By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
In a rematch of last year's Region 4 Tournament first-round game, the Sylvan Hills Lady Bears leaped to an early 13-1 lead Thursday but then had to hold off a furious Forrest City rally to take home an 18-12 win in girls' softball at the Sports Complex.
Sylvan Hills and Forrest City met last May at North Little Rock's Burn's Park in postseason and it was the Lady Bears ending Forrest City's season with a 5-2 win.
Thursday, the Lady Bears led 13-1 headed into the bottom of the fifth inning.
That's when the Lady Mustangs began making some noise of their own.
With two outs, the lady Mustangs scored eight runs to pull within 13-9.
Sylvan Hills added two more runs in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 15-9 and pushed three more across the plate in the top of the seventh to lead 18-9.
The Lady Mustangs rallied in the bottom of the seventh for three runs to produce the final.
Sophomore Tyeshia McDaniel led the Lady Mustangs by scoring three times on two hits and one error. Abby Townsend scored twice for Forrest City as did Kimberly Hoots.
Krystal Weaver, Jessica Lewis, Leslie Jayroe, Samantha Green and Kanetra Pendleton scored single runs each.
Sylvan Hills scored three runs in the top of the first and Forrest City got one back in the bottom half of the inning to trail 3-1.
Three more Sylvan Hills runs in the second left Forrest City trailing 6-1 and seven runs in the top of the third made it a 13-1 lead.
The Lady Mustangs slip to 1-3 for the year.
In junior varsity action, the Lady Bears erupted for a 24-7 win over Forrest City in five innings.
Jennifer Ballard, Jessica Long, Amanda Renigar, Kim Ursery, Angela Williams, Rachel Sims and Caronica Randle each scored single runs for the Lady Mustangs.
The Lady Mustangs will travel to Osceola on March 27 before hosting the Bay Lady Yellowjackets on March 29.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Forrest City couldn't overcome their own errors Thursday or the Wynne Yellowjackets.
Wynne opened an 8-0 lead on Forrest City Thursday and then finished off the Mustangs with a four-run sixth inning to post a 15-4 win at the Sports Complex.
Six of Wynne's first eight runs were unearned as the Mustangs made nine errors in the game -- most of that total coming in the first two innings.
Dustin Gore went to the mound for Forrest City but didn't past the second inning when he was chased after Wynne pushed five runs across the plate.
Gore gave up eight runs on six hits and two walks before giving way to Colby McKennon.
The Yellowjackets led 3-0 after one inning and 8-0 going into the bottom of the second.
Damion Atwater helped the Mustangs avoid the shutout in the bottom of the second when he singled and scored on an RBI base hit by Marcus Hancock. Will Harris scored Forrest City's second run in the bottom of the third when he bunted his way aboard and scored on Danny Flowers' RBI-single.
The Mustangs fell behind 10-2, 11-2 and 15-2 before pushing two runs across the plate in the bottom of the sixth when Daffy Norment and Desmond Golatt both walked and scored.
The Mustangs scored their four runs on eight hits and took advantage of three walks.
Wynne was led by Cory Dildine who scored four of the team's 15 runs.
Forrest City falls to 2-5 for the season.
The Mustangs will travel to West Helena today to take on the Cougars.
Following spring break, the Mustangs will host Osceola on March 28.
by FRED CONLEY
All I can say is that it is a good thing that the Hughes Blue Devils' team members can play basketball better than any other Class AAA team in the state.
Because after what I saw last Tuesday, I am convinced that a career in the hair-cuttin' profession ain't in the cards for any of them.
I'll give them all an "E" for effort, however, for trying their hands at it.
It happened during a school assembly held in their honor for winning the school's first-ever state basketball championship.
A couple of weeks back, just after the Blue Devils had won the Class AAA Regional title and just before they opened play in the Class AAA State Tournament, senior Lonnie Davis told head coach Wes Swift if the team won it all, they wanted to shave Swift's head.
They were as good as their word -- defeating Clarksville in the state championship final last weekend at Pine Bluff.
Tuesday, it was time for a haircut.
As Swift rolled his office chair to the middle of Blue Devil Gym and took his seat, he instructed one of his players to stand directly in front of him, holding the Class AAA state championship plaque.
"It had to be where I could see it at all times," Swift said. As the clippers whirred, a mighty cheer rose to the ceiling and the Blue Devil players began to take their turns making sweeping paths across Swift's head.
Swift never took his eyes off the trophy.
It was probably for the best.
After several minutes, the cut had been finalized and Swift arose from his chair looking as if he had given no less than a dozen hungry rats the opportunity of a lifetime -- to gnaw on his head.
Little tufts of hair dotted Swift's head while larger patches remained on the sides.
It wasn't exactly a "clean cut" but as I think back, I am almost led to believe that Swift's Blue Devil players had no intentions of giving him a "smooth shave."
If you know Wes Swift, you know he is very meticulous about his appearance, from the way he dresses to the way he wears his hair.
Not that Swift wore his hair very long at all, mind you, but it was cropped close and always in place -- every short little follicle.
Swift, after brushing the hair shavings from his neck and shoulders, wasn't finished celebrating.
It had been rumored before the assembly that Swift would also dance with his team.
The rumor proved to be true.
At his signal, the stereo began to blast and Swift joined several of his players and several students in a group dance on the gym floor.
Swift may have been a little out of sync for the first couple of measures, but he eventually caught onto the swing of things and out-danced most of the students.
It was a wonderful way to finish off a tremendous 35-1 season for Hughes which netted the Blue Devils an undefeated run through the 6AAA Conference for the outright title; the first district tournament title, the first regional tournament title, the first NEA tournament title and the first state championship.
And through it all, Swift was as good a sport as you could ask for.
He should just be thankful that his Blue Devils didn't ask to shave him as well.
Swift's Blue Devils have already been invited to play in next year's Rumble on the Ridge along with Class AAAA state champion, Osceola, the only team to defeat Hughes this past season.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
WEST HELENA--The Forrest City Mustang track team enjoyed a solid outing Thursday at West Helena.
Running in the final practice meet of the preseason, the Mustangs racked up six first-place finishes.
Joining the Mustangs were Marianna, Pine Bluff and West Helena.
Senior Evan Haggins won the long jump event while Stephon Latham finished second and Montrell Ashcraft finished fourth.
In the shot put, the Mustangs took three of the top four slots with senior Ronnie Beltran finishing second, Ray Dixon third and Howard Collins fourth.
In the relay running events, the Mustangs won the 400-meter relay (Floyd Shivers, Daniel Echols, Joseph Wilson and Haggins); finished second in the 800-meter relay (Echols, Latham, Haggins and Travis Hurst) and second in the 1,600-meter relay (Willie Wade, Wilson, Hurst and Haggins).
Haggins ran first in the 100-meter dash with Echols second and Latham fourth.
Mack Hines, a sophomore, ran second in the 1,600-meter run.
Haggins also won the 200-meter runs, Wilson won the 400-meter run and Wade finished first in the 800-meter run.
The Mustangs will participate in their first ribbon meet of the season on Monday, March 26, at West Memphis.
The Jonesboro Hurricane golf team defeated Forrest City Thursday by 31 strokes in matches played at Jonesboro.
Forrest City got low scores from Chad Halbert (44) and Brian Hacker (43). Both are freshmen.
Jonesboro's Matt Sullivan took medalist honors, shooting a 36 for the day.
In girls action, the Forrest City Lady Mustangs rode a 42 round from Sarah Eldridge to post a win over Jonesboro. The Lady Mustangs move to 4-0 for the year.