By ALEX ABATE ~ Sports Writer

The Naylor Lady Eagles are hoping to use last fall as motivation.

Naylor lost to Oran in the Class 1 District 1 final and will play sixth-seed Van Buren at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Delta.

"We have lost the district 2-1 two years in a row," Naylor coach Gene Deckard said. "They really want district bad and it is competitive."

The Lady Eagles will have Chelsea Lane going on the mound against the Lady Dawgs.

"We are going to try to get her some work in and get some things done," Deckard said. "At the same time, we want to bring her in rested."

In order to advance in the tournament, the Lady Eagles have to take advantage of scoring situations when they get them.

"Just making the plays when we have to make them and getting the key hit," Deckard said. "The ball has got to bounce your way now and then."

The Lady Eagles (10-5) are heading into the tournament without Hailee Deckard for the first time in four seasons as she graduated last year but all the other players have helped fill the void.

"We lost a run or two a game and really where we have noticed (her absence) is on defense," Deckard said. "She would get to a ball and make it look routine. Moriah (Goodrum) is coming along and she is playing pretty decent and the other kids have picked it up."

The Lady Dawgs haven't won a game yet this fall season and are hoping to gain experience from the district tournament.

"It is going to be a learning experience," Van Buren coach Jeff Lindsey said. "For these girls, it is the first time in any district-type competition. In the long run, it will be good for these girls to get experience."

Van Buren always gives 100 percent when it gets between the lines, Lindsey said.

"I couldn't have asked for a team that has worked any harder."

The other game of the afternoon will be at 2 p.m. with the fourth-seeded Chaffee taking on the fifth-seeded Neelyville.

"We have got to connect with balls and get hits," Neelyville coach Liz Ponder said. "Not committing errors is a big thing. We have had a problem with that all season long."

Hannah McDaniel will be starting on the hill for the Lady Tigers (5-7) against Chaffee.

"We have been practicing and she is continuously pitching," Ponder said. "She is not getting a break because I don't want her out of her rhythm."

The Lady Tigers are led by middle lineup batters Jackie Griffin and Holly Eakins. Ponder has been trying to get her whole lineup, top to bottom, to play a full seven innings.

"Sometimes the girls wait until the seventh inning to get motivated," Ponder said.

CLASS 3: Doniphan is the fourth seed at the District 1 tournament in Potosi. The Donettes face fifth-seeded Fredericktown at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday with the winner facing top-seeded North County a day later.

"Mary Beth (Cosgrove) has pitched well for us and she is always going to be solid," Doniphan coach Brad Phillips said. "If we can manufacture runs and put some runs on the board, I think we can compete."