The Leader

Blast settles for second once
again in ASA Event
By RAY BENTON - Leader sports editor

___The Beebe Blast 16-under team had to settle for another runner-up trophy Saturday night, losing 4-2 to the Delta Dynamite in the ASA state championship game at Cabot's Allman-Bevis softball complex. The Dynamite is the same team that beat the Blast in the finals of the USSSA state tournament in Fayetteville the week before.
___ "We're about sick of them," Blast head coach Bobby Robinson said. "But then again, if we hadn't screwed around and dropped a game we shouldn't have, maybe we wouldn't have had to come out of the losers bracket playing so many back-to-back again. I think we're good enough to beat that team. We did it once last week. We just didn't take care of business and put ourselves in a bad situation."
___ The Blast started the tournament Friday night with a 3-1 victory over the Fayetteville Cobras. They came back at noon on Saturday and dropped a 3-2 decision to Class Act. It was one of the earliest losses for the Blast in any tournament this season.
___ The loss earned the team a trip to the losers' bracket and the task of winning four straight games in the afternoon heat in order to win the title.
___ Beebe was ready to play following the loss and jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the Wildcats in the first inning en route to a 7-3 victory.
___ "We finally got some offense going and then we turn around and give up three runs on defense," Robinson said. "But we kept the bats going and were able to pull that one out."
___ The Blast went on to beat the Diamonds 3-0, but still wasn't playing up to the level Robinson felt the team was capable of.
___ The Blast led 2-0 in the first inning with two outs and runners on second and third base. Lauren Wilcox hit a high pop-up to the pitcher's mound. The pitcher was in position, but dropped the ball. The runners, however, did not advance and the next batter lined out to right field.
___ "That play pretty much epitomized our effort this weekend," Robinson said. "Our heads just weren't in it for some reason. Our girls know to go on anything with two outs. I can't really explain what was going on this weekend but it was the worst one we've had all year as far as the mental part of it goes."
___ Despite the mental blunder, the Blast moved on to a rematch with previous conquerors Class Act. This time the Beebe offense was in gear and equaled the team's best output in the tournament by posting seven runs in a 7-4 victory.
___ "We got into a little trouble pitching and had a few walks, but we got through it and our offense came through for us in that one," Robinson said. "That was the most runs we gave up the whole tournament but we never were in danger of losing the game. And that's because we were finally hitting the ball."
___ Beebe then dropped the third game in two weeks to the Pine Bluff-based Dynamite in the championship game.
___ The Blast will host the Babe Ruth fastpitch regional tournament that starts tomorrow. The tournament will feature teams from Arkansas and three surrounding states. The tournament's opening ceremonies will be held Wednesday night and games begin Thursday. Beebe won the 16-under Babe Ruth state tournament it hosted last.

	Blast settles for second once again in ASA Event By RAY BENTON - Leader sports editor ___The Beebe Blast 16-under team had to settle for another runner-up trophy Saturday night, losing 4-2 to the Delta Dynamite in the ASA state championship game at Cabot's Allman-Bevis softball complex. The Dynamite is the same team that beat the Blast in the finals of the USSSA state tournament in Fayetteville the week before. ___ "We're about sick of them," Blast head coach Bobby Robinson said. "But then again, if we hadn't screwed around and dropped a game we shouldn't have, maybe we wouldn't have had to come out of the losers bracket playing so many back-to-back again. I think we're good enough to beat that team. We did it once last week. We just didn't take care of business and put ourselves in a bad situation." ___ The Blast started the tournament Friday night with a 3-1 victory over the Fayetteville Cobras. They came back at noon on Saturday and dropped a 3-2 decision to Class Act. It was one of the earliest losses for the Blast in any tournament this season. ___ The loss earned the team a trip to the losers' bracket and the task of winning four straight games in the afternoon heat in order to win the title. ___ Beebe was ready to play following the loss and jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the Wildcats in the first inning en route to a 7-3 victory. ___ "We finally got some offense going and then we turn around and give up three runs on defense," Robinson said. "But we kept the bats going and were able to pull that one out." ___ The Blast went on to beat the Diamonds 3-0, but still wasn't playing up to the level Robinson felt the team was capable of. ___ The Blast led 2-0 in the first inning with two outs and runners on second and third base. Lauren Wilcox hit a high pop-up to the pitcher's mound. The pitcher was in position, but dropped the ball. The runners, however, did not advance and the next batter lined out to right field. ___ "That play pretty much epitomized our effort this weekend," Robinson said. "Our heads just weren't in it for some reason. Our girls know to go on anything with two outs. I can't really explain what was going on this weekend but it was the worst one we've had all year as far as the mental part of it goes." ___ Despite the mental blunder, the Blast moved on to a rematch with previous conquerors Class Act. This time the Beebe offense was in gear and equaled the team's best output in the tournament by posting seven runs in a 7-4 victory. ___ "We got into a little trouble pitching and had a few walks, but we got through it and our offense came through for us in that one," Robinson said. "That was the most runs we gave up the whole tournament but we never were in danger of losing the game. And that's because we were finally hitting the ball." ___ Beebe then dropped the third game in two weeks to the Pine Bluff-based Dynamite in the championship game. ___ The Blast will host the Babe Ruth fastpitch regional tournament that starts tomorrow. The tournament will feature teams from Arkansas and three surrounding states. The tournament's opening ceremonies will be held Wednesday night and games begin Thursday. Beebe won the 16-under Babe Ruth state tournament it hosted last.	Beebe Blast 16-under pitcher Lauren Wilcox winds up during the team's win over the Cobras Friday night.