In a battle of the Lady Eagles, the Paris Lady Eagles softball team defeated the Cossatot River Lady Eagles by the score of 14-3 in a run-shortened game that ended with Paris batting in the bottom of the fifth inning. It was the final game for Paris before spring break and it was good for the Lady Eagles to end the week with a conference win.
Several Paris players contributed to the offensive explosion for the Lady Eagles. In the circle, senior pitcher Jadyn Hart continued her dominance with another complete-game win. Several players contributed offensively, but the continued outstanding play by sophomore Jadyn Wells, both at the plate and defensively in the infield continues to be huge for the Lady Eagles. Wells has tremendous power at the plate and has a cannon for a throwing arm to match from anywhere in the infield. The combination of Hart leading off and Wells coming to the plate with Hart in scoring position has been a big factor so far in the young season. In fact, it is easy to say that if the Lady Eagles have Hart in the circle and Wells at the plate, Paris has a chance to win against any team they play.
Several Paris players had good offensive games that contributed to the lopsided Lady Eagles win. Karsen Hart may have had her best game so far this season by going four for four at the plate. The very athletic Karsyn Tencleve may have also had her best day, as well. Tencleve had a triple, two singles, and went three for four with a walk. Jadyn Wells continues to hit well and is a threat on the base path anytime she gets on. In short, the Lady Eagles offense came to life on Friday, and their production against Cossatot River is what I expect to continue now that Paris is in the conference portion of their schedule.
The Lady Eagles have played a tough early season schedule with Fort Smith Southside, Morrilton, and an early conference game with Booneville on their schedule. Paris, by choosing to play a tough non-conference schedule, has challenged the Lady Eagles early and Paris fans should see this pay off for their favorite team as the season moves into the middle of conference play and into the post-season. Any coach can probably put a schedule together that would give them a chance to win more games or perhaps go undefeated on the season. But if that team gets into trouble in the post-season for the first time and has not yet experienced adversity and overcoming it to win, it could be bad timing in a “one and done” loss scenario in post-season. This is a philosophy shared by neighboring school districts who have been very successful, and I think it will prove to be beneficial to the Lady Eagles as they move into April and May.
Paris fans can find scheduling information for both the Lady Eagles and the Eagles baseball teams on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports. Both teams will not play again until the May 29 when the baseball Eagles host Mulberry. Photos from the Lady Eagles victory over Cossatot River are now available at Paris Eagles Sports, as well. Fans from both teams can copy the photos at no charge.
So, enjoy your spring break, and Resident Press will see you at the ball park on Monday, May 29 for the baseball Eagles’ game with Mulberry. Coverage of the Mulberry game will be in the Tuesday evening, May 30, online edition of Resident Press.
Enjoy the break, March Madness, and the great weather!
