CONWAY, ARKANSAS - Darby Burnett knew it was going to be a tough act to follow.
The Bentonville junior entered the season as the Tigers' new pitching ace, replacing Ryann Sanders, who put together an All-American career at Bentonville and is now at the University of Louisville. Sanders also ended her senior season as a state champion.
But Burnett made a name for herself this season, and like Sanders, ended up being part of a victory dogpile.
Burnett pitched a two-hitter and struck out 13 batters as the Tigers repeated as Class 6A state champions with a 4-3 win against Springdale Har-Ber Saturday night during the Arkansas Activities Association's "Weekend of Champions" at the University of Central Arkansas.
"It was great; I was happy to be a part of it," said Burnett, a Texas A&M commit. "It's just another one of the things that we like to do.
"I grew up looking up to Ryann, so I was just trying to build on what she did last year and come back."
Burnett was named the game's MVP. She threw a total of 147 pitches and was in some tight spots, especially after issuing nine walks. But Burnett was able to escape trouble with clutch pitches all night long.
"The defense was amazing, and that's all I can ask for," Burnett said. "That's helped get me out of many jams that we probably shouldn't have been in, but that's all we can ask."
In the top of the seventh, Burnett gave up a one-out walk. But she beared down and was able to strike out the next two batters, preserving the Bentonville back-to-back.
"My thoughts were to just stay in the zone. ... I know how these hitters are going to react, I needed to just come after them with my best stuff and hope it works," she said.
Buck Ringgold
A pair of two-RBI hits gave Burnett all the support she needed. The Tigers took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run single from Anniston Reith, who previously played at Har-Ber before transferring to Bentonville.
Then in the bottom of the third, with two out and the score tied at 2-all, Ava Stimis singled to right center to score two runners and put the Lady Tigers ahead, 4-2.
Har-Ber (25-5), which lost twice to 6A-West rival Bentonville in the regular season, cut it to 4-3 in the fifth on an RBI hit from Kennedy Smith. But on that play, a Wildcat runner was thrown out going to third and Burnett then got a strikeout to end that inning.
In the sixth, the Wildcats got a leadoff walk, but Bentonville catcher Alexis Lorennij threw out the runner attempting to steal second. Another Har-Ber batter walked, but a double play allowed Burnett to escape once more.
The top three batters in Bentonville's lineup, Kylee Wyman, Demi Donahoe and Violet Nguyen, each had two hits, as did the nine-hole batter, Isabella Mears.
Bentonville (27-4) faced a challenging schedule, with losses to out-of-state powers Melissa (Texas) and Calvary Baptist (Louisiana), as well as a loss to Benton, which won the Arkansas 5A title on Thursday. But the Tigers believed their schedule helped prepare them for Saturday.
"Obviously, it's a lot of pressure, but Coach (Kent) Early always says pressure is a privilege, and I think we all took that to heart (Saturday) and played with the pressure and took charge and took the 'dub,'" said Donahoe.
Donahoe is one of two seniors that were in the Tiger starting lineup (Kierra Burkhart being the other). After the season, Donahoe is going to play college softball at Ivy League institution Yale University.
But Donahoe remarked she will carry valuable lessons from her time as a Bentonville Tiger to Yale.
"I think just teamwork, that's all I can hand it to," she said. "It doesn't take one person, it takes all of us. It takes every single person in the stands, on the team, in the dugout. It takes everyone.
"(Going back-to-back on Saturday) I just think there's no more fitting way to go out as a Tiger. It's just everything I've worked for and it just feels good. It feels great, amazing."
Har-Ber leadoff batter Zyria Palmer had one of the team's two hits and scored two runs.
Buck Ringgold
UPDATES
Bentonville is aiming for a repeat performance in the state championship softball game.
The Tigers can nail down back-to-back Class 6A titles and go for their seventh overall crown Saturday evening as they take on Springdale Har-Ber during the Arkansas Activities Association's "Weekend of Champions" at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
Bentonville comes into Saturday's title game with a record of 26-4. One of those losses came to Melissa, Texas, one of the top teams in the country, and another loss was to Louisiana power Calvary Baptist, which won its state title earlier this spring.
Springdale Har-Ber enters the game at 25-4 overall. Two of those losses came to 6A-West rival Bentonville, a 7-1 decision in March and 4-0 a month later.
Follow The Sporting News correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from Conway.
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BENTONVILLE 4, SPRINGDALE HAR-BER 3 FINAL
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SEVENTH INNING
- BENTONVILLE GETS IT DONE. Darby Burnett gets a strikeout swinging for the final out, her 13th K on the night, and the Tigers get the repeat.
- Strikeout number 12 by Darby Burnett. Bentonville is one out away from a repeat.
- One-out walk drawn by Zyria Palmer. Tying run is on base. (Bentonville, 4-3 | T7)
- Strikeout swinging for the first out.
- Bentonville pitcher Darby Burnett, a Texas A&M commit, takes a two-hitter into the top of the seventh. She has struck out 10.
SIXTH INNING
- Har-Ber P Cyarah Dotts gets out of the jam with a pop-up on a squeeze attempt for the second out, then an infield fly for the final out. To the seventh, Wildcats need one to tie. (Bentonville, 4-3 | T7)
- Then Violet Nguyen drops a single into shallow center, as Demi Donahoe goes to third. Nguyen then takes second on the throw. Big chance for Bentonville to break this game open with one out. (Bentonville, 4-3 | B6)
- With one out, Bentonville's Demi Donahoe doubles down the line in left. Tigers seeking to add some insurance. (Bentonville, 4-3 | B6)
- After Har-Ber got a walk, Bentonville gets a fielder's choice for the second out, then the throw to get the runner at first is wild. The runner then tries to go to second but she is tagged out, as the Tigers finish off a 6-4-3-6 double play. Bentonville is three outs away from a repeat. (Bentonville, 4-3 | B6)
- Bentonville C Alexis Lorennij throws out the runner trying to steal second. One out now.
- A wild pitch following a strikeout allows Har-Ber to put the leadoff runner on base to start things off. (Bentonville, 4-3 | T6)
FIFTH INNING
- After the leadoff double, Har-Ber P Cyarah Dotts comes right back and strikes out the next three hitters. She has struck out six through five. Going to the sixth now. (Bentonville, 4-3 | T6)
- Marissa Gianneschi leads off the bottom of the inning for Bentonville with a double to deep center.
- STRIKEOUT BENTONVILLE. Darby Burnett gets called third strike for the final out, as Har-Ber leaves the tying run on at second. (Bentonville, 4-3 | B5)
- RBI HIT HAR-BER. Kennedy Smith gets the Wildcats within a run with a base hit to left center. But Bentonville gets a runner out going to third, so there's two out now. Smith went to second on the throw. (Bentonville, 4-3 | T5)
- A walk puts two runners on for Har-Ber. The Wildcats have drawn seven walks this game thus far. (Bentonville, 4-2 | T5)
- Zyria Palmer steals second with one out.
- Zyria Palmer draws a leadoff walk for Har-Ber in the top of the inning. (Bentonville, 4-2 | T5)
FOURTH INNING
- A fly ball ends the inning as Bentonville strands the bases loaded. (Bentonville, 4-2 | T5)
- A two-out walk loads the bases for Bentonville with two out.
- Isabella Mears leads off the bottom of the fourth with a bunt single, and the next batter, Kylee Wyman, also singles. Runners on first and second for Bentonville with nobody out. (Bentonville, 4-2 | B4)
- Grounder to third, but Bentonville's Violet Nguyen makes a stellar throw to first base for the final out, as Har-Ber strands two. (Bentonville, 4-2 | B4)
- STRIKEOUT BENTONVILLE. Huge out for Tiger P Darby Burnett. Two outs now, runners still on second and third for Har-Ber.
- Har-Ber has runners on second and third with one out in the top of the inning.
THIRD INNING
- RBI HIT BENTONVILLE. Ava Stimis delivers a two-run single to right center, and the Tigers are back in front. (Bentonville, 4-2 | B3)
- Marissa Gianneschi works a two-out walk, and Bentonville has runners on first and second. (2-2 | B3)
- Violet Nguyen drops a single into shallow left center to lead off the third for Bentonville. (2-2 | B3)
- Strikeout ends the top of the inning. Tied going to Bentonville's half. (2-2 | B3)
- Har-Ber ties it up when Savannah Woods steals second, and the throw to try and get her out goes into center field, allowing Bell Haney to race home from third. (2-2 | T3)
- Har-Ber has runners on the corners with one out in the top of the third. (Bentonville, 2-1 | T3)
SECOND INNING
- Bentonville strands two runners to end the second. (Bentonville, 2-1 | T3)
- Lead-off walk for Har-Ber, but Bentonville P Darby Burnett strikes out the next three batters to quell the uprising. (Bentonville, 2-1 | B2)
FIRST INNING
- A double play helps Har-Ber get out of further trouble in the first. Bentonville keeps its one-run lead into the second. (Bentonville, 2-1 | T2)
- RBI HIT BENTONVILLE. A base hit to left by Anniston Reith brings in two runners, and the Tigers grab the lead. (Bentonville, 2-1 | B1)
- Bentonville gets two base hits and a walk to start the bottom of the first, as the Tigers have already loaded the bases. (Har-Ber, 1-0 | B1)
- Har-Ber draws the early advantage, as Zyria Palmer leads off the game with a base hit, goes to second on a wild pitch, steals third and immediately goes home on a throwing error on the steal attempt. (Har-Ber, 1-0 | T1)
PREGAME
- Bentonville is the home team in this matchup. Here is the Tigers' lineup: Kylee Wyman (SS); Demi Donahoe (LF); Violet Nguyen (3B); Anniston Reith (1B); Alexis Lorennij (C); Marissa Gianneschi (RF); Ava Stimis (DH); Kierra Burkhart (CF); and Isabella Mears (2B).
- Har-Ber is the visiting team in this matchup. Here is the Wildcats' lineup: Zyria Palmer (2B); Savannah Woods (SS); Xiomara Sanchez (C); Kennedy Smith (3B); Jasmine Thomas (1B); Cyarah Dotts (P); Savanna Mounce (LF); Bryley Bratcher (CF); Bell Haney (DH). Madison Little also in RF.
- Coming to you from the University of Central Arkansas, as Bentonville takes on Springdale Har-Ber for the Arkansas Class 6A state softball championship.