Head Coach Donald Hart did not love everything he saw in Greenwood’s benefit game against Fort Smith Northside. That much was clear. The Lady Bulldogs played young, uneven, and were slow to adjust to off-speed pitching in a 7-5 loss on the road on February 24th. Hart thought his club should have looked sharper coming out of the gate. But the veteran Greenwood coach also saw something else this week – a quick response by his players.
Just a week after that uneven pre-season performance in a benefit game, the Lady Bulldogs turned things around and outlasted a quality Gentry team 12-8 in their first official contest of the 2026 season, scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break an 8-8 tie and open the season with a 12-8 non-conference victory. The Lady Bulldogs will be quite young in 2026, but not without significant talent. Still, if the early going is any barometer, there will be challenges ahead with youthful inexperience and a brutal 5A West conference schedule.
But the early swing from frustration to resilience says a lot about this team. Greenwood is replacing five seniors, breaking in several freshmen, and still trying to settle some position battles, but Hart believes the ingredients are there for another contender. The Lady Bulldogs are youthful, but they are also deep, athletic and, in his words, capable of being “gritty” enough to survive the kind of close games that decide league races. “We’re young,” he said, “but I feel really good about our talent.”
Their youth and talent is already being tested. Greenwood used three freshmen in the starting lineup against Gentry and a fourth in a courtesy-running role, and Hart said several others are close to forcing their way into bigger opportunities. That is not usually the formula for a team expected to chase a conference title, but Greenwood is not built like most teams. Hart likes the roster’s flexibility, likes the depth he has at nearly every spot, and likes that he has enough options to survive injuries, slumps or match-up decisions without changing the identity of the team. And identity matters in the 5A-West.
The coach sees Farmington, Mountain Home, Van Buren and Alma as major obstacles in a conference he believes could realistically send any one of five or six teams into the postseason mix. Greenwood fully expects to be part of that group. The Lady Bulldogs are two-time defending conference champions, and Hart made it clear that if anyone wants to take control of the league, they should expect to go through Greenwood first.
Senior core gives Greenwood a foundation
Even after graduation losses, Greenwood still has a proven senior backbone. Shortstop Daisy Parker, first baseman Lakyn Dawson, pitcher Alyssa Lovell and utility/designated player Miley Schwartz comprise the senior class. Parker, an all-state caliber athlete who moved from the outfield to third base last year and now to shortstop, may be the key to the infield’s overall stability. Hart knows she is filling a major role there, but he likes the work she’s put in and he believes in her athleticism. “Daisy’s got big shoes to fill,” Hart said. “But I really feel good about the transition. We got to spend a lot of time in the offseason with her in that position.”
Dawson gives Greenwood a trusted presence at first base and remains one of the club’s most dependable defenders. Hart described her as one of the best first basemen in the state a year ago and praised both her hands and her instincts around the bag. “Nothing gets by her,” he said. “She’s always looking for the next play, and if we throw something over there and she can get to it, she’s going to catch it for us.”
Lovell, meanwhile, returns in the circle after winning 10 games last season. She is dealing with a knee cleanup following volleyball season, but Hart still trusts her competitiveness, command and leadership. “She’s a high competitor,” Hart said. “You know you’re still going to get her best.” Schwartz may not have had the biggest role last year, but Hart said her bat has come on, and she already showed that growth against Gentry in a productive designated player role. If Greenwood is going to make another push, it will start with those four setting the tone.
Freshmen are already changing the lineup
Whether by necessity or choice, Coach Hart does not hesitate to use young players immediately, and that tells you how highly he thinks of this freshman class. Third baseman Ryleigh Smith, second baseman Abby Branson, and right fielder Emmerson Israel were all in the lineup against Gentry, while another freshman contributed as a courtesy runner. Hart praised Branson for a strong showing at second and said Israel won the nod in right field over other capable options. He also singled out Macie Wilson and Mia Street as freshmen who have impressed during the offseason and are pushing for roles. “I’ve got some kids I feel real comfortable about putting them in a varsity game and us not changing the complexion of our team,” said Hart.
Then there is the long-term outlook. Hart likes what he sees in this young group not only because of talent, but because of their mindset. Younger players, he said, often do not know enough to be intimidated by the names on the opposing jerseys. That can come with mistakes, but it can also create fearless competition. For a program that wants to remain in the hunt every year, that matters.
Power, speed and lineup flexibility
This may be one of the more dangerous Greenwood lineups Hart has had in terms of pure pop with the bats. “Probably overall, this is the most power I’ve ever had in the lineup,” said the coach. He said the top half of the batting order can all do damage, and he pointed to Emily Creason, Daisy Parker, Lakyn Dawson, Annie Been, Alyssa Lovell, and eventually Ava Cranor as hitters with real power potential. Annie Been already launched the first home run of her career this week, and Hart said Creason hit a towering shot off the top of the batting cage in right field against Gentry. Dawson, Lovell, Parker and Cranor can all leave the yard as well. Cranor has just joined the team after basketball ended.
But Greenwood is not just trying to slug its way through games. Hart still wants his team to pressure defenses with aggressive baserunning, and he believes this group has the speed to do it. He specifically mentioned the value of courtesy runners and pinch runners, and he likes having speedy Taelyn Martin as a left-side slapper who can create stress on the defense every time she puts the ball in play. She may bat leadoff at times or near the bottom of the order as she did against Gentry. “She puts pressure on the defense every time she puts the ball in play,” Hart said.
Greenwood’s offense, then, should not be viewed as one-dimensional. There is power in the middle, athleticism throughout, and enough speed to manufacture runs when facing elite pitching. That balance will be critical because Greenwood knows it will see high-level arms all season long, both in non-conference play and from league opponents.
Pitching depth may be the difference
The Lady Bulldogs are not built around one dominant arm like some teams, but the head coach sees that as a strength, not a limitation. Alyssa Lovell returns with a three-pitch mix – fastball, changeup, and curveball – and the experience to manage pressure situations. Sophomore Makayla Bachert, last year’s conference newcomer of the year, gives Greenwood another quality option with a deeper pitch package that includes a rise ball and drop ball in addition to her primary mix. Sienna Wells has already shown she can close and win games, and Jordyn Floyd has improved enough that Hart expects her to absorb more meaningful innings as a sophomore.
That variety gives Greenwood the ability to match styles against different opponents. Hart values that flexibility, especially in a conference where some teams handle velocity better and others struggle more with spin. “My theory is you’ve got to be able to command three pitches,” Hart said. “If you’ve got a fourth one, great. But you’ve got to be able to hit spots with three pitches to be successful.” He also likes what and who is behind them.
Emily Creason’s reassuring presence at catcher is a major asset. Hart called her one of the best catchers in the state, praising her arm strength, softball IQ, and ability to control the game. Gentry tested her early on the bases, and Creason erased that first baserunner. After that, Gentry had second thoughts about stealing. That’s the kind of detail coaches remember and appreciate. “She’s not just a robot back there,” Hart said. “She’s a high IQ catcher.”
The challenge ahead
Greenwood’s schedule will not let this team ease into anything. The Lady Bulldogs have a loaded non-conference slate, including games against Maumelle this past Friday, Bentonville West next Monday, and Rogers on March 16th. They will also face a strong field at the Blazer Blast tournament in Jonesboro before spring break, plus conference play in the 5A-West will be relentless.
“It’s going to be pretty competitive,” said the coach. “We’re going to have to compete to be one of those top four [playoff] teams.” Hart expects Greenwood, Farmington, Mountain Home, Van Buren, and Alma to be in the chase for a league title. “We’re the two-time defending conference champions,” he said. “If they want something, they need to come through us.” He also knows the Lady Bulldogs will have to be sharp defensively and opportunistic on offense to separate themselves.
That’s what made the Gentry win so encouraging. It was not clean, but it was competitive, resilient and, most importantly, responsive. Greenwood looked like a team that learned from a frustrating opener and applied it quickly. That’s a good sign for a roster this young. The Lady Bulldogs may not be a finished product yet, but they have enough returning leadership, enough young talent, and enough options in the circle to believe they belong near the top of the conversation again. In a league that punishes mistakes and rewards toughness, Greenwood looks like a team with both upside and edge. Around this program, that usually means expectations remain high.
The GHS roster for the 2026 season features seniors Lakyn Dawson, Alyssa Lovell, Daisy Parker, and Miley Schwartz. The juniors are Taelyn Martin, Annie Been, Izzy Thomas, and Emily Creason. The sophomore class includes Kynleigh Palmer, Ryleigh Buckner, Makayla Bachert, Sienna Wells, Isabella Espinosa, Jordyn Floyd, Ava Cranor, and Bella Meyers. Finally, the freshmen include Macie Wilson, Mallory Steele, Lettie Brownfield, Ryleigh Smith, Mia Street, Emmerson Israel, Abby Branson, and Evelyn Neal. The coaching staff remains unchanged from last season with Head coach Donald Hart, assistant coaches Mike Possage and Diane Popp, and student manager Harley Graham.
Gentry at Greenwood
The official regular season opener was last Tuesday at home against the Lady Pioneers of Gentry High School, and it was a slugfest with both teams combining for 25 hits and 20 runs. Gentry scored a run in the top of the first inning, then added four runs in the third, two more in the fifth, and a final tally in the sixth inning to tie the game at 8-all. The Lady Bulldogs scored twice in the first frame, once in the third, two more times in the fourth, and three times in the fifth to take an 8-7 lead.
But with the game tied at 8-8, the GHS girls plated four runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away. The winning rally began with a double by leadoff batter Lakyn Dawson, followed by a two-run homer from Annie Been. Emmerson Israel and Miley Schwartz then followed with back-to-back singles to keep the rally alive. Two batters later, Abby Branson hit a sacrifice fly that scored Israel before Daisy Parker whacked a hard single through the infield to plate pinch runner Isabella Thomas with Greenwood’s 12th run.
Alyssa Lovell, who went the distance in the circle for Greenwood, was able to retire Gentry in order in the seventh inning on a pair of strikeouts and a pop up. The line on Lovell’s performance included 10 hits, 8 runs, 7 earned runs, three walks, and 10 strikeouts. She threw 127 pitches, 84 of them for strikes, while facing 34 Gentry hitters. On a day when she clearly didn’t have her best stuff, she found a way to win. The GHS defense made two errors behind her.
Individually, four Lady Bulldogs notched multiple hits, starting with Annie Been’s 4-for-4 performance on three singles and a homerun. She drove in four runs and scored three times herself. Right behind Been in the lineup was Emmerson Israel, who had three hits, two RBIs, and scored twice. Emily Creason also had a productive day with two extra base hits, a double and a homerun that knocked in four runs. She also scored a run and worked a walk. Daisy Parker added two hits, scored two runs, and drove home one. Others with solo hits were Allyssa Lovell, Lakyn Dawson, Miley Schwartz, and Taelyn Martin.