3/8/23
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
Another big game for Airedales’ Thrasher
It happened again.
A year ago, Teagan Thrasher wasn’t on Alma’s soccer radar. Well, not all the way, anyway.
Veteran coach Cory Sturdivant felt like he might have something once the newest Airedale became eligible.
He couldn’t have been more right.
Thrasher scored twice in Monday’s 3-0 win over Farmington. The senior transfer has seven goals in four games.
Presli Taylor set the record for goals in a season last season with 11.
“It’s my first time playing soccer since sixth grade,” Thrasher said. “Honestly, I didn't win a lot, but being a part of a team like this is really nice. It’s really nice and I’m excited about other games.”
Alma opens 5A-West play Friday against Harrison.
“She has made such a great impact on our girls,” Sturdivant said. “It’s a lot of fun to see them feed off each other and get in there and fight for scores. It also helps make us more balanced offensively, which has taken some of the pressure off that we were experiencing last season.”
Taylor has six goals and Liv Reed has four. Reed scored in Monday’s victory as well, with an assist from Yoseline Gonzalez.
Farmington 4, Alma 2
BOYS - This one stung.
The Alma Airedales dropped a tough 4-2 decision to Farmington on Monday. Alma had plenty of chances, especially late.
Junion Seth Canales put Alma on the board early, but the Cardinals rallied to tie the game and then scored right before the half to take a 2-1 lead.
Two early second-half goals extended the Cardinals’ lead to 4-1. The defending 4A state champs, now 1-1 on the season, saw their lead cut in half on Carlos Gonzalez’s goal.
Alma opens 5A-West on Friday with Harrison.
BASEBALL
Pea Ridge 7, Alma 6
The Alma Airedales dropped a tough 7-6 decision to Pea Ridge in nine innings Monday night. The culprit, again, turned out to be miscues.
The Blackhawks pushed across the winning run with the help of a two-out error to cap a four-run come-from-behind victory.
Branson Brogan suffered the loss.
Alma (0-2) travels to Texas on Thursday to face Denton High School.
Cash Wilson went the first four innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out a career-high eight. He threw 93 pitches before tiring.
Alma took a 2-1 lead in the third on Derek Hatcher’s RBI single. Axl Spain’s RBI double and Brogan’s run-scoring single helped Alma build a 5-1 lead in the fourth.
The Blackhawks got two back in their half of the fourth and scored once in the fifth and sixth to tie the game. Brogan’s RBI double put the Airedales ahead 6-5 in the seventh.
Again, Pea Ridge tied it with two outs in the seventh. The game remained tied until the ninth.