Sports

Elkins moves on to 3A state semis

By Jeremy Muck/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Sunday, May 11, 2008 7:28 PM CDT

The beat goes on for the Elkins Lady Elks.

Elkins is headed back to the Class 3A state semifinals, defeating Horatio 6-2 Saturday afternoon at Regional Park.

Hannah Powers was 3-for-3 with an RBI single and scored a run. Maddie Davis had a two-run double in the fourth inning. Holly Dingledine was 1-for-3 with an infield single. Mandie Keith was 1-for-3.

“The short game was more of our game today,” Elkins head coach Paula Wheeler said. “Some days, it’s the long game and some days, it’s the short game. Today, I’d say that it was the short game that helped us out the most.”

Amber Caywood struck out 11 in seven innings, giving up two runs on five hits. The senior ace has recorded 21 strikeouts in two games at the Class 3A state tournament as the Lady Elks look to win their second consecutive state championship.

Elkins led 3-0 going into the bottom of the fourth before they scored three runs to help put the game away. Davis hit a double to left field, which scored Jessica Kimball and Keith to give the Lady Elks a 5-0 lead. Powers then singled to center to increase the lead to 6-0.

Horatio scored two runs on a fielding error by left fielder Morgan Strong in the top of the fifth. Wheeler went to the pitcher’s circle to talk to her team after the two Horatio runs. Instead of settling her team down, Wheeler wanted to slow down the momentum that Horatio had created.

“I told my team it was more for the other team that it was for them,” Wheeler said. “I just needed to settle the other team down.”

The Lady Elks (28-2) will take on Smackover, a 6-5 winner over Pea Ridge on Saturday, at 4 p.m. Monday in Pine Bluff.

“They got into their mode a little bit better,” Wheeler said. “They’re not quite where they need to be for Monday’s game, but when we come back on Monday, they’ll be ready.”

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