LADY BEARCATS WIN DISTRICT TOURNAMENT, AGAIN

Scoring four runs in the top of the seventh inning Friday, the Booneville Lady Bearcats won the District 3A-4 Tournament, beating Hackett 5-3 in the championship game.

The Lady Bearcats (22-1), who won their 20th straight game, were the top seed from the South division and Hackett was the top seed from the North.

Going into the final inning Hackett led 2-1 on the strength of a two-run home run. Lexi Franklin answered that with a solo shot leading off the inning to tie the game.

Brooke Turner and Joleigh Tate then reached and moved into scoring position via a wild pitch and Hayley Lunsford was issued an intentional walk to load the bases.

Caroline Smithson made Hackett pay for that with a two-run double and, with Karmen Kent at the plate, Lunsford would come home on a passed ball to make it 5-2.

Franklin walked just her second hitter of the game leading off the bottom of the seventh but got the next two before allowing a run scoring double to make it 5-3.

A ground out ended it.

It was the fourth inning before the Lady Bearcats managed a baserunner against the only pitcher to have beaten them this season – 1-0 on March 16.

Hackett had threatened in the first inning but the Lady Bearcats recorded one out at home and another at third sandwiched around a bases loaded strikeout, one of seven on the day for Franklin.

After Hackett went in front the Lady Bearcats got their first run from Lyddia Franklin, who was running for Turner, on a hit by Tate, but were unable to tie it after Tate reached third.

Hackett had two aboard with two down in the bottom of the sixth but Franklin got a strikeout to end the inning.

The Lady Bearcats will now play Greenland at 10 a.m. on Thursday in Greenland in the opening round of the Class 3A Region 1 Tournament. A first round win guarantees a spot in next week’s Class 3A state tournament.