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The Monticello Lady Billies have begun the 2026 softball season with a 2-0 record.
The defending 8-4A Conference and 4A-4 Regional Champions began their season on Monday, March 2, travelling to Hot Springs to take on Lakeside.
Libby Kingston would lead it off for the Billies with a single followed by Addi Frazer who drew a walk.
Ashley Hales would also draw a walk to load the bases.
Kiley Lane would fly out to center to score Kingston for the first run of the contest.
Macey Stell would enter the circle for the Lady Billies and would get the first batter to fly out followed by consecutive walks then consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.
Monticello would add two runs in the top of the third inning when Hales connected for a two-run home run that scored Kingston who reached on a double.
Monticello would add two more runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, and a final run in the seventh.
Lakeside would get their only run in the bottom of the seventh with Monticello taking the contest 7-1.
Stell would pitch seven innings allowing one run on seven hits while striking out eight and walking five.
Returning for their first home game on Thursday, March 5, hosting Stuttgart, Stell would get the start with Stuttgart getting their first run of the contest in the top of the first.
Monticello would tie the contest in the bottom of the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Bliss Becker that scored Jonie Jeffers.
Stuttgart took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning on a solo homerun.
Lane tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a solo shot to right field.
The Lady Billies added two more runs in the inning to take a 5-2 lead.
Monticello would add the final run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning after Becker scored on a single by Mia Scogin for a 6-2 lead.
Stell would strike out the side in the bottom of the inning to end the contest.
Stell pitched the complete game allowing two runs with one earned run, on five hits, and striking out seven batters.
The Lady Billies will return home on Tuesday hosting Baptist Prep at 5 pm and on Friday hosting Hampton at 5 pm.
