Cailin Massey wasn’t sure if she was ever going to clear the fences in Southside’s ballpark.

On Tuesday in her final home at-bat of the season, the Mavericks’ freshman finally hit one out — and it couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth in a tie ballgame, Massey’s two-run blast cleared the wall in left and enabled the Mavericks to pull out a 5-3 win against Little Rock Central in 7A-Central softball action at Evans Boys and Girls Club.

“It was an inside pitch, so I kind of turned on it. ... These fences here, they seem so deep, so I was like I’m never going to get one out on here,” Massey said.

Massey’s at-bat was set up by a lead-off single from Caitlyn Bagby, who then stole second base.

With two outs and Bagby still on second, Massey came up and took the first two pitches for balls. Then on the next pitch, she connected on a shot which kept climbing in the air as it headed out of the ballpark for her third homer on the season.

“I remembered that the last time we played them, I didn’t hit very well and I was just thinking, ‘Focus on your mechanics,’” Massey said. “When I hit it, I really didn’t think it was gone; I kind of hit it, and I was like sprinting trying to get a double and the next thing you know, I was like, ‘Oh, it’s gone, it’s a home run.’”

Southside pitcher Meliah Hunter then retired the side in the top of the seventh without any damage. Right fielder Mackenzie Farrar ended the game by catching a sinking line drive with the tying run at the plate for Central (6-15, 2-11).

Tuesday’s win, along with Northside’s loss at Cabot, also clinched the No. 5 postseason seed for the Mavericks (13-11, 6-7) at next week’s 7A State Tournament, which will be held in Cabot. Southside ends the regular season Friday at Northside.


Also, Massey’s homer made it a memorable final home game for the lone Maverick senior ballplayer, first baseman Hailey Hogue.

“It feels great, it’s exactly what we needed and it’s exactly what I needed, too, which was a win in my last home game,” Hogue said.

“I think we’ve done some great things this season and we still have a lot left with the state tournament, so we’re doing pretty good; it’s a young team so I’m very proud of them.”

As the only senior player, Hogue admitted there may have been some extra pressure because of that fact. But she said several teammates have helped out with leadership of their own.

“It was tough at times not to have other seniors to help me out with some leadership things, but some juniors stepped up to help me out and lead the team. ... But it was pretty good leading the team,” Hogue said.

Southside trailed 1-0 in the top of the first before getting two runs in its half of the first on four hits — three of those doubles. That included back-to-back RBI doubles from Madi Conklin and Piper Morgan for a 2-1 lead.

Then in the second, Southside extended its lead to 3-1. Kendall Willis reached on an error and eventually scored on Hannah Hogue’s RBI groundout.


Central responded with two runs in the top of the fifth to tie it at 3-all. However, it did eventually set up the Mavericks’ late-inning heroics in their home finale.

“I was very happy for them, and to come out and get a big win at home in our last home game, that was important,” Southside coach Cassy Story said. “We want every win, but especially going into the state tournament, and we want to make sure that we capitalize on these last couple of games and make sure that we peak going into that final stretch.”

Massey was 2-for-4 with her game-winning homer, as well as a first-inning double. Morgan and Bagby both went 2-for-3 as well.

Hunter gave up three runs on six hits and struck out six batters.
