The Ava Lady Bears played six softball games in four days, and made it an even split, winning three and losing three.
Most important, however, was the SCA win over Mtn. Grove on Monday that boosted the Ava ladies to 3-0 in conference play.
Ava is 11-5 overall.
The Ava girls played four games in the Branson Tournament on Saturday, winning two and losing two.
Ava opened the day with an 8-2 loss to Lebanon.
Ashlyn Mitchell started the game and gave up five hits and six runs in two innings. Abby Sparnicht completed the game and allowed no hits in three innings, but gave up two unearned runs.
Sparnicht was 1-for-2 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Melissa Coonts was 1-for-3 with an RBI for Ava. Abbie Lansdown was 2-for-3 at the plate for the Lady Bears.
The Lady Bears faced Fair Grove next and pulled out a 5-4 win in eight innings.
Mitchell was back in the pitcher’s circle for that game and threw all eight innings for the win.
Coonts was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Sierra Sharp was 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Payton Lakey was 1-for-2 with a run batted in.
The Lady Bears went up against Branson in game 3 and suffered a 9-1 loss. Ava managed only three hits in the game and Bailey Lee had the team’s only RBI, scoring Morgan Emerich who was 1-for-2 with a triple.
Ava batters fell victim to 10 strikeouts at the hand of the Branson pitcher.
Sparnicht pitched the complete game for Ava.
Ava won the final game of the day over Springfield Hillcrest, 5-3.
Sharp swung the big bat for Ava, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a triple, three runs scored and one RBI. Lakey was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Sparnicht was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Mitchell pitched the complete game for Ava and recorded the win.
The Lady Bears traveled to Mtn. Grove on Monday and took a 14-4 win from the Lady Panthers.
Ava had 11 hits in the contest, including a three-hit day by Lansdown who scored three runs and drove in two. She also reached base once on a walk.
Sharp was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored and Hannah Johnson was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Catcher Kayla Dougherty was 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored. Coonts was 1-for-3 with two runs scored.
Mitchell again pitched the complete game and got the win for Ava.
Tuesday afternoon the Lady Bears hosted Lebanon and again the Yellow Jackets took the upper hand, winning 13-7.
Ava picked up some solid hits in the game but could not overcome six errors that contributed to the loss.
Lakey was 2-for-3 with a home run and four runs batted in. Emerich was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Sharp was 1-for-3 with one RBI on the day.
Mitchell went the complete game for Ava, striking out four Lebanon batters.
The Ava girls will travel to Houston today (Thursday) for a South Central Association game, and will go to Thayer Friday afternoon to make up a game rained out last Thursday. The Thayer game will begin at 3:30, and will precede the varsity football game between Ava and Thayer at 7 o’clock the same day.
Ava will host Willow Springs on Monday, Sept. 27 to complete the conference schedule.
The Lady Bears will travel to Mansfield on Sept. 28 and will be back home on Thursday, Sept. 30 for Senior Night against Springfield Kickapoo. The Lady Zizzers of West Plains will be here on Oct. 4 for the final game of the regular season before district play begins.
