Neelyville, Donettes to face off for OFC title

The Ozark Foothills Conference softball tournament will come down to a battle between No. 1 and No. 2.

The top-seeded Doniphan Donettes and No. 2 Neelyville Lady Tigers will face off for the tournament championship Thursday afternoon after both schools won their respective semifinal games Wednesday at J.D. Rains Field. Neelyville turned back third-seeded Twin Rivers 9-6 in the first semifinal, then the Donettes defeated No. 5 Greenville 7-4 in the second semifinal.

In the early semifinal, the Lady Tigers scored four times in the bottom of the third inning to quickly take control of the game.

Jade Crosswhite reached on a bunch single to lead off the inning, stole second and third, then scored on September Preslar’s bunt to make it 1-0.

Preslar then took advantage of a pair of passed balls to get to third base, then scored on a Reese Dobbins single. Parker Ernst then capped the rally with a two-run homer over the centerfield fence.

Twin Rivers did not give up, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning on sacrifice flies from Emma Vancil and Gabi Suiter to make it 4-2, then added a third run later in the inning when Addysen Whitlow was hit by pitch with the bases loaded, pushing home Alexis Parson to make it a one-run game.

However, the Lady Tigers answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning thanks in part to six singles and an intentional walk.

Parson took a pitch over the centerfield fence for a two-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to cut the Neelyville lead to 8-5, but the Lady Royals team know closer the rest of the way.

Preslar turned in a solid performance in the circle for the Lady Tigers, striking out 15 as she went the distance for the win.

Neelyville finished the game with 14 hits, including three from Layni Dobbins and two apiece from Crosswhite, Preslar, Ernst and Reese Dobbins. Ernst, Preslar and Layni Dobbins also drove in two runs apiece.

Vancil, Parson and Charly Johnson paced Twin Rivers with two hits each, while Parson and Suiter each drove in two runs.

Parson struck out 10 and she pitched all six innings in the loss for the Lady Royals.

Doniphan and the Lady Tigers will play for the tournament championship at 3 p.m. Thursday, while Twin Rivers and Greenville will face off for third in the early game at 1 p.m.