Blue Devils win softball home opener
West Memphis outlasts Manilla in 13-12 slugfest
By RALPH HARDIN
ralphhardin@gmail.com
New coach Mike Dobbins and his Blue Devils softball team sent the home crowd home happy after a seven- inning thriller in West Memphis’s 2022 season home opener last Thursday evening at Tilden Rodgers Park.
Bella Hinze threw a complete game to get the pitching win. She was supported by a hefty offense led by senior Kolby Garey, who was 3-for-5. Garey, who stole three bases on the night, also scored the game-winning run when Kayla Shaull ripped the game-winning single to right. Shaull went 2-for-4 on the day with 2 RBI.
Adding to the offensive onslaught was Carlie Steele, who went 2-for-4 at the plate with a solo home run, 2 RBI and 3 runs scored, as well as leadoff hitter Kenzley Lowe who seemed to always be on base. Lowe went 1-for-3 with an insidethe- park home run, 3 RBI and 2 walks.
Dobbins was all about the “total team effort” it took to get his first win at the helm of the Blue Devils softball program.
“You know, it’s something we’ve worked extremely hard for,” said Dobbins. “They got the win. They made the plays. They started this journey in June, just getting together and learning the game. They earned every bit of it.”
Dobbins was especially surprised at the gutsy performance of his pitcher.
“It was a shock to be honest because pitching has been the big question mark,” he said of Hinze’s complete game. “But she stepped up and had a huge game. She threw strikes. That’s all we asked her to do because our defense is good enough to make the plays and get outs. And we got the hits when we needed them. I’m sure if you look up and down the lineup, we hit great.”
Tuesday’s scheduled home game against Marked Tree was postponed to March 17. Instead, the Blue Devils will be on the road Thursday and Friday, taking on Blytheville and then Barton.
The Blue Devils walked it off in dramatic fashion to beat Manila 13-12. Kayla Shaull hit the go-ahead base rip to score Kolby Garey from 3rd to win it. Bella Hinze threw a complete to get the win.
