't fall.

Marlie Lancaster here.

Now for the one oh count.

You know what it was?

They just brought pizza into the I got distracted the pizza.

Right.

Did they get her?

Yes they did.

That's rare, but they got Skylar Sterrett stealing second base.

What a throw there.

That's the first time I've had Hailey Stewart.

And that's the thing.

She put it exactly where she needed to.

She knew it was coming, and she said, watch this.

Let me show you what I can do here.

Behind the plate.

Well executed by Benton as they get out of the inning and we are headed to the six, we'll be right back.

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Big time.

Shout out to our camera crew out there doing work, giving us the beautiful angles, giving you the beautiful view of today's game between Benton and Sheridan.

You know, the scaffolding support for this broadcast that they're standing on is provided in kind by Legion Scaffolding.

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And they've been great at that camera work.

Tip of the cap to them working hard out there.

You want to talk about a glare.

You know those guys got to deal with it too.

You know when the sun right on them.

I do love that Skyler's representing her.

Arkansas visor there.

She knows what weekend it is up on the hill.

Super regional weekend for the Razorbacks against Ole Miss.

And yeah, I think she's on TV.

I think she does wear that pretty much every game.

And I'll say like talking to you know, obviously I know you've covered the Razorbacks at length and just listening to these recruits say the same thing about Courtney Dial and just, you know, how they how she builds the program, how she's a genuine human being.

That was really cool to hear that from her.

For some other in-state prospects that I've interviewed, you know, after they've committed.

But, you know, the fan in me is definitely happy that she's staying here.

So bottom of the six.

No, I can go on and on.

I've been here long enough to I was here before Courtney Dye took over, and what she's done with that program is impressive.

That was Camryn Cole Clegg, her.

They're popping it up into left center field.

That is the first out of the inning for Benton.

A quick out for Sheridan.

Lakey Griffith.

This 1 in 23 in conference to one of the top teams in the Premier Conference in the country.

That's that's quite a turnaround.

Yeah.

What she's been able to build.

And I had this conversation earlier this week with someone I don't think there's going to be much, if anything that's going to pull Courtney Dye pull away from what she's built at Arkansas and the brand that they have there for the Razorbacks.

And you're in the room now, you're in the conversations with the top recruits around the country.

There's no need to leave.

You lack for nothing.

And what she's done is really impressive.

And now the only thing that's missing is their first trip to the Women's College World Series.

Maybe on Sunday, we'll.

Or maybe we got a couple.

We got a couple days.

Lake and Griffin, they're the two.

Oh, count.

What a there you go.

Jumps up makes the catch there is Sterrett there at shortstop for outnumber 232.

Now it certainly helps that she's about 511 six foot.

That's that doesn't hurt anything.

But just also crazy athleticism.

Skyler's also a really good volleyball player AC lacking hero, even able to.

Wow, what a throw.

Cleans up her own error from the knees.

Makes the throw well executed.

And there's that one, two three inning that they have been wanting.

And let's see if that does anything for the offensive side here for the Yellowjackets as they are down 10 to 3.

Got a lot of work to do.

But we got a lot of softball left to play here at UK.

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Welcome back to the five state title game.

As we get ready to rock and roll here in the bottom of the sixth.

Benton right now up 10 to 3.

But we'll see if they've got some magic left in those bats.

As.

The Yellowjackets start the inning here.

That one out of the reach there of the center fielder.

That is a standing double for Jaden Ashcraft.

And that is a way to start the inning.

Kyle, that's exactly what you need.

And we talked about how they've made good contact.

They've had solid hits.

They've just been at someone.

And now Ashcraft able to find the gap there in left center field.

Just off the glove.

Just out of reach.

Yeah.

Talked about it.

I think it was in the second inning when she was at her first at bat.

They were wanting some of that postseason magic that she had had last year to come back.

And I think she actually hit one over the wall here last year and came pretty close to that.

Chloe Clark trying to do the same thing but unable to.

And that one not getting past Cameron Cole Klinger in right field.

But that does move Ashcraft over to third.

Oh, here we go, Rexy.

Let's go bear.

So one out for Cooper.

Terry.

Puts it in the five.

Cooper Terry.

Great pitch there by Rexy Crane.

We've talked about her a lot, but again, Kyle, just to reiterate, the job that Rexy Crane has done in the circle for Benton to just help with the success that they're seeing right now in this title game, when you think about Rexy, I was talking about Alyssa Houston earlier.

I mean, arguably the greatest player that we've ever had come through Arkansas.

And for her to essentially step in and be that ace as a freshman last year and then doesn't play, you know, very, very light schedules, they're going to really, really schedule tough.

And they did that again this year.

And so that's only made her better.

But I mean just you got to have a warrior mentality on that in that circle.

And that's exactly what she has.

She's got A12 count now to Cooper Terry.

And again Cooper who stepped into the circle about the third inning of this game to take over for Chloe Clark has done a really good job of trying to limit the damage.

Gave up that two run home run.

But.

She's doing everything she can to kind of help this Yellowjackets team.

Now.

Two two count on her play like you baby.

Got it.

Back down to the second baseman.

That's an easy out there at first base, but that does score a run.

So it is now 10 to 4.

As Sheridan sees another run across the board.

That is two outs now for the Yellowjackets.

You have Avery Reed coming up to bat.

And every little bit helps.

But it does.

Chipping away slowly running out of time in the bottom of the sixth.

But again, you'll take what you can get in a run as a run.

And they're valuable.

So you're hoping to try to just continue to see if you got a little two out rally in you year.

If you can get through Avery Reed and Emma Harrell, you cycle back to the top of that lineup.

And we just know the kind of production you can get there from their top three batters.

Let them do the job there by Avery to hold off there on that up.

This one dead center that will end the inning.

And they got one back.

But they're going to need a lot more as we get to the seventh.

If they want to try to steal this state championship away from Benton.

But the Panthers, their last opportunity offensively to add a few more runs on the board here in the final inning here of this five state championship.

When we get back.

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Experienced the action all over again next week.

Watch all the championship games on the PBS app.

Any time you want to.

Great there for fans and even these players who are playing the game.

Yeah.

Want to go back and watch this one one more time as we now head to the top of the seventh.

For Benton, it is Aubrey Jackson, Lydia Third and KB moisture batters to lead off this inning.

And Aubrey here, the nine hole hitter popping this one up.

No problem there for Skyler Sterrett for the first out I admittedly go back and watch the YouTubes.

Just especially like with Sheridan to get some film from last year's this.

There's a lot of those players still on this team.

Of course, you can go back and watch years and years worth of Tyler one year, eight consecutive.

Yeah, exactly.

You can go back and watch any game you want to.

So it's a great resource for fans.

It's amazing they didn't have this when I was playing.

You kind of just hope my mom pulled out her camcorder.

Yeah.

Digital.

Our moms with the digital cameras.

I got a thing we had when I was a senior, which would have been the fall of 070.

One of our football games was on TV and we thought it was just the coolest thing ever.

Mary.

Just letting that one get away from her.

That's okay.

Shake it off.

No damage done.

No one on the base fast.

And of course, Fearless Friday was about all the social media that we had back then and so it's definitely improved a lot.

It has advanced and we either that or we're just getting old.

I think they might come out and talk to her.

That's now the second one that feels like it's kind of gotten away from her.

There.

She's looking at her hand, maybe shaking it off and.

Trying to get through this inning, but a little sign of frustration there.

Understandably so.

Take a deep breath there by Terry.

Oh, good.

There we go.

That's exactly what she needed.

Strike number one on Lydia.

It's A31 count now.

Trying to stay in it.

All four.

And that is the second time.

Third time today that Bethel has walked.

And again, that's as good as a base hit right now.

Just get a runner on.

And now KB marks comes up and the left fielder trying to see if she can keep this thing going.

And the other just lays down that box and she is going to be safe again.

It's one of those things where you do you get a bunt there to that right side of the field and the pitcher there, Terry is going to have to field it, but then she's going to have to turn her body just a little bit.

And by that time, the speed of KP moises down on that first base line and she is safe.

And now you've got two on with one out.

That's a beautifully play spot there by KB.

Yeah she's on really good really good bunt.

And you know I was say Lydia of course likely her last at-bat as a Benton lady Panther.

She has walked four times today gotten a hit but walked four times.

That's the kind of patience you want at the top of your lineup.

Here's the power in Peyton Stewart.

We've seen it once and see if she can get Ahold of another one.

To work out there is really throwing some good stuff this time.

Another ball.

And we've talked about this.

You know Terry, she's trying to paint that outside corner, see if she can get them to chase just a little bit.

But I've had to tip my cap here to the Panthers batters.

They're very patient, very disciplined at the plate.

You're not going to find them chasing much.

They haven't displayed that at least in this game.

Yeah.

And that's what we keep going back to is just talking about them in really all phases of the game.

And it's just I mean frankly Alyssa it's hard to find a weakness really from everything that they do.

Just their their patience and approach at the plate, their base running just everything across the board.

And so she draws the walk.

She's got bases loaded now and it looks like Coach Cox is going to put in another at bat or just talk to her batter here.

I don't know if she's going to make.

Nope.

No she's not just getting.

I thought she was going to do one of those, pinch hitting.

She is.

No, I mean, she did it last.

She did get it turned out pretty well.

Maybe she would think about it, but instead you have the sophomore outfielder and Audrey did.

Giovanna, I've actually joked with her that sometimes I need to bring some extra scorecards just to make sure I have a room for everybody.

I'm sure, she laughs.

But if you're that deep on your bench, why not?

Yeah, exactly.

Let's go.

Right.

Gets a hold of this one.

They get the tag.

Do they get the out?

At first it looks like they called her.

Say, from where we're sitting.

Bethel scores their third.

Excuse me.

Scores from third.

All right.

I believe they called her safe.

The viewer looking at the cameras a little tilted, so it's cut off on first base and I can't really see it.

But the replay had a couple of those really close.

That is close.

And as they say, the tie goes to the runner.

So she's standing on first base right now.

If they're talking about it the championships there is a official review.

It's meant to be used to you.

We are in official review at this point.

This camera got knocked, so I can't look at it.

It was like.

Makes feeling across my eyes.

So here's the thing, Kyle, which is pretty cool.

And this is new.

And this is a thing that they're going to try out here in the state during these state tournament championship games is this new video, video replay guidelines.

It's available in the final inning or any extra inning.

Each coach is allowed one challenge for inning and challenges are limited to safe out calls at any base, which is what we're facing right now, whether or not she was out or first.

And here's a look at the replay.

Know.

There it is.

And that is close.

I don't think you can get much closer, to be honest.

Is it in her glove?

I think it's down.

It looks.

That is not that is not a review.

I want to look.

And after looking at it, they go back to the field and they say the call is upheld.

So she is safe at first base.

Saying yeah.

I just don't know that there was indisputable evidence.

Yeah, that's one of those things.

They have to have really indisputable evidence to overturn that call.

And, a really cool feature that the coaches are taking advantage of.

And, the NFL is granted the Arkansas Association and Activities Association permission to become an experimental state for video review.

If people are wondering, well, where did this come from?

So, coaches were told about this a few days ago.

We were told about this potentially a few days ago and, a really cool feature for them.

But I think that's exactly why you have something like that in a play like that in a championship game in the seventh inning.

When you have a robbery going second.

That order, did you know that at all?

Yeah, I believe it was Audrey and Ashley Morrow here up to bat now.

So you've got runners on third and second for Morrow.

Two outs since this one.

Well, hit but straight to left and that is going to do it for the top of the seventh.

So here we go.

Sheridan with their last opportunity.

They've got work to do.

But they're going to try to do their best.

See if they can rally here in the bottom of the seventh and have a comeback win for a state championship.

Otherwise Benton three outs away from another state title.

We'll be right back from Conway after this.

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Yeah.

Well welcome back.

Kyle.

We have reached the bottom of the seventh inning here in the five, a high school softball state championship game between Benton and Sheridan Benton.

The Panthers with an 11 to 4 lead over the Yellowjackets.

And Emma Harrell steps into the box for Sheridan, trying to see if she can start a rally.

They got a lot of work to do here, but she's seeing what she can do here from the bottom here of the lineup and then send it back to the top.

And that will Benton will.

If they do end up closing this out, they will be the fifth team in state history to win seven state championships.

I'm sorry.

Sixth will be the sixth.

And Bentonville is will try to be the seventh later this week.

Yeah that's right of course Sheridan also with six as well.

That's right.

And Sheridan both have six state championships to their name.

And Sheridan won a season ago.

Look to try to be back to back state champions and I to Benton of course won in 2021, 23, 22 and 23 before falling in the first round last season in 2024.

But bouncing back very well.

And man, Rexy Crane has just been steady in the circle.

I don't know if we've given her enough credit for how steady she has been for this Benton team.

That's kind of Rexy in a nutshell.

What you just said, she might not get the credit that she deserves because her numbers are going to be phenomenal.

You know, it's not going to be, like I said earlier that, you know, zero walks, 15 strikeouts.

But she just her defense obviously is really good too.

But she gets a lot of weight contact.

And she's just I think really going from that curve to like more of a heavy drop has helped her game a whole lot.

We're back to the top of the lineup for Sheridan and Skyler Starrett here, fouling that one off to stay alive.

She's got A22 count on her monster back.

But yeah oh I apologize.

We're still at Emma Harrell.

My bad.

But Rexy just I mean she's just going to get better, especially the strides that she's made in the last year.

It's just going to get better and better for.

Good hit back up the the middle by Emma to get on and lead off here for Sheridan in the bottom of the seventh.

And so now we go to the top of the lineup.

And Skyler Sterrett.

And for Skyler this is her fourth at bat.

She is now face Rexy Kroon four times.

And this is this is it for her.

She's trying to help see if she can rally this team down seven.

Really?

Go, go one for two with a walk.

Tries to lay down the bot there.

Has scored two runs.

At this point I'd be like, I don't know about bunting, but it's Skyler.

So her speed makes up for that.

Yeah.

Benton trying to turn two.

But the speed.

They know they don't really have the option.

They get the out at second.

But Skyler safe at first.

They don't even try to throw it to first base because of her speed, but they get the out.

Now they are two outs away.

Kyle from winning a state title.

And in steps, the sister, the younger of the two at Sister Sadie here, seeing what she can do at the plate.

Sadie, another one that's going to be a great one for years to come.

There goes Skyler this time.

Payton Stewart's throw not in time.

And Skyler safe at second base takes away that force out there.

I mean, she was already at the bag before that ball was anywhere near.

The shortstop fielding it.

It's it's impressive.

Her speed and kind of even more impressive.

Payne Stewart was able to throw her out a few innings ago.

That's right, I it's the first time I've actually seen it happen.

Sadie takes advantage there.

So here comes Skyler at home and she is called out at home.

What an effort.

I love the aggressive nature there by Skyler and it was going to be a bang bang play.

Let's see if we can maybe pull that back up.

Sadie's safe at first.

A little bit of a bobble there, but a really heads up play by Aubrey Jackson to no, she doesn't have a play at first, but she's got a play at home and that is such a tough angle.

Skyler sliding, trying to slide around and grab the back of that play, but just not in time.

Really good play there.

Credit to Coach Hoffman at third for Tatum.

Stewart you got to be aggressive in this.

You have to I mean you.

And if you're going to be aggressive by anyone or with anyone it's with Skyler.

Absolutely.

So now two down one away.

Mason Wilson at the plate A11 count for her first bottom of the seventh.

Sheridan trying to make some magic happen.

Contact there.

Back to Rexy Crain.

And I feel like that was fitting there Kyle Crain getting that final out of the game and Benton on top of the high school softball.

Five a world.

They have another state title to their name, their first since 2023.

And congratulations to the Benton Tigers.

They won this 111 to 4.

When we come back we got a trophy to give out Kyle.

We got some hardware to hand out.

With.

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Welcome back.

Still a season to be proud of for Sheridan, who came into today 24 and six.

But it is the Benton Panthers who are the winners of the five state championship.

An 11 to 4 win for the Panthers.

And that celebration has been worth it.

It has been quite the season for them.

Such talent, top to bottom for this Benton team.

And they get to take that lovely piece of hardware, which I'm sure is kind of happy.

Kyle.

Yeah.

Back to Benton with them to celebrate.

And they get the banner.

They get the trophy, they get the photos and we get the highlights here.

It started early in the first.

Just getting that offense going early to score two runs in the first.

They then jumped to the second.

They're able to score two more.

And it looks like this one might be close because Sheridan was going blow for blow for them and making it a pretty tight game.

But Rexy Crane in the circle able to really shut down the Sheridan Yellowjackets offense and for Benton Kyle, all they needed was their offense.

And you chip away, get a couple you know, a home run and next thing you know you've got 11 runs.

Especially at the beginning there as both teams were settling in.

And I think that Benton really took advantage of some shared mistakes in the field.

And that's the thing though, you don't really have to give them anything.

They just pretty much just do it.

And they've done it all year.

Scored a lot of runs, been great in the circle with Rexy Crane there.

So yeah, that's just that's what Benton does.

They expect both of these programs expect championships.

And Benton is bringing home another one to add to that.

Very loaded.

That was another look at that Chloe Bradley home run.

And there is the final out of the game by who else.

Rexy Crane.

And that is going to do it.

Been Panthers your winners tonight and a fun ballgame here Kyle for both of these teams.

And it's been a fun one playing this game alongside you.

The official championship apparel and memorabilia for this season are available at Arkansas High School sports.com.

Again, you want your official championship apparel?

Just head on over to Arkansas High School sports.com.

It has been fun.

We've got two softball champions in the books, the Benton Panthers and the Taylor Tigers, and we've got more softball on tap for the next couple of days.

But we've also got baseball to play.

And coming up, we've got another state championship game on deck here on the Arkansas PBS Sports Network.

It's going to be fun.

We've got the five day championship game between Valley View and Marion.

Stick around.

We're going to go grab some pizza.

Kyle and I got a great broadcast on deck for you, and we will see you here tomorrow as we crown more softball champions in the state of Arkansas.

For Kyle Sutherland I'm Melissa Orange.

Thank you so much for joining us.

And stick around for baseball.

And we will see you tomorrow.