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By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The seasons are different, but the territory is not.
Pleasant Hope softball is back in the state tournament. This time, in the spring bracket.
The Lady Pirates defeated two-time defending state champion Strafford 6-4 Thursday evening on the Lady Indians’ home field.
Pleasant Hope withstood Strafford’s four-run seventh inning. The Lady Pirates never trailed and took a 2-0 lead when their two-hole hitter, Abby Henson, homered in the bottom of the first.
Pleasant Hope last reached the state tournament in 2016 – when it was still playing in the fall championship season.
“Coming out, our first year of spring ball, and performing this well has been unbelievable,” said Pleasant Hope senior outfielder Katelyn Stewart. “I’m so proud of this team and everything we’ve done.”
Pleasant Hope (26-3 overall) plays at Plato (19-6 overall) in the sectional round on May 6.
“It’s what you play for,” said Pleasant Hope coach Kevin McVey. “It’s what you work hard for the whole season. To beat a team like (Strafford), here, it’s special.”
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The Lady Pirates were state runner-up in 2014 and won a state title in 2012, both coming in fall ball.
“It feels amazing, because this team, we’ve played together since we were like 8 years old,” said Pleasant Hope junior pitcher Jaydin Lee. “It’s wonderful to be able to move on with them.”
Pleasant Hope also played a spring schedule in 2017 and 2018 but was ineligible for postseason play. The Lady Pirates went 0-4 against the eventual state champs, Strafford, in that span.
“It was rewarding to come out here, on their field, and show them what we have this year and kind of… give them back what they gave to us,” Stewart said.
Lee again kept Strafford’s lineup in check. Strafford only had three hits through the first six innings.
Lee pitched Pleasant Hope to 11-1 and 2-1 victories over Strafford in the regular season.
“She’s pitched close to 25 innings against us this year, and the first 24 or so of those innings we’ve only scored two runs against her,” said Strafford coach Dale Bean. “We hit some balls really hard early and the wind knocked them down. Credit their defense – they made good plays.
“But other than that, she got the job done against us. No excuses.”
Strafford rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh inning. Logan Jones’ two-run single with one out brought Strafford within 6-2.
Emma Mullings followed with an RBI groundout and Emma Johnson had an RBI single to make it 6-4.
“I knew my defense was behind me, they had my back, so I was not worried at all,” Lee said.
Macie Warner’s two-run single in the bottom of the third gave Pleasant Hope a 4-0 lead. The Lady Pirates took a 2-0 lead on Henson’s homer in the first inning.
“(That homer) got us settled down,” McVey said.
The Lady Pirates added some insurance with two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Pleasant Hope’s defense also had a strong day. Stewart crashed into the center field fence in the top of the second inning to take away two potential Strafford runs.
“It didn’t hurt that bad. They have a give-way fence, and I didn’t hit a pole, so luckily I’m okay,” Stewart said. “I’ve hit it before and concussed myself, so this time I was pretty lucky.”
Strafford finishes 18-7 overall. The outcome marks the end of a decorated high school career for Hayley and Kayley Frank.
The twins won six state championships at Strafford: four in basketball and two in softball.
“I’m super proud of these girls. They’ve done so much for us,” Bean said. “It’s definitely not something you want to end your season on. They’ve put in so much hard work for us as a program. I’m proud of them. They’re going to be very successful in what they’re going to be doing after this.”
