HAMBURG, Ark. – Earlier this week, the Warren Lady Jacks delivered a dominant performance on the road, defeating the Hamburg Lady Lions 14-3 in a must-win conference matchup that secured 3rd place in the league standings and clinched the No. 3 seed for the upcoming regional tournament.
By David King, SRN Softball Contributor
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Warren struck first in the top of the 1st inning. With two outs, Charlee Wardlaw drew a walk and Bayleigh Miller followed with a single. Both came around to score on a clutch double by Raeleigh Milton, giving the Lady Jacks an early 2-0 lead. Hamburg responded quickly, using a walk, a single, and an error to even the score at 2-2 after the opening frame.
The Lady Jacks threatened again in the 2nd inning when Breize Fellows reached base with one out, but Warren was unable to push across a run. Hamburg then took a brief 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning.
Warren’s bats exploded in the top of the 3rd. Ember Johnson led off with a single, followed by hits from Wardlaw and Miller, whose single scored Johnson. Haven Johnson drove in two with a base hit, and Blythe Calloway added an RBI single. The rally continued with Haven Johnson and Ember Johnson each collecting RBIs, extending the Lady Jacks’ lead to 9-3. Hamburg went quietly in the bottom of the inning, going down in order.
Though Warren was held scoreless in the 4th, the defense held strong in the bottom half. Hamburg loaded the bases with two outs, but the Lady Jacks escaped the jam without allowing a run.
In the 5th, Warren pulled away for good, scoring five runs to make it 14-3. Hamburg got two runners aboard in the bottom half, but once again the Lady Jack defense came through to shut the door and end the game.
Ember Johnson and Raeleigh Milton led the offensive charge, each going 3-for-4 at the plate. Charlee Wardlaw added a 2-for-3 day, while Presley Reep went 2-for-4.
With the win, the Lady Jacks officially locked up third place in the conference and will enter the regional tournament as the No. 3 seed.
