TWO LADY BEARCATS TO PLAY FOR UARM

On April 5 the Booneville Lady Bearcats took on Cosssatot River on the field of the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain in what was a home game for the Lady Eagles.

As it turns out, two Lady Bearcats were actually playing on their future home field.

That’s because third baseman Brooke Turner and catcher Joleigh Tate announced via social media posts on Tuesday that they will be suiting up for the Lady Bucks next season.

Turner said she and Tate made a trip to UARM in Mena with Bailey Stringer, a Lady Bearcat assistant coach who is also a former college softball player – and from Mena ironically – on Monday.

It was actually assistant coach Chad Simpson who pushed Turner and Tate to UARM by reaching out to UARM coach Tracy Neal.

Neal invited Turner down for a visit on either of two home playing weekends, but both were filled with prom activity, Turner said.

That meant this week was the best chance to visit and Turner talked Tate into going along.

“I said you never know, said Turner. “They showed us around. I didn’t expect much but I like the hometown feel and the girls were super nice and coaches were down to earth.”

Tate agreed.

“It felt homey, like just a little bit bigger than Booneville High School,” Tate said of the school.

“I kind of thought why not play two more years of softball. I enjoy softball,”
Tate added.

Turner, Tate and their teammates also took in a double header on Tuesday and used the UARM practice facility in advance of the Class 3A Region 1 and, hopefully, state tournament appearances. UARM won both games.

“We saw (Neal) after practice and went out and said we’d like to play there,” said Turner.

“He told us to think about it,” Tate said. “And after practice we told him we’d like to play for him.”

Monday’s visit also meant both girls had to postpone an appointment to set her course load for their first semester of college.

“I was just going to go to UAFS and be a student,” Turner said. “I had to pick what to do Monday.”

At UAFS the plan was to work towards becoming a radiologist, which isn’t available at the junior college, but Turner said she’ll work toward it through the prerequisites.

“I’m going in with no hours so it works out for me,” she said.

“I had a meeting set up Monday at Tech but I decided to skip it,” Tate said.

Tate said she is going in with 15 hours.

“I’ll take some gen ed classes and get my associate’s degree then start the agri part (at Tech),” she said.

Turner had also talked with Neal last year and said he remembered her.

Offers were made and on Tuesday and were accepted about 7 p.m.

Turner is hitting .477 with eight doubles and a team leading 31 RBI this season while Tate is batting at a .406 clip with six doubles, three triples, two home runs and has driven in 25.

Tate also has a .991 fielding percentage, has thrown out four runners trying to steal, and has picked off one. Turner has a .957 fielding percentage and also logged one relief appearance in the circle.

UARM is an NJCAA Region 2 member. The Lady Bucks are 30-27 on the season.