Patterson 10U All-Star softball team advances to Babe Ruth Southwest Regional Final

The Patterson 10U Babe Ruth Softball All-Stars are one win away from advancing to the Babe Ruth 10U World Series after knocking off the Harrison, Arkansas, Diamond Divas, 8-6, in eight innings today.
With the score knotted at 6 after six innings of regulation play, the teams played a scoreless seventh inning before Patterson scored the winning run in the top of the eighth inning and added a second run in the frame.
In the top of the eighth, Charlotte Callais came home on a wild pitch for a 7-6 Patterson advantage, while the next batter, Bryleigh DeHart, came home on a double by Amaya Williams to right field for the second run.
Laila Dugar fanned the first two batters she faced in the bottom of the eighth inning before allowing a walk. However, she got the final out one batter later on a called third strike and punched Patterson's ticket to the championship game.
Patterson will return to the field Saturday at 11:30 a.m. against the winner that emerges from the loser's bracket. Patterson must be beaten twice to lose the tournament championship. The winner advances to the Babe Ruth 10U World Series in Jensen Beach, Florida, next month.
Friday's game was a battle of the final unbeaten teams in the 10U southwest tournament as both teams entered the semifinal with 2-0 marks.
It was the second close game the two teams had played after an exhibition pool play game between the two ended in a 1-all tie.
In Friday's win, Dugar earned the win in relief of Emily Lipari. In two innings, Dugar surrendered no runs on one hit with one walk and five strikeouts.
Lipari pitched the first six innings and surrendered six runs with two hit batters and three strikeouts.
The game was back and forth as the Diamond Divas, Arkansas' northern state champs, scored a run each in the bottom of the second and third innings for a 2-0 lead.
Patterson, Louisiana's state champs, countered with four runs in the top of the fourth and two more in the top of the fifth for a 6-2 advantage.
However, Harrison tied the score at 6 in the bottom of the fifth.
Offensively, Williams led Patterson with a double and two runs. Other top offensive contributors included Callais, a double and a run; Lipari, a single and two runs; Dugar, a single; and Bryleigh DeHart, Kamille Lightfoot and Madison Gray, each a run.
Despite the loss, Harrison pitching recorded 17 strikeouts.
Patterson has outscored opponents in the southwest regional tournament 28-11 and 78-18 combined in the state and southwest regional tournament. Patterson is a combined 8-0 in state and southwest regional play.