Deer Creek Advances to State Tournament
The Deer Creek Warriors softball team went 4-2 during the North State Tournament and advanced as the No. 4 seed in this year’s MAIS 2A state softball tournament.
In the opening game Saturday, Sept. 27, the Warriors defeated Discovery Christian 15-0 behind a 14-hit performance. Pitcher Sandy Dominguez threw a no-hitter.
Game two was a back-and-forth battle with Indianola Academy that ended in a 15-14 loss in the final inning. Offensively, Karlie Scarborough, Kadee Sullivan, Dominguez, and Molli Ray each collected multiple hits.
Deer Creek rebounded with a 13-2 win over North Sunflower Academy. All nine players in the lineup recorded a hit, including senior Alyssa Stone, who went 3-for-3 with a single, double and triple.
In the Warriors’ fourth game of the day, they faced Manchester Academy. After trailing 3-0 in the fifth inning, Deer Creek rallied for seven runs in the fifth and five more in the sixth to win 12-5. Scarborough, Stone, Grac
The victory advanced Deer Creek to Monday’s matchup with Central Holmes. The Warriors scored two runs in the first inning, four in the second and one in the third to take a 7-4 lead. An RBI double by Addy Lemonis and a sacrifice fly by Sarah Scott Smyly in the seventh extended the lead to 9-4, sealing the win. Stone continued her hot hitting with two more hits, and Dominguez pitched another complete game, allowing only three earned runs.
In their sixth game of the North State tournament, the Warriors again faced Indianola Academy. The tight contest went to the Lady Colonels, who edged Deer Creek 6-5.
Winning four games secured Deer Creek’s spot in the MAIS 2A State Championship Tournament. The Warriors will face Centreville Academy at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6, at the Magee Sports Complex. Lamar Christian and Indianola Academy will also compete in the tournament. The top two teams will advance to a best-of-three series for the state title.
The Lady Warriors have won 20 games this season and look to continue their hot streak.
