Lady Pirates knock off Forsyth and Pleasant Hope

Pirates baseball picks up three more wins, still undefeated
Softball
The Ash Grove High School softball team earned two big wins last week as they prepare for this week’s district tournament.
The Lady Pirates traveled to Forsyth on Wednesday, April 26, and came away with a 13-10 win.
Ash Grove led 3-1 after the first inning, but after only scoring two runs in the third inning and watching Forsyth plate five runs in the bottom of the third, the Lady Pirates trailed 6-5. Ash Grove put up a six spot in the top of the fourth inning to take an 11-9 lead. The Lady Pirates would score two more runs in sixth inning to seal the 13-10 win. Chelsye Graham led the way, going 3-3, with two home runs and six RBI’s, Jamalyn Atkinson went 3-4 with two doubles and two RBI’s, Maddi Grube was 2-4 with a double and two RBI’s, Chelsey Andrus went 1-4 with a double and an RBI and Ashlyn Gerla finished 2-3 with a double.
The Lady Pirates opened the week with an easy 11-1 win over Pleasant Hope at home on Monday, April 24.
Ash Grove led 3-0 after the first inning, 4-1 after the third inning and 11-1 when the game was called in the fifth inning. Madison Lutz was 3-3 with a double and two RBI’s, Gerla went 2-3 with an RBI and Graham finished 1-2 with a double and two RBI’s. Meagan Hawkins picked up the win, going five innings, allowing no earned runs, while striking out seven.
“We hit the ball really well this week,” said head coach Austin Tipton. “We got contributions from everyone in the lineup, and you can’t ask for more than that. We have a few more things to iron out before we play Verona this week and start districts, but the girls are going to keep working hard every day.”
The Lady Pirates are now 16-10 on the season and were scheduled to play their last regular season game of the year last night at Verona, before traveling to Fair Grove to play an opening round Class 2, District 7 tournament game against Pleasant Hope on Saturday.
Ash Grove is the third seed in this year’s district tournament. Host Fair Grove is the top seed, followed by Skyline, Ash Grove, Buffalo, Stockton, Pleasant Hope, Conway and El Dorado Springs.
All first-round games are scheduled to be played on Saturday, the semifinals will take place on Monday, May 8, with the championship game being played on Tuesday, May 9.

Baseball
In baseball, the Pirates defeated Pierce City, 6-1, at home on Friday, April 28, and Clever, 6-2, also at home but on Tuesday, April 25. Ash Grove traveled to Miller on Monday, April 24, and came home with an easy 20-1 victory.
Ash Grove is now 15-0 on the season and were scheduled to play at Lockwood last night and Pleasant Hope tomorrow night before hosting Sarcoxie and Ava on Saturday.