By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
GILLETT -- A couple of first inning errors and a home run left the Palestine-Wheatley Lady Patriots on the short end of a 4-3 loss to Gillett on Friday.
The league loss leaves the Lady Patriots at 3-4 for the year.
Two defensive errors in the top of the first inning helped Gillett score a pair of unearned runs. The Lady Wolves added a solo home run to take a 3-0 lead before the Lady Patriots came to bat in the bottom of the first.
Jenny Loewer walked and scored and Kara Siler used a Gillett error to reach base and score as the Lady Patriots cut the Lady Wolves' lead to 3-2.
Gillett made it 4-2 in the fourth on a run-scoring double and P-W closed out the scoring in the bottom of the sixth when beth Varvil used an error to get on base and came around to score.
The Lady Patriots managed just four hits -- singles by Loewer, Varvil, Nikki Bass and Libby Martin in the game.
"We are still struggling offensively," said P-W Coach Beverly Bass. "We're still trying to adjust to the pitching we are seeing from these teams who are in their second or third year of fast pitch softball."
Palestine-Wheatley is in its first full season of fast pitch.
*The Forrest City Lady Mustangs will host Jacksonville today, weather permitting, in a single varsity game at the Sports Complex, beginning at 5 p.m.
*The Hughes Lady Blue Devils will host Osceola today in slow pitch softball, beginning at 4 p.m..
Friday's scheduled AAAAA-East Conference baseball game between the Forrest City Mustangs and Jacksonville Red Devils was cancelled due to a shortage of umpires. The varsity doubleheader will be rescheduled at a later date.
The Mustangs will travel to West Memphis on Tuesday and will host Little Rock Mills on Friday. Both dates are AAAAA-East Conference games.
Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, center, and quarterback Chris Rix, right, stand for the playing of the national anthem before FSU's annual Garnet and Gold game Saturday, in Tallahassee. Bowden, who is beginning his 27th season at Florida State, will be in Forrest City tonight as the keynote speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes' sponsored "Evening of Influence" rally at Mustang Arena. Tickets will be on sale at the door for $10 each and the gates will open at 6 p.m. Other featured speakers tonight include Arkansas State University football coach Steve Roberts and ASU assistant coach David Gunn.