*        Congratulations to Coach Randy Osnes for being selected as the 2011 National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) Southwest “Sectional” Coach of the year for the sport of Softball.  The Southwest section includes the states of Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.  The NFHS recognizes coaches at the state, sectional, and national level. Coach Osnes was recognized during halftime of the Sr. Boys Basketball game Friday night vs Prairie Grove. Again, CONGRATULATIONS on this prestigious award!

Saturday, June 4, 2011:  Team End of the Year Banquet!   

2011 State Championship Video!!! 

2011 Stats

Farmington Wins 4A Title After Lengthy Delay

By Vernon Tarver

FAYETTEVILLE — One out on the softball diamond never took so long and never felt so good.

Farmington waited more than 14 hours to complete a dream season that started on Friday and ended early Saturday morning. It took just four pitches, but the Lady Cardinals capped off a 7-5 win against Ashdown to claim the Class 4A state championship in Bogle Park.

Senior Samantha Combs led the charge in the first with a two-run double and finished the game with two hits.

Barnes, the tournament Most Valuable Player, held Ashdown (20-17) scoreless through the first three innings before single runs in the fourth and fifth innings and a three-run sixth closed the gap to 7-5.

“It was a crazy situation to be in,” Ashdown coach Wiley Cunningham said. “We talked about that if it ended like it did; it was really decided in that first inning. But my girls haven’t given up all year and they had a chance to take it. And we talked about that (Friday) night. If we could come out and tie it or maybe go into extra innings, it could be a one pitch ballgame. But it turned out like it did and congratulations to (Farmington). They’re a heck of a ball club; I have all the respect in the world for coach Osnes and his club.”

While Barnes (30-3) will be back for another year in 2012, Farmington will say good bye to eight seniors who played their final game as Lady Cardinals on Saturday. “We had eight kids that led by example every day in practice,” Osnes said. “They weren’t very rah rah kids, but they were a bunch of characters. They had more superstitions and played more jokes on me than any team I’ve had. They just played loose and relaxed.

“That’s what was great about (Saturday) morning. Our catcher (Kelsie Stewart) comes in playing some kind of bongo drum; just waking everybody up saying here we go. That’s the way this bunch played and it will be tough to replace.”

Read more here:  Farmington Wins 4A Title After Lengthy Delay

On the next day, Farmington wins  By Lane Kramer

FAYETTEVILLE — Farmington began the Class 4A softball championship game against Ashdown on Friday at Bogle Park with five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Sixteen hours later, the Lady Cardinals sealed the deal by retiring one batter Saturday morning to win 7-5.

The contest was postponed by a thunderstorm Friday night with two outs in the top of the seventh inning and a runner on first base after a two-out single by Lady Panthers’ pitcher Candace Guffey. Farmington pitcher Madison Barnes faced just one batter Saturday and induced a pop fly to first base by Sydney Tipton on a 3-1 count to clinch the title.

Barnes (31-2), a junior, allowed 2 earned runs off 5 hits, struck out 8 and walked 4 to earn MVP honors. She said she felt calm going into such an unusual, high-pressure situation Saturday.

“Even if I don’t strike her out, I’ve got my team behind me no matter what,” Barnes said. “It’s always the same.”

Farmington Coach Randy Osnes said he didn’t give Barnes much of a pep talk during the overnight break. “I never tell her anything,” Osnes said. “We’ve played 36 games, and she knows what’s going on. She’s just done a great job for us all year long.”

Samantha Combs and Kylee Lewis had two hits each to lead Farmington (32-4), which scored five runs in the first inning and two in the third to take a 7-0 lead. Christian Parker and Kelsey Evans each had doubles, Payton Wiedner had a single and Kendra Center had an RBI SAC fly to aid the cause.

Ashdown (20-17) closed in with one run in the fourth inning, one in the fifth and three in the sixth to narrow the gap to 7-5. Guffey (19-15) pitched three scoreless innings for Ashdown after struggling early.

Read more here:  On the next day, Farmington wins

Read about it here in the NWA Morning News:   Prep Softball

CLASS 4A STATE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Characters Lead Lady Cardinals     SENIORS LOOK TO BRING FIRST SOFTBALL TITLE SINCE 2005 TO FARMINGTON HIGH

Friday:  Unbelievable! Waited all day, got the game started 2:45 late, and took a 7-5 lead. Needing one more out in the 7th to win, the rain and lightning forced a postponement until Saturday at 9:00 a.m.

Saturday:  AAAA State Champions!

Updated Bracket here– North Regional Tournament

Saturday–The Lady Cards won a 6-5 thriller over DeQueen in Heber Springs to advance to the Semifinals vs. Nashville.  Trailing 4-2 in the 5th inning, Kelsie Stewart ripped a 2-RBI triple to left field to tie the game.  Then Payton Wiedner provided the game-winner with a 2-run Homer to put the Lady Cards ahead 6-4.  Madison Barnes worked around a one-run 6th inning and closed out the 7th in 1-2-3 fashion to move to 27-3 for the season. 

 SOFTBALL: Kala Crisp front, center for Farmington

2011 AAAA State Tournament

Read about it here:  FARMINGTON DOMINATES

 1-AAAA Conference Tournament at Farmington.

Special Article:  Farmington Seniors Lead Way

Friday:  FHS defeats Clarksville 4-2 to secure a berth in the AAAA State Tournament next weekend.  Madison Barnes earned the win and went to 24-3 for the season.  Farmington Advances To Next Round

Saturday:  Lady Cards win 3-0 over Pottsville to go to the North Region Championship game play next Monday!  The Lady Cards will play Gravette at 5:00 at Clarksville for top seed in the state tournament. Madison Barnes went the distance for her 25th win and Kala Crisp had all 3 RBI with a double and a 2-Run Home Run. 

CLASS 4A NORTH REGION PREP SOFTBALL

Thursday:  Senior Day 2011

Saturday:  FHS -7, PGHS -0!  Madison Barnes goes to 22-3 with 14 strikeouts!  Read about it here:  Farmington Reaches Title Game

Jordan Stevens, Labette Lady Cardinals Softball

Skyler Smith and Samantha Luther, Crowder Lady Riders

Morgan Clark, University of Arkansas Softball–2010 Southeastern Conference Freshman Academic Honor Roll

Friday: Rain stopped the game after 5 innings with Har-Ber leading 2-0.  Michaela Larabee had two hits in the game.

Friday-Saturday:  The 2nd Annual Farmington Softball Alumni Weekend was held at the Farmington Indoor Facility. After the game Friday, we met at Kings Pizza for dinner.  Saturday, the Odd Years’ Team defeated the Even Years’ 6-3 in an indoor Lite-Flight ballgame. Thanks to all the folks that came and watched, visited and participated!  It was a rainy, but fun-filled morning.

Monday:  The Ozark Lady Hillbillies came to town and were game, but the Lady Cards defeated them 8-3 to go to 20-2, 4-0 in the league.  Madison Barnes (17-2) again held the opponents in check while the offense pieced together enough runs to win.  Kala Crisp and Samantha Combs each had two hits, and Michaela Larabee, Jayme Doss, Christian Parker, Payton Wiedner and Kylee Lewis each had one hit.  Kendra Center drove in two runs. The FHS JV scored a run in the bottom of the 5th to win 3-2.

Tuesday:  The Farmington Lady Cardinals went to 21-2, still 4-0 in league play, with a 13-0 win over Huntsville in a 5 inning non-conference game at Farmington.  Madison Barnes (18-2) got the win and the offensive attack was led by Kendra Center’s 3-RBI double and Kelsey Evans’ RBI double.  Kala Crisp had a double and a single, while Kelsie Stewart drove in 2 runs with a single. The JV won their game 5-0 behind Lindsey Blackburn’s first home run.

Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.: Four of our athletes, Kala Crisp, Michaela Larabee, Darren Pittman and Trey Spencer signed to play softball and baseball at various schools at the college level.  Friends and family attended and celebrated the opportunities of these students!

Thursday: The Farmington Lady Cardinals went to 22-2, 5-0, with a 15-1 conference road win at Pea Ridge.  Jayme Doss (2 RBI), Kala Crisp (triple, 4 RBI), Christian Parker and Samantha Combs had 3 hits each, while freshman Oakley Sisemore hit her first career home run, and 2 run shot in the 7th inning.  Payton Wiedner also drove in two runs. Michaela Larabee and Kelsey Evans also had hits.  Madison Barnes went the distance for her 19th win (19-2), striking out 13 hitters and only allowing two hits.

FHS    - 201 100 11 - 15    PRHS - 000 000  1  -   1

WP- Barnes (19-2)    LP- Winn

Saturday:  The Lady Cards (23-3) split two games Saturday. They defeated Mountain Home 9-5 with a 9-run second inning.  Kala Crisp led the offense, going 2-4, with a triple and 2 RBI.  Payton Wiedner (2-3, 3 R, SB, RBI) and Kelsie Stewart (2-3, SB) also had 2 hits, and Madison Barnes lifted her record to 20-2.Samantha Combs (2 RBI), Michaela Larabee (SB), Oakley Sisemore (SB, RBI), Kendra Center (2 RBI) and Kylee Lewis (1 R) also had hits.

Then Mountain Home came back to defeat Fayetteville 6-2. In the third game, Fayetteville defeated the Lady Cards 8-2.

Next game will be Friday at FHS vs. Har-Ber, then the Alumni game on Saturday Morning.

The 2nd Annual Farmington Softball Alumni Weekend will be held on April 22nd and 23rd at the Farmington Softball Field. Friday night the Farmington Lady Cardinals will host Springdale Harber at 5:00. After the game, we will meet at Kings Pizza for dinner. Kings Pizza is in Fayetteville on Highway 62 across from Lowe’s. Please let Liz know if you will be able to make it Friday night.Saturday (April 23rd) we will meet at the field around 10:30 a.m. The Alumni game will begin around 11:30. The teams will be split by even year teams versus odd year teams. Please bring your family and friends. Even if you do not want to play or can’t play, we would love for you to be there.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone!  Thanks.

Also:  Conference Tournament Bracket 2011