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Lady Bears Beat Thayer, Lebanon In Softball

The Ava Lady Bears traveled to Thayer last Thursday, Sept. 13, to face the Lady Bobcats in South Central Association action.

Ava won the slugfest 16-15, with each team pounding out 13 hits.

A solid Ava defense gave the Lady Bears a 3-1 nonconference win over Lebanon on the home field Tuesday afternoon.

In the Thayer contest, Abby Sparnicht was 2-for-6 at the plate with two runs batted in. Callie Eubanks was also 2-for-6 with three runs scored and one RBI.

Also having two hits for Ava were Kayte Aid, Lakota Blakey and Jacey Swofford and each drove in two runs. Aid, Blakey, Swofford and Bailey Lee each had a double in the game.

MaKenna Hunsaker scored three runs for Ava as a courtesy runner.

Ava scored four runs in the top of the first inning only to have Thayer come back with four in the bottom half. Thayer added one in the second, three in the third to take an 8-4 lead. Ava rallied for six in the top of the fourth, only to have Thayer come back with two in the bottom on the inning to tie the game at 10-each. Ava scored two in the top of the fifth to lead 15-10, but Thayer would come back with one in the bottom half.

Ava added four runs in the top of the sixth to lead16-11, but the home team would pick up four in the bottom of the seventh to close the margin to 16-15.

Sparnicht was the winning pitcher for Ava, with Alford taking the loss for Thayer.

In Tuesday’s game with Lebanon, Hannah Johnson, Swofford and Tailer Stofer had two hits apiece. Stofer and Aid were credited with RBIs.

Stofer also scored two runs for Ava and Ashley Helm, entering as a courtesy runner, crossed the plate one time.

Sparnicht struck out five Lebanon batters and allowed seven hits on the day.

The Lady Bears ended the game on an unconventional double play when shortstop Hannah Johnson threw out a runner at first and catcher Jacey Swofford put the tag on a player attempting to score from third, on the throw from first baseman Lakota Blakey.

The girls will face Houston in Texas County today (Thursday) and will be back home Monday for a game with Willow Springs.

The Lady Bears were rained out at the Branson Tournament on Saturday and Monday’s game at Mtn. Grove was being played Wednesday afternoon. The games with Mtn. Grove, Houston and Willow Springs will complete the SCA schedule for the season.