By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
BLYTHEVILE -- The Forrest City Lady Mustangs gave newly-appointed head coach Pam England her first "W" Monday by sweeping Blytheville in the season-opening fast-pitch softball game.
It was also the conference opener for the Lady Mustangs.
Forrest City erupted for a 20-4 win over Blytheville.
Randal Ross scored four times to lead Forrest City while Mallory Nelson, Chari Agnew, Rishonda Deans and Rachael Sims crossed the plate three times each. Stacy Gracey scored twice and Leigh Anna Taylor scored single runs.
Nelson picked up the pitching victory.
The Lady Mustangs will host Searcy today at the Sports Complex beginning at 4 p.m.
Forrest City led 7-0 before Blytheville scored three times in the bottom of the third inning.
The Lady Mustangs ended the game by scoring 13 runs in the top of the fourth inning using five hits and three walks.
The JV Lady Mustangs picked up a win, led by Stacey Gracey and Sims, who scored three runs apiece, in the teams 11-3 win.
Gracey picked up the win from the pitching mound.
*Emily Riggs pitched a five-inning one-hitter and struck out 10 in Valley View's 12-1 season-opening victory over Piggott Monday at Nettleton.
Riggs walked just one batter. Autumn Montgomery went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while Stephanie Whitmore and Megan Rice both hit triples.
Rice had two RBIs, and Whitmore had one.
*In a game that saw every Trumann player in the lineup get a hit, the Lady Wildcats handed Greene County Tech a pair of blowouts Monday, winning 18-0 in the first game, and 14-2 in the second game.
In a junior varsity matchup Monday at the Sports Complex, West Memphis turned back Forrest City 4-1.
West Memphis led 1-0 before Forrest City tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third when Blake Davis walked and scored when Kiel Smith got caught in a run down.
West Memphis made it 3-1 by scoring two runs in the top of the fourth and added another run in the fifth.
The Mustangs loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth when Travis Holloway, Wilson Parker and Terrance Pendleton all got on base, but couldn't score.
The Mustangs will make their first road trip today when they travel to Osceola.
Game time is 4 p.m.
MARION -- Despite a 3-2 lead in the second inning and a two-run home run by Murray Watts, Jonesboro lost 13-5 to Marion Monday in high school baseball.
Marion tied the game in the third inning, and scored five in the fifth to make it 8-3. Jonesboro responded with two in the sixth to get within three, but Marion erased any hope of a comeback with a five-run seventh.
Marion will play Forrest City Wednesday at the Sports Complex and the Mustangs will travel to Jonesboro next week.
Forrest City is 1-1 for the year.
The Palestine-Wheatley Patriot baseball team will host Clarendon today at 4 p.m., in the season-opening game at P-W.
The Patriots will host Barton on Thursday.
The P-W Lady Patriots will open the fast-pitch softball season today at DeWitt.
Game time will be 4 p.m.
Dulin's Sports Academy of Memphis, will host a pre-season baseball clinic on Saturday, March 13, at East Arkansas Community College.
There are still several openings available.
The clinic, for youths ages 6-12, will start at 9 a.m. and continue through 12 noon at the EACC baseball field.
Clinic instructors will focus on the basics of throwing, batting, base running and fielding.
Registration may be made by calling (870) 633-4480 Ext. 261 or 333.
The fee for each camper is $45.