STARKVILLE — Columbus High School slow-pitch softball player Shaquera Wilson is enjoying her team”s four-game winning streak.
However, she feels like the best is still yet to come for her young squad.
Wilson had three of the Lady Falcons” 16 hits Thursday in a 21-0 victory against Starkville at Lady Jackets Field. The game was shortened to three innings due to the mercy rule.
“We have gotten better from the beginning of the season,” Wilson said. “Now, we are working real well together as a team. The players who aren”t in the field are in the dugout encouraging us. Tonight, we came out and did everything we had to do to get a win.”
In continuing a recent pattern, the Lady Falcons pounded out six hits and scored five runs in the first inning. Columbus expanded the lead with six scores in the second and triggered the run rule with 10 runs in the third.
“Coaches have been talking to us about starting strong,” Columbus” Jasmine Butler said. “That is even more important when you are not playing at home. We came out real motivated. We were able to get everybody involved there in the first inning, and it carried over throughout the game.”
Shaquala Fulton started things with a hard-hit double off the left-field wall. NeNe Bardley followed with a hit. After an out, Wilson, Kadaryal Ledbetter, Porchia Brooks, and Jalen Neal followed with hits.
In the second, three walks and a misplay in the infield fueled the big inning. Bardley”s second hit was a two-run double. Butler also had the first of her two RBIs in that at-bat.
“I feel pretty good about the progression of this team,” Columbus first-year coach Jaime Melton said. “We still have a lot to work on. Recently, we have been coaching fundamentals and defending contact. The girls have really responded to what we are trying to get accomplished.
“In the past week, practice has changed. Now we are focusing more on hitting the ball and having quality at-bats. We are taking somewhere between 100 and 125 swings per day in practice. That is helping us become a better hitting team.”
The Lady Falcons took multiple swings in the 10-run third. Tamara Hudgins had a two-run triple, and Columbus capitalized on three walks and two infield errors.
The Lady Falcons” big lead enabled Melton to get some reserves playing time. Kimmie Moody scored twice and laced a triple to the left-field wall.
“We played hard as a team,” Butler said. “We listened to our coaches and they did a real good job of motivating us. When you get ahead, you have to keep your faith and keep your head in the ballgame. When all of us stay together as a team, we can play well.”
After dropping a pair of preseason classic games, the Lady Falcons have responded with four straight wins. In each victory, the squad has shown improvement.
“We had some real good defense tonight,” Wilson said. “That is what has to happen for us to keep winning. We feel like we can score some runs. Tonight, we had a lot of players have some hits. However, defense is how we are going to win the tight games.
“As long as we keep working hard on the fundamentals and listen to our coaches, we can have a successful season.”
Columbus will travel Saturday to the New Albany Invitational. It is scheduled to play East Webster, Mooreville, and Nettleton.
“I am nervous about the weekend because we are playing some good teams,” Melton said. “However, if the girls keep giving 200 percent, we will be OK in the end. The attitude and effort is good. We just have to keep working on fundamentals and tightening up some things before region play starts (Sept. 8 at Tupelo).”
Wilson led the way with three hits, while Bardley and Butler each had multiple hits.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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