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With a 26-6 record and a state tournament quarterfinal berth to their credit, the Stuttgart Lady Ricebirds’ 2021 season came to a close on Friday afternoon following a 10-0 loss to Pea Ridge. Four defensive miscues combined with struggles at the plate proved to be Stuttgart’s undoing.
Pea Ridge scored one run in the first, three in the second, and six in the third to place the Ladybirds in a hole too deep to emerge from. The Lady Blackhawks used eight hits and four walks to generate the ten runs with Blakelee Winn’s three-run home run in the third inning proving to be the backbreaker.
After four postponements due to poor field conditions, Stuttgart finally had their tussle with the Brookland Lady Bearcats on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The game, originally scheduled for noon the previous day, was rescheduled multiple times following heavy rain in northeast Arkansas.
When the first pitch finally did arrive, the Lady Ricebirds were tasked with knocking off the regionals’ host team in less than desirable playing conditions.
Stuttgart got on the board in the bottom of the first inning before Brookland exploded for five runs in the top of the third. The Ladybirds added a run in the fourth, but once again, Brookland put up a crooked number in the top of the fifth to take an 8-2 lead.
The Stuttgart Lady Ricebirds, the 2021 4A East Regional Champions.
Call the Stuttgart Lady Ricebirds the comeback kids. Better yet, call them the champs. Twice on Saturday, Stuttgart came from behind to pick up wins in the 4A East Regional, defeating Brookland in the semifinals and Valley View in the championship game. As a result, Stuttgart claimed the 4A East Regional title and a first-round bye in this week’s 4A state tournament.
The Championship Game: Stuttgart 5 Valley View 4
The regional final pitted the top two seeds against one another at Bearcat Field in Brookland, Arkansas.
Stuttgart advanced to the final with a 9-8 win over Brookland earlier in the day, while Valley View knocked off Jonesboro Westside 13-0. The game also pitted the two best pitchers in the tournament against each other, Stuttgart’s Emma Banks and Valley View’s Riley Smith.
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Past Stuttgart School District Superintendent Dr. Melvin Bryant delivered remarks to graduating seniors and guests during Tuesday’s Senior Night at the Stuttgart Junior High School gym.
Stuttgart High School seniors were recognized during Senior Night on Tuesday in the Stuttgart Junior High School gym. School counselor Angie Sherman said scholarships given during the event had a total value of over $1 million.
Lauren Erstine accepts the SHS Class of 1969 scholarship award from Bill Shrum.
“They (students) get a scholarship packet in February and they fill out applications,” Sherman said. “The potential value for all of the scholarships was over $1.6 million.”