The Ava Lady Bears won three softball games during the past week while losing one, and earned a share of the conference title.
Ava defeated Springfield teams from Kickapoo and Parkview in non-conference play and lost a non-SCA game to West Plains on Monday.
The big game, however, for the Lady Bears was a make-up game played here Saturday morning with Houston, which the Ava girls pulled out of the fire to win 7-6.
With that win, and a Liberty loss to Salem on Monday, the Lady Bears are co-champions of the SCA with Mtn. View-Liberty.
Liberty handed the Lady Bears their only conference loss early in the season.
Ava defeated Kickapoo in Springfield on Sept. 29, 3-1. Each team had five hits in the contest.
On Saturday morning, the Lady Bears jumped out to a 3-0 lead, only to have Houston score six runs in the fifth inning to take the lead.
The Ava girls reclaimed the lead and took the win, 7-6, however.
Melissa Coonts was 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs for Ava. Callie Eubanks was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
On Monday the Ava girls traveled to Howell County and dropped a 5-2 decision to the Zizzers of West Plains.
Kelsey Regennitter was 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored. Payton Lakey was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
On Tuesday afternoon the Lady Bears hosted Springfield Parkview and were rude hosts, jumping on the visitors for a 15-0 decision in three innings.
Jessie Eubanks was 2-for-2 with four runs batted in.
Abbie Lansdown drew three walks and scored three times. Lakey was 1-for-1 with two walks, and scored two runs for Ava.
The Lady Bears began district tournament action here Wednesday, facing Mtn. Grove at 6 o’clock. With a win over the Panthers, Ava would play No. 2 seed Liberty today at 6 o’clock.
The championship game will be played Saturday morning at 10:30.
Softball fans are reminded that gate admission for the district tournament games is $4 for everyone.
Forsyth and Hollister were playing the 4 p.m. game on Wednesday and the winner of that game will face No. 1 Reeds Spring at 4 o’clock today (Thursday).
