LADY BEARCATS SCORE EARLY, OFTEN TO EARN STATE BERTH

Scoring nine times in the bottom of the first inning the Booneville Lady Bearcats removed any doubt about who would earn a Class 3A state tournament berth.

After Lexi Franklin struck out the side in the top of the first against Elkins in Harrison in the Class 3A Region 1 tournament she would record the final out in the bottom of the inning.

But that would be in her second at bat of the inning and after teammates had crossed the plate nine times.

At that point the Lady Bearcats (15-12) were well on their way to a 12-1 win and a rematch with Lincoln in Class 3A Region 1 semifinals.

The first run would come home on a Leigh Swint single. Swint was 3-for-4 with a couple of RBIs on the day.

Roni Tillery reached on an Elkins error after Franklin singled and it was 2-0. Swint scored during a walk to Cameron Parish before a three run triple by Kylie Lunsford (shown in a previous game) broke it open.

Still, Karmen Kent tripled to make it 7-0 and would scored on a Shelbie Myers sacrifice fly to make it 8-0.

Swint doubled home a run in her second at bat of the inning and it was 9-0.

In the second an error got another run, as did a single by Layla Byrum and the Lady Bearcats led 11-0.

Franklin then struck out three more Lady Elks, giving her nine on the day – on the way to 12.

An Ellie Smith single pushed the lead to 12-0 in the fourth and Elkins got a run in the top of the fifth.

The Lady Bearcats will play at noon Friday against Lincoln, the top seed from the 3A-1.