FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.—Ashdown worked hard to get to the Class 4A state softball championship, and the Lady Panthers did the little things right to defeat Highland and claim the title, 7-0, Saturday at LadyBack Field.

Ashdown got its leadoff batter on safely in five innings, played solid defense, came through with timely hits and had an outstanding pitching performance by senior Jamie Fleming.

“Our nemesis the whole season has been stringing our hits together,” Ashdown coach Wiley Cunningham said. “Even in today’s game we left 12 runners on base, and you just can’t do that ...