The Ava Lady Bears defeated Houston and Thayer on the road last Thursday and Friday, then beat Willow Springs at home Monday, 11-1, to complete an undefeated SCA schedule and subsequently clinch the conference title.
The Bears defeated Houston, 9-2, then beat Thayer 9-3 on Friday.
This is the third straight year that Coach Rex Sawyer and the Lady Bears have won the SCA title in softball.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Lady Bears traveled to Mansfield and fell in defeat, 8-7.
The girls will be home today (Thursday) against Springfield Kickapoo. This will be “Senior Night” and senior players will be recognized prior to the start of the 4:30 game. Senior Night activities will begin at 4:15.
The Lady Bears will wrap up the regular schedule at home Monday, Oct. 4 against West Plains before starting district play here on Wednesday. District games will be played Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
District games will be played at 4 and 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, with Saturday’s schedule to be announced later. Pairings will be announced next week, as well.
The Bears are currently 14-6 and finished conference play at 6-0.
At Houston last Thursday, Ava out hit the Tigers 13-3.
Hannah Johnson was 3-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored. Morgan Emerich was also 3-for-3 with a double and two singles, drove in one run and scored twice.
Ashlyn Mitchell went the distance in the pitcher’s circle with five strikeouts.
At Thayer Friday afternoon, the Lady Bears had eight hits but had nine players reach base on walks.
Sierra Sharp was 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI. Abbie Lansdown was 1-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
Payton Lakey was 1-for-1 and walked three times, and scored twice.
Mitchell again had a complete game with seven strikeouts.
Willow Springs pitchers struggled here Monday afternoon, walking eight Ava batters and giving up eight hits, as the Lady Bears won in five innings, 11-1.
Mitchell had six strikeouts for Ava.
Melissa Coonts was 3-for-3 with five runs batted in for Ava. Johnson was 1-for-2 with two RBIs.
Sharp, Kayla Dougherty and Abby Sparnicht all had extra-base hits for the Lady Bears with one double each.
