After a disappointing end to their spring season, Head Coach Ronnie Sockey and his Lady Bulldogs' softball team are off to a good start in summer ball, winning their first two games against Poteau and Ozark last week. They had two more games slated for this past Tuesday at Fayetteville, but results were not available at press time.
The GHS girls finished their regular season as one of the top teams in Class 6A and a favorite to make a deep run into the state playoffs, which they hosted last month. But after a first-round bye, the Lady Bulldogs fell to Jonesboro 3-0 in the quarterfinals, ending their quest for a state title. They posted a 20-6 record.
Four seniors graduated off that squad, including the team's best pitcher in Kaila Cartwright, starting left fielder Ericka Calderon, starting second baseman Lexi Castillow, and pitcher Kimmie Colyer. But Coach Sockey has a strong nucleus of returning players for next season, plus some newcomers.
Top returnees include Ally Sockey at shortstop, utility player Rheding Wagoner, infielder Mariah Hamilton, outfielder Paxtyn Hayes, catcher and infielder Angela Price, first baseman Harley Terry, outfielders Josie Chapple and Emma McCorkle, and pitchers Haven Clements and Abbi Clem.
Clements and Clem combined on a shutout in the second game last Tuesday against Ozark, won by Greenwood going away, though no official stats or score were kept. According to Coach Sockey, he played a younger lineup against the Lady Hillbillies and was rewarded with plenty of offense and runs.
Greenwood's bats were also alive and well in the opener against Poteau (OK). The Lady Bulldogs gave up a two-run homer in the top of the first inning, but tied the score in the home half of the frame.
The score remained knotted at 2-2 until the fourth, when Greenwood added six additional runs, with several more coming in the fifth.
This past Tuesday Greenwood traveled to Fayetteville to face the Lady Purple Dogs and Poteau, also making the trip. Additional games this summer will include opponents from Waldron, Fort Smith Southside, and Wister and Muldrow, both of Oklahoma. Greenwood will travel to Poteau next week.
The summer program concludes on June 19th with a series of games to be played at Greenwood. The Lady Bulldogs will play Waldron at 10 am and Muldrow at 3:20 pm that day. Fayetteville and Waldron will also take part in the round-robin action.